Political fallout during a violent day (in Iraq)

[ProSense]

[ProSense]

1. Cheney: Iraq crackdown yielding results

Cheney: Iraq crackdown yielding results

Wed Aug 1, 10:58 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday that the US troop "surge" in Iraq had improved security there, and defended the decision by lawmakers in Baghdad to take a one-month August vacation.

"It's better than taking two months off, which was their original plan," he told CNN's Larry King amid deep US worries about the pace of Iraqi reconciliation efforts. "Obviously we're eager to have them complete their work."

His comments came after a formal report on US-led efforts in Iraq found unsatisfactory progress towards passing key legislation, like a law to govern oil revenue sharing, aimed at tamping down sectarian strife.

Cheney also said that the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq was the right decision and predicted that a September report on the US-led security crackdown would reveal "significant progress" towards US aims.

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[antiimperialist]

2. July was just declared the 2nd most deadly month of the year

Where are Michael O'hanlon and Kenneth Pollack?

[sampsonblk]

3. Nothing to see here. Everything's going swimmingly-nt