"The shootout in Karbala was the latest in a string of incidents involving [local cleric] Sadr and his Mahdi Army. Sadr had helped lead the physical expulsion of the US-appointed district council for Sadr City from its building. He and a number of other leaders in the district are seeking to replace the council with representatives they see as more legitimate." [more]

"[Bush] is travelling to Tokyo with two really major asks in mind. First, there is the question of Japan sending troops, as well as money, to Iraq. The Japanese public are understandably nervous. The nation has been branded 'Washington's ATM' by sections of the domestic and international media." [more]

"The [governing] council as a whole rejected the plan, insisting that Iraq's neighbors should not play a military role in the country. But Kurdish leaders went further, arguing that Turkey has a different agenda and would encourage other Iraqi neighbors to enter the fray." [more]