RFI

Marc Lynch has a request posted at his blog Abu Aardvark - Do you know of any NGOs doing particularly good and noteworthy work with Iraqi children? Could be in any relevant realm: health, education, orphanages. If so, please head over to Abu Aardvark and leave Marc a note in the comments section or drop him an email.

US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon’s Hidden Hand - New York Times
How the Pentagon Spreads Its Message - New York Times video
Thanking Our GIs - Washington Post editorial
The Department of Defense’s New Plan for Academia - Savage Minds

IRAQ

Iraqi Forces Take Last Basra Areas From Sadr Force - New York Times
British Guns Pound Basra - London Times
Iraqi Troops Say Control Basra Stronghold - Reuters
Battle to Retake Basra 'Complete Disaster' - London Daily Telegraph
Al-Qaida in Iraq Tape Calls for Monthlong Offensive - Associated Press
Sadr Warns Of 'Open War' If Crackdown Is Not Halted - Washington Post
Muqtada Sadr Threatens War - Los Angeles Times
Sadr Delivers his 'Final Warning' - Washington Times
Sadr Threatens 'Open War' - BBC News
Sadr Threatens New Uprising in Iraq - Associated Press
Fear and Dread in Iraq’s Holy City of Najaf - Los Angeles Times
Rice Visit to Iraq Intended to Promote Gains - Associated Press
Rice in Iraq for Surprise Visit - BBC News
Rice Says Arabs Should Boost Support for Iraq - Associated Press
Rice Asks Neighbors to Offer Iraq Debt Relief, Ties - Reuters
Don’t Blame the War for the Economy - New York Times opinion
Is it Time to Shift Focus to Iran? - The Belmont Club
Al Jazeera: Setting the Record Straight! - Blackfive
Imperial Auxiliary - Because We're Here Boy

AFGHANISTAN

US Commanders Seeking to Widen Pakistan Attacks - New York Times
US Commanders Urge Wider Pakistan Attacks - Reuters
Bullets, Blood and Bravery in Afghanistan - London Times
Pakistan Envoy 'Held by Taleban' - BBC News
A Dutch Patriot’s Day - Forward Movement

THE LONG WAR

Within al-Qaida, a Numbing Bureaucracy - Baltimore Sun
UK Suspect 'May be Part of Terror Group' - London Daily Telegraph
The Torture Sessions - New York Times editorial
Al Qaeda in Yemen: Mercenaries or Terrorists? - The Long War Journal

NATO

Wrong Choice on Missile Defense v. NATO Expansion - Thomas PM Barnett

AFRICA

Voters Flee Zimbabwe’s State Terror - London Times
Mugabe 'Plans to Step Down Within 18 Months' - London Daily Telegraph
Mystery of Ship Bearing Arms for Mugabe Regime - Sydney Morning Herald
Election Officials in Zimbabwe Begin Partial Recount - New York Times
Zimbabwean Officials Begin Recount - Associated Press
Zimbabwe Holds Partial Recount - Reuters
Zulu Fighter Goes On Attack Against Mugabe - London Times
UN Chief to Push Zimbabwe Talks - BBC News
The Dire Situation in Zimbabwe - Boston Globe opinion
Somalia: Deadly Clashes Erupt in Mogadishu - BBC News
Eritrea Says UN Border Force Not Legal - Reuters

AMERICAS

In Hungry Haiti, Handouts Only Go So Far - Associated Press
The Not-So-Great Wall of Mexico - New York Times opinion

ASIA

Bush Still Waits for North Korean Nuclear Report - New York Times
Bush Defends N. Korea Nuke Stance - Washington Times editorial
US and S. Korea Hopeful on N. Korea - BBC News
Bush: N. Korea Must Declare Nuclear Programs - Reuters
Chinese Urge Anti-West Boycott Over Tibet Stance - New York Times
Protests in China Target French Stores, Embassy - Washington Post
Anti-French Rallies Across China - BBC News
Chinese Protest Tibet Independence - Reuters
2 killed, 8 Wounded in Attacks in Thai Muslim South - Reuters

MIDDLE EAST

IDF & Lebanon: Revisiting a War That's Seldom Discussed - Washington Post
Palestinian Suicide Bombers Attack Gaza Crossing - New York Times
Suicide Bombers Attack at Gaza Border Crossing - Washington Post
Israel Kills 7 Hamas Militants After Attack on Gaza Crossing - Associated Press
Israeli Air Strikes Kill Five Gaza Militants - Reuters
Carter Holds 2nd Meeting with Chief in Syria - Associated Press
Carter Wraps Up Visit to Damascus - BBC News
Carter's Unhelpful Freelancing - Boston Globe editorial
Citizen Carter's Ego Trip - Washington Times opinion

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistan Coalition Can't Yet Oust Musharraf - Associated Press
Nepal Maoists Claim Poll Victory - BBC News

WORLD

Future in Firm Grip of New Autocrats - The Australian opinion
Best-Selling Global Fictions - Washington Post opinion
A Worsening Food Crisis - Washington Post editorial
Still Feeding the World - Washington Times opinion

UNITED NATIONS

Khalilzad Changes Approach From Hawk to Bridge-Builder - Washington Post

RECOMMENDED READING

UK CT and COIN Features - Insurgency Research Group