Bush to Speed Iraq Troop Withdrawal in to Help McCain
AlterNet: War on Iraq - 17 Jul 2008
Can the president synonymous with a military disaster put a positive spin on McCain’s Iraq plan?

The Dark Side: Jane Mayer on How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals
AlterNet: War on Iraq - 17 Jul 2008
The investigative reporter who connected the dots on detention, rendition and torture, discusses her new book, The Dark Side.

A welcome, tempered by mistrust
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 17 Jul 2008
Summary: “This would be helpful to our people,” Muhammad Hosseinzadegan, an 18-year-old student, said. “The sanctions will go away and the mutual difficulties between the two countries might decrease. I really hope that this quarrel with America ends one day.” source: The Guardianread more

US will seek green light to open base in Tehran
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 17 Jul 2008
Summary: The Bush administration said yesterday that it welcomed the prospect of increased “people-to-people” contact between Americans and Iranians, as it pushed ahead at speed with plans to establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran. source: The Guardianread more

U.S. Senate panel approves new Iran sanctions
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 17 Jul 2008
Summary: Sen. HagelWASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate Banking Committee overwhelmingly approved a bill on Thursday that would expand trade and economic sanctions in another attempt to prod Iran to step back from suspected nuclear weapons production and alleged support for terrorist activities. source: Reutersread more

Iran says US involvement in nuclear talks will ‘help’
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 17 Jul 2008
Summary: Mottaki-RiceDAMASCUS (AFP) ? Iran said on Thursday that it hoped weekend talks aimed at defusing the long-running standoff over its nuclear drive would produce “positive developments” and voiced satisfaction at US involvement. source: AFPread more

Taming the hawk
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 17 Jul 2008
Summary: It may be too early to proclaim an end to the “Cheney era”, but Washington’s decision to participate in Saturday’s nuclear talks with Iran and send diplomats back to Tehran is a very significant shift. It marks a nadir for the gun-toting neoconservatives who dominated the first Bush term and for their unofficial champion, vice-president Dick Cheney, the stealthy advice-giver also known as “whispering grass”. source: The Guardianread more