US seizes Iraqi politician’s bodyguard ‘plotting suicide attacks’ (AFP)

Leading Iraqi Sunni Muslim MP Adnan Dulaimi attends a parliamentary session in Baghdad, September 05. US forces arrested the bodyguard of the senior Iraqi politician for allegedly planning multiple suicide attacks on Baghdad's Green Zone, seat of the Iraqi government and US embassy.(AFP/File/Ali Abbas)AFP – US forces arrested the bodyguard of a senior Iraqi politician for allegedly planning multiple suicide attacks on Baghdad’s Green Zone, seat of the Iraqi government and US embassy.


Iraq shuts down Baghdad with curfew (Reuters)

A soldier mans a checkpoint during a four-hour vehicle curfew for Friday prayers in Baghdad September 29, 2006. (Faleh Kheiber/Reuters)Reuters – Iraq’s government imposed a one-day
curfew on the capital Baghdad on Saturday without explanation,
ordering all cars and pedestrians off the streets.


Detained guard suspected of Iraq attacks (AP)

Picture released in June 2006 by the US Army shows the supposed leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq Abu Hamza al-Muhajer. Iraqi security forces locked down their strife-torn capital amid fears of suicide attacks on the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq's embattled government.(AFP/US Army/File)AP – The detained guard of a prominent Sunni politician is suspected of belonging to al-Qaida in Iraq and planning a major suicide car bomb attack inside Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, the U.S. military said Saturday.


U.S. threatens to cut funding for Iraq’s police: NYT (Reuters)

A police officer looks at the car of a fellow officer which was damaged by a bomb attack in Baghdad, in this September 27, 2006 file photo. (Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters)Reuters – The United States may cut off funding
for Iraq’s police because of its failure to punish people
responsible for torture, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said in an
interview published on Saturday.


Senate passes bill on Iraq and defense programs (Reuters)

(L-R) Rep. Ike Skelton, (D-MO), House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) listen to a fellow member of Congress speak during a news conference about the Bush administration's handling of Iraq in Capitol Hill, September 29, 2006. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)Reuters – The U.S. Senate on Saturday
authorized $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and
nearly $463 billion for defense programs in the fiscal year
that begins on Sunday.


Military trials to affect few detainees (AP)

In this Sept. 19, 2006 file photo, reviewed by U.S. military officials, a detainee walks around an exercise area fenced on all sides, at Damp Delta 5 maximum security detention center, Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. Once every year, Guantanamo detainees are permitted to attend an Administrative Review Board hearing, used to help the Defense Department determine if a detainee will be held for another year. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)AP – The CIA interrogation program should now be back in business and terrorist trials can begin right away, according to proponents of new legislation passed by Congress. The legislation is a victory for President Bush, whose detention and interrogation program was deemed illegal by the Supreme Court in June. Bush turned to Congress and was able to push through legislation that would revive his anti-terror efforts.


Woodward: Card wanted to fire Rumsfeld (AP)

Washington Post assistant managing editor Bob Woodward appears on CNN's 'Larry King Live,' Monday, April 19, 2004, from the CNN studio in Washington in this file photo. (AP Photo/CNN, Chris Kleponis)AP – Former White House chief of staff Andrew Card twice sought to persuade President Bush to fire Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the second time with the support of first lady Laura Bush, Bob Woodward writes in a new book on the Bush administration’s Iraq war policy.


White House denies understating Iraq violence (AFP)

US President George W. Bush speaks at a luncheon in Alabama, 28 September 2006. The White House denied deliberately understating the pace of attacks on US troops in Iraq but declined to spell out whether they have been increasing or decreasing.(AFP/File/Jim Watson )AFP – The White House denied willfully understating violence in Iraq, one of a barrage of charges stemming from a new book that reportedly paints top US officials in disarray over the war.


Embattled Bush sticks to Iraq guns (AFP)

US President George W. Bush, under fire on many fronts over Iraq, tied his Republicans' election-year fortunes to an unwavering defense of the unpopular war and sharp attacks on his critics in a Washington speech.(AFP/Mandel Ngan)AFP – US President George W. Bush accused critics who say the Iraq war has fueled terrorist recruitment have bought into "the enemy’s propaganda."


Bush, Maliki, discuss Iraq security (AFP)

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (R) and US President George W. Bush exit a luncheon in Virginia, July 2006. Bush and al-Maliki at their most recent meeting  discussed the security situation in Iraq and efforts to pacify Baghdad, the White House said.(AFP/File/Mandel  Ngan)AFP – US President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Friday discussed the security situation in Iraq and efforts to pacify Baghdad, the White House said.