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Friends,
This is from the New York Times and the names of the stringers say it all. Reporting was contributed by Hosham Hussein, Mudhafer al-Husaini, Erica Goode and Qais Mizher in Baghdad and employees of The New York Times in Basra and Nasiriya. It is cooincidental but worth noting, that Dith Pran died yesterday. He was the Cambodian stringer who was caught in the "Killing Fields" of Cambodia. On his death bed he asked that we stop the"Killing Fields". That we never allow that to happen again. It seems it is too late for his wish to come true. The Last Word: Dith Pran
Rev O

"Last week, Iraq’s defense minister, Abdul Kadir al-Obeidi, conceded that the government’s military efforts in Basra met with far more resistance than expected. Many Iraqi politicians say that Mr. Maliki’s political capital has been severely depleted by the Basra campaign and that he is in the curious position of having to turn to Mr. Sadr, a longtime rival, for a way out."

Iraq Seems Calmer After Cleric Halts Fighting
By JAMES GLANZ New York Times
No serious clashes were reported in Basra, and Baghdad, which had been at a standstill, appeared to be returning to normal.

"When Americans came into Sadr City, he said, the militia fighters could begin shooting.
“Maybe our case with the government is over,” he said. “But not with the occupiers.”"