Iraq and the British secretly negotiating with the Taleban

(Reuters) The Afghan government expels a Briton and Irishman working for the UN charging that they have been meeting with the Taleban. (The meeting supposedly took place in Musa Qala, the district in Helmand the British keep retaking and losing.)

(Telegraph) Britain in secret talks with the Taliban.

It is thought that the Americans were extremely unhappy with the news becoming public that an ally was negotiating with terrorists who supported the September 11 attackers.

In Iraq, The WaPo has a longish story on the intraShia powerstruggle. (A good summary, but nothing new if you've been watching this.)

And, Juan Cole's 10 Myths about Iraq is definitely worth a read.