Iraq

(Alternet) The Iraqi parliament has passed a binding resolution requiring any extension of the UN mandate to allow US forces to stay in Iraq must be approved by parliament. Imagine the politics when the next renewal is in December. Maliki may veto the bill.

More detail from an AP version. The legislation was led by Sadr's bloc. It passed 85 to 59, barely a quorum with 144 of the 275 lawmakers present. Opposition from the Kurds and SIIC. (So, Sadr worked with the Sunnis. Interesting.)

The LATimes has a long piece looking at the schism between Maliki and Tariq al-Hashemi, the top Sunni leader. The hopes for any reconciliation look impossible. Also in this article,

Even Maliki's top political advisor, Sadiq Rikabi, says he doubts the prime minister will be able to win passage of key legislation ardently sought by U.S. officials, including a law governing the oil industry and one that would allow more Sunni Arabs to gain government jobs.

"We hope to achieve some of them, but solving the Iraqi problems and resolving the different challenges in the [next] three months would need a miracle," Rikabi said.

(Reuters) "The bodies of 33 people were found in various parts of Baghdad in the past 24 hours, police said." (That number is climbing.)

It was six months ago today that the ISG report was released.

One US soldier died yesterday.