Links With Brief Comments

1) Army General George Casey says that Iraq is not on the verge of civil war. After enormous bloodshed in recent weeks Casey said, "We can't let what's happened the last few days distract us from the progress that's been made over the last year. That's what the terrorists want."

That is what the terrorists, just like Ayman al-Zawahiri, want...

2) Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's #2, says that the announced plan to withdraw American troops from Iraq means that the U.S. is losing Iraq. Zawahiri says, "Regarding your withdrawal timetable ... you have to admit, Bush, that you have been defeated in Iraq and are being defeated in Afghanistan and will be defeated in Palestine."

I don't think so Zawahiri. You have lost Afghanistan and Zarqawi, your ally, is losing Iraq.

3) The White House is crafting a new national security strategy. Gary Schmitt of AEI says, "Everybody is going to be reading every sentence to see if they can find a hint of major change, when I don't think that's likely."

4) Someone needs to shut Saddam Hussein up. It is about time he stopped getting away with his ridiculous courtroom antics. He got away with mass murder, until 2003, and now he is going to pay. Shut up, Saddam!

5) The Arab media reacts to Sharon's stroke.