Today in Iraq

War News for October 20, 2003 Bring ‘em on: The US Army reported 43 separate attacks on Americans across Iraq on Sunday. Bring 'em on: One US soldier killed, five wounded during patrol ambush in Fallujah. Bring ‘em on: Attempted assassination of US appointed governor thwarted in Baquabah. Bring ‘em on: Explosions reported overnight at US base in Fallujah. US troops recovering wreckage from yesterday’s ambush under RPG fire. Bring ‘em on: US convoy under RPG fire near Khaldiyah. CENTCOM published a clarification about the time and location of yesterday’s fatal ambush. Still, it would be better to have independent journalists reporting on the war. Journalists detained in Fallujah. “Baz and his colleague went to the police station after being told the local commander would hold a news conference about the attack. Once they arrived they were informed of their detention.” Team Bush: Bickering, backstabbing and catfighting. Despite Bush’s positive spin campaign, the Iraq war remains a quagmire. “Passing the particularly disturbing benchmark number of 100 led the television news Friday night, dashing administration hopes that the week would be remembered more for the unanimous United Nations Security Council approval Thursday of a new resolution that officials in Washington depicted as international endorsement of the US-led occupation. But even that achievement proved anticlimactic, as countries voting for the measure, including France, Russia, Germany and even Pakistan, made clear that they were not yet ready to contribute troops to Iraq and remained doubtful that Washington's strategy for restoring security to the country - if it actually had one - was working.” Friction reported between US troops and Iraqi police. But here’s the fair and balanced spin. Where’s Saddam? Hint: he’s sending mail. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will send troops to Iraq only on request of “Iraqi people.” I guess that UN resolution Shrubby was crowing about last week wasn’t so important after all. Military analysis: Guerrilla war becoming more intense as insurgents become more organized. Mortars, ambushes and searching for Elvis. “When the soldier's shattered body arrived at an aid station in the compound minutes later, officers tried to move younger soldiers away from the grisly scene. Some were sobbing, and a chaplain was summoned to help console them.” What Bush might say off-camera in Asia: “For President Phan Van Khai of Vietnam, it could go: ‘You guys fought and won the mother of all guerrilla wars. We forgive you. Saddam might be hiding in tunnels. So send over some Viet Cong and help us flush him out.’ To which the Vietnamese president might reply: ‘Hell no, you think we'd go?’” Cleric’s Veiled Threat. “’Sayed Muqtada has more support than anyone else because he is helping Iraqis improve their lives and he is not afraid to challenge the American occupiers,’ said Sheik Abbas Roubaili, a senior aide to al-Sadr. ‘He has tremendous support on the street, and that is what counts.’” Iraqi interim president wants Iraqi Army reconstituted. That was a real smooth move disbanding it in the first place, Bremer. Bernie Kerkik on America’s role in post-war Iraq: “Political criticism is our enemies' best friend.” A “troop reduction” plan suddenly emerges, despite deteriorating security in Iraq. This plan has more to do with Bush’s deteriorating poll numbers than military requirements and will quietly disappear when stability is restored to Bush’s throne. Contract cronyism hurts international reconstruction funding. “According to the facetious political slogan aired on US television, international donors were offered a piece of unsolicited advice: ‘If you are writing out checks, please make sure to spell Halliburton with two 'l's’.” Casualty Report Local story: Massachusetts soldier killed in Iraq. Other News Another former CIA type calls Shrub a liar. “’Never have I seen such a cynically orchestrated campaign over a year and a half,’ he said.”