corrente

The latest:

Seven U.S. soldiers were killed and more than 24 wounded in clashes in a mostly Shiite neighborhood of the Iraqi capital, an Army spokesman said early Monday, as a week of protests and violence escalated across the country.
(via WaPo)

From the ever-informative Juan Cole:

So far, about 60% of clashes with Coalition troops had occurred in the Sunni heartland of Iraq. But the violent clashes in Najaf, Baghdad, Amara and Nasiriyah may signal the beginning of a second phase, in which the US faces a two-front war, against both Sunni radicals in the center-north and Shiite militias in the South.

Lovely. I know! Let's give them tax cuts!

Meanwhile, it turns out the the fighting is a major "combat operation" involving air strikes:

"This was combat operations today," said a senior coalition military official late Sunday as the fighting still raged on the southern outskirts of Baghdad. Aircraft were brought in, he said, because "we needed to add some combat power to change the terms of the battle." The official spoke on the condition that he not be identified.
(via Knight Ridder)

But have no fear! From deep within the—I kid you not—Republican Palace, the RNC's Baghdad office (here) has the spin well under control:

The political side of the coalition tried to put a good face on the day.

"These incidents are not insignificant," said Coalition senior advisor [and Republican operative] Dan Senor. But, "the majority of Iraqis are working with us." He characterized Sunday's fighters as "isolated pockets" and "a miniscule percentage" of Iraq's 26 million people.

I know! What the Shi'ites need is tax cuts!