Political reconciliation necessary to stabilize Iraq is jeopardized even before the talks start; meanwhile, Iraq gets rocked by another sectarian bombing, killing at least 43 Shi’a:
- Iraq Reconciliation Talks Hit By Walkouts (Reuters/Washington Post)
- Bombing Kills 43 in Shiite Holy City in Iraq (New York Times)
After Qatar takes a first step toward fully living up to its Islamic obligation by upholding religious freedom, talks begin between Saudis and the Vatican to allow the construction of churches inside the Kingdom:
- Vatican-Saudi Talks On Churches (BBC News)
FBI internal audit finds massive data errors and inconsistent policies plaguing an increasingly bloated “Terror Watchlistâ€, but such oversight for other security agencies may not exist anymore as Bush abuses his executive authority to weaken the Intelligence Oversight Board:
- Audit: FBI Watchlist Data Error-Riddled (Associated Press/Wiredispatch)
- Bush Defangs Watchdog For Spy Agencies (Boston Globe/San Francisco Chronicle)
More House congressional members are finally taking a stand against telecom immunity after being reassured they won’t lose their seats:
- ‘State Secrets’ Privilege Fuels Surveillance Bill Battle (Christian Science Monitor)
In a challenge to the failed Manichean analysis that has driven recent US counter-terrorism strategy, U.S. planners now seek to amplify rather than ignore anti-terrorist Muslim voices:
- U.S. Adapts Cold-War Idea to Fight Terrorists (New York Times)
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