Iraq

(Independent) "Death squads are returning to the streets of Baghdad despite the security plan for the capital launched with great fanfare by the US two months ago." (This is the question. Is the Mahdi coming back to the streets? Is this coordinated or splinter groups?)

(WaPo) "At a news conference today in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who took over as the top U.S. commander in Iraq in February, said the security situation in Baghdad lost "a bit of traction" after yesterday's bombings."

(NPR/Reuters) Iraqis think the security plan is failing.

(CSMonitor) Iraq falling behind on 'benchmarks': The US buildup has not been matched by an equal uptick in Iraqi political action.

(Reuters) "We are seeing some indicators of Iranian support to the Sunni extremist groups in Iraq, which is a development," Barbero said.

(LATimes) Iraqis turn to tattoos as indelible IDs. (so that their bodies can be identified.)

(AP) The Islamic State of Iraq released a video showing the execution of "20 men it said were members of the Iraqi military and security forces."

(AP) There's alot of talk about the US walling off the Baghdad Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah.

(Reuters) ICG warns about Turkey and the Kurds.

(AFP) Another attack on the son of Shiite leader Abdel Aziz al-Hakim.

(AFP) "Simultaneously, US losses are mounting in Iraq as the death of another marine was announced on Friday, taking the military's losses in this month alone to 54 and to 3,314 since the invasion."