Iraq

(WaPo) Novak: "Edelman.... revealed to lawmakers plans for a covert operation of U.S. Special Forces to help the Turks neutralize the PKK. They would behead the guerrilla organization by helping Turkey get rid of PKK leaders that they have targeted for years. Edelman's listeners were stunned. Wasn't this risky? He responded that he was sure of success, adding that the U.S. role could be concealed and always would be denied."

(McClatchy) Regarding Condi Rice and Robert Gate's visit to Saudi Arabia, "Aides to Rice and Gates say the trip has three primary goals, each crucial: to persuade Iraq’s neighbors to do more to help stabilize the country, to counter Iran’s growing ambitions and to try to get real movement on peace between Israel and the Palestinians."

(I find it hard to believe after the recent statements against Saudi Arabia, that this meeting will go too well.)

(Telegraph) Petraeus loudly denies a rift between himself and Maliki. (Wouldn't this have more weight coming from Maliki who hasn't uttered a word of denial on the subject?)

(IHT) The captain of the victorious Iraqi national soccer team will not return to Iraq out of fear for his life. He also calls on the US to leave Iraq immediately.

(AP) "In a break from historic Israeli opposition," Israel backs the massive US arms sale to the Saudis.

And, Iraqslogger has the Iraqi papers' very pessimistic assessment about the Sunni IAF's withrawal from the government. It's worth a read to feel the political trajectory the Iraqis see coming. (Start at the fourth pagaraph.)