Bush lauds Iraqi reconciliation

MANAMA, Bahrain — President Bush yesterday praised the Iraqi parliament for passing a reconciliation law, an action seen as undercutting Democrats' criticism of his Iraq policy.

"It's an important step toward reconciliation," Mr. Bush said of the law that will allow past members of Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party to re-enter government posts... continue

Economic boost gives hope to Iraqis

House prices on the up and increased banking business are not readily associated with Iraq. Yet as Humphrey Hawksley reports, there are entrepreneurs who see good times in the horizon... continue

Sorry, Barack, You’ve lost Iraq.

...In remarks to the traveling press, delivered from the Third Army operation command center here, Bush said that negotiations were about to begin on a long-term strategic partnership with the Iraqi government modeled on the accords the United States has with Kuwait and many other countries... continue


Iraq: We've Penetrated AQI -- But Apparently Not The American Media

At the same time that the Iraqi National Assembly passed its long-awaited de-Ba'athification reform, the security services have apparently cracked al-Qaeda's organization in the country. Muslim World News, a Muslim news agency in India, reports that the Iraqi Interior Ministry formed a unit recently dedicated to attacking AQI and will shortly take out the entire structure... continue

Normalcy returns to Baghdad, block by block

BAGHDAD — Signs of improved security in Baghdad go beyond the obvious dampening of street battles and bombings: It's in the smaller transformations taking place in neighborhoods that the seeds of possibility are starting to take root... continue