Thursday: 3 US Soldiers, 28 Iraqis Killed; 72 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 7:37 p.m. EDT, May 21, 2009 Three U.S. soldiers were killed in a Baghdad attack that left several more wounded. At least 28 Iraqis were killed as well, and another 72 were wounded in other violence. Among them were several Awakening Council fighters who were killed in Kirkuk. Last night’s bombing in Baghdad’s Shula district may have set off this spate of violence. Meanwhile, a U.S. soldier was given a life sentence for the rape of an Iraqi girl and the murder of her and her family.

Netanyahu Adviser Moves Out of the Shadows

As might be expected of a former senior official with Israel’s spy agency Mossad, Uzi Arad – the most trusted political adviser to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister – has got used to being in the shadows as he exerts influence. But that is fast changing. Arad was prominent in preparing Netanyahu’s tough positions as … Continue reading “Netanyahu Adviser Moves Out of the Shadows”

Wednesday: 43 Iraqis Killed, 79 Wounded

Updated at 4:31 p.m. EDT, May 20, 2009 A major car bombing in the capital interrupted an otherwise quiet day in Iraq. At least 43 Iraqis were reported killed and 79 more were wounded. The only political news came from Diyala where the police chief reiterated the central government’s claims that the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq is in custody and added that the man was also a provincial politician.

Unexceptional Americans

Murder, torture, abuse… and photos of the same. We’ve seen some of them, of course. Now, evidently under pressure from his top generals, President Obama has decided to fight the release of other grim photos from the dark side of the Bush years of offshore injustice – on the grounds that their publication might inflame … Continue reading “Unexceptional Americans”