Iraq

(AP) The US has arrested 25 people in connection with the killing of the Sunni tribal leader Abu Risha, including the head of his security who claims he was offered $1.5 million for the killing.

(VOI) A Mahdi "leader" was killed in Baghdad by unidentified gunmen.

(AP) "The Pentagon report cited a litany of problems with the police. For example, it said as few as 40 percent of those trained by coalition troops in recent years are still on the job. Also, due to combat loss, theft, attrition and poor maintenance, a "significant portion" of U.S.-issued equipment is now unusable."

(AP) A KBR project manager was convicted of taking kickbacks from First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting, the outfit that is building the Baghdad embassy. The real story here is that the US government "tried to keep First Kuwaiti's name out of public records." (Why is the government hiding and giving further contracts to, not prosecuting, the giver of the bribes?)

(First Kuwaiti, you may remember, is under investigation for its labor practices including human trafficking and appalling working conditions. There have always been questions over how First Kuwaiti got the bid over more established US firms. )

(E&P) Military spokesman "Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said Thursday, back in the U.S. on leave at Fort Stewart, that the war in Iraq is "a winnable mission" if the media would only cooperate."

And, (NYTimes), The State Dept. under Karen Hughes, has assembled a group of paid employees to post "friendly" comments on moderate Muslim web sites while hiding their US gov't affiliation. (Now, every moderate commenter will be accused of being a US plant.)