TOP TOPICS

• With the fighting in Lebanon dominating the international press, Iraq's difficulties are slipping under the radar even as Iraqi casualties continue to dwarf those being suffered in Lebanon thus far.

• Car bombs killed more than 60 and wounded more than 250 in Baghdad on Sunday as the battle for Baghdad continues to rage between the insurgency, the government, and Sunni and Shiite death squads. The United States is going to shift forces to put more American forces into Baghdad in an attempt to put a damper on the violence.

Other Topics Today Include: Turkey threatens to intervene; 6,000 Iraqi civilians dead in May and June; Kirkuk oil line repaired; cabinet encourages foreign investment; Kirkuk looms as next big problem; human rights abuses; Carnival of the Liberated; Japan leaves Iraq; Hussein trial resumes.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Turkey is unhappy with the U.S.'s stance on terrorism and is warning it may intervene in northern Iraq if the Kurds are not brought under control by the U.S. or the Iraqi government.

• Over 150 Iraqis died over the first three days of the week in a spate of bombings and gun battles headlined by a suicide car bomber who killed 53 in Baghdad.

• The United Nations estimates that almost 6,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in fighting in Iraq in May and June. The UN's total estimate of civilian deaths since 2003 is ~50,000.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Iraq has completed repairs on one of the Kirkuk oil lines and will restart the flow of crude oil this week.

• Iraq has passed a new law to encourage foreign investment in Iraq.

IRAQI POLITICS

• The International Crisis Group is warning about the brewing battle for Kirkuk.

• A new UN report calls attention to numerous human rights abuses in Iraq but suggests that the establishment of an Iraqi government may lead to marked improvements over time.

• This week's Carnival of the Liberated is up.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Japanese forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq this week. The Japanese government has not ruled out the possibility of sending peacekeeping troops to Iraq when the violence subsides.

ETCETERA

• Closing arguments in Saddam Hussein's trial resumed Monday a day after Hussein was hospitalized as a result of his hunger strike.

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families! Please join us to give back to these brave people in their time of need.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!

• Many American troops have taken it upon themselves to reconstruct schools and gather learning tools for the children of Iraq. Their efforts have been met with immense gratitude from the local Iraqis and their children. You can help too! Visit Operation Iraqi Children and get involved.

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