Al Qaeda’s Market Crash, (New York Post)…Ralph Peters, July 19, 2008, Pg. 19

IF you think the US markets have problems, look at the value of al Qaeda shares throughout the Muslim world: A high-flying political equity just a few years ago, its stock has tanked. It made the wrong strategic investments and squandered its moral capital.

What a difference a war makes.

Guess what? We won.

So what’s the greatest irony? The president’s oft-mocked declaration of "Mission Accomplished" wasn’t wrong, after all – just premature.

Ralph Peters’ new book is "Looking For Trouble: Adventures in a Broken World."

Surge Protector, (New York Times)…William J. Fallon, July 20, 2008.

THE prospect of a long-term security arrangement between the United States and Iraq has become a lightning rod for criticism. Yet such an agreement — which the White House believes could be completed this month now that the two countries have agreed to set a “general time horizon” for reducing the number of American troops in Iraq — would be in the best interests of the governments of both countries, and of the people who live in a region of the world that urgently needs stability.

Iraqi Sunnis End Boycott And Rejoin Government, (New York Times)…Campbell Robertson and Sabrina Tavernise. Iraqi lawmakers cleared an important hurdle on Saturday by approving the appointment of six Sunni cabinet ministers after a yearlong boycott by the Sunni political bloc.

Sunni Bloc Rejoins Iraqi Government, Amid Reconciliation Hopes, (Washington (Post) …Sudarsan Raghavan. …The move came as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an unannounced visit to Baghdad for talks with Maliki and President Jalal Talabani. Brown declared afterward that Britain will reduce troop levels in Iraq but refused to set what he called an "artificial" timetable.

Sunni Bloc Returns To Iraq Cabinet
(Los Angeles Times)…Alexandra Zavis and Raheem Salman, …Left out of the mix were members of the so-called Awakening movement made up of Sunni tribal leaders, whose rebellion against Sunni militants is credited by the U.S. military with helping bring down the level of violence nationwide. Awakening leaders have been pressing for a stake in power, and frustration is building at Maliki’s failure to embrace the movement.

Al Qaeda Shifting Focus From Iraq, (Washington Times)…Robert Burns, Associated Press. After intense U.S. assaults, al Qaeda may be considering shifting focus to its original home base in Afghanistan, where American casualties are running higher than in Iraq, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said Saturday.

Maliki Backs Obama Troop Pullout Plan
(Chicago Tribune)…Liz Sly, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki threw his support behind Barack Obama’s troop withdrawal plan in an interview published Saturday, ahead of an expected visit by the Illinois senator to a significantly calmer Baghdad than the one he last encountered two years ago.

Hotel For Green Zone, (New York Daily News)…Unattributed, Iraqi officials say they have approved plans to build a five-star hotel in Baghdad’s heavily guarded Green Zone.

The New Reality In Iraq, (Wall Street Journal)…Frederick W. Kagan, Kimberly Kagan and Jack Keane, July 16, 2008
Pg. 17

All of the most important objectives of the surge have been accomplished in Iraq. The sectarian civil war is ended; al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) has been dealt a devastating blow; and the Sadrist militia and other Iranian-backed militant groups have been disrupted.

The result is that we have an extraordinary — but fleeting — opportunity to advance America’s security and the stability of a vital region of the world.

The blunt fact is this. In Iraq, al Qaeda is on the ropes, and the Shiite militias are badly off-balance.

If America remains firm in its commitment to success in Iraq, success is very likely. The AQI and Shiite militias at present do not have the capacity to drive Iraq off course — unless both the U.S. and the Iraqi government make a number of serious mistakes.

While victory in war is never certain until the war is over, the odds are strongly with us for once — provided we do the right thing. That is to stand by our best ally in the war against al Qaeda, and the struggle to contain Iran.

Mr. Kagan is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Ms. Kagan is president of the Institute for the Study of War. Mr. Keane is a former vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army. All have just returned from their most recent visit to Iraq.

U.S. General: Iraqi Forces To Be Fully Ready In ’09
(Washington Post)…Ann Scott Tyson and Dan Eggen, July 10, 2008, Pg. 1

Iraq’s army and police will be fully manned and operational by mid-2009, possibly as early as April, the top U.S. general in charge of building Iraqi security forces said yesterday, signaling the prospect that Iraqi forces could assume primary combat responsibilities in the country while U.S. troops shift to a supporting role.

Gates Optimistic That Iraq Troop Cutbacks Will Continue, (Yahoo.com)…Agence France-Presse Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed optimism Tuesday that US troop cutbacks will continue in Iraq, saying the transition of control to Iraqi security forces was going well.

Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In U.S. Pact
(Washington Post)…Ernesto Londono and Dan Eggen. Iraq’s national security adviser said Tuesday that his government would not sign an agreement governing the future role of U.S. troops in Iraq unless it includes a timetable for their withdrawal.

Al-Maliki: Terrorists In Country ‘Defeated’
(Washington Times)…Sebastian Abbot, July 6, 2008
Pg. 1, Associated Press

Iraq’s prime minister said Saturday that the government has defeated terrorism in the country – a sign of growing confidence after recent crackdowns against Sunni extremists and Shi’ite militias.