Last Week Of "The Politique" :-(

International:
Chopper Escorting Musharraf Crashes
Pakistani president OK after one of three helicopters escorting him crashes, killing four soldiers.

Rare Protest Targets Iranian President
About 100 students staged a rare protest Monday against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling him a "dictator" as he gave a speech at Tehran University marking the beginning of the academic year.

While the demonstrators and hard-line students loyal to Ahmadinejad scuffled in the auditorium, the president ignored chants of "Death to the dictator" and gave his speech on the merits of science and the pitfalls of Western-style democracy, witnesses said.

The hard-line students chanted "Thank you, president" as police looked on from outside the university's gates without intervening. The protesters dispersed after Ahmadinejad left the campus. More
here

Israel Signals Shift on Jerusalem Split

All British troops may leave Iraq next year
Most British troops could be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of next year under an exit strategy outlined by Gordon Brown yesterday.

As the Prime Minister began trying to restore his battered authority after calling off an autumn election, Mr Brown said British troop numbers would be halved to 2,500 by next spring when a further decision on the next phase would be taken.

Ministry of Defence officials said that all British troops could be out by the end of next year, although Downing Street expressed caution about the prospect.
Details

Iraqi leaders: National Reconciliation Is Unattainable
The Washington Post reports this morning that “several top Iraqi leaders say they have lost faith in” the idea that “national reconciliation” can come amid the competing struggle for power of Iraq’s various factions. Reconciliation “is a very inaccurate term,” said Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih. “This is a struggle about power“

National:
GOP Lawmakers Blast Hillary Clinton for Taking Advice From Sandy Berger
Hillary Clinton claims Sandy Berger has "no official role" in her campaign after Republican lawmakers blasted her Monday upon learning that Clinton's campaign is taking advice from the former top aide to President Bill Clinton who admitted stealing classified documents and disposing them.

"I think it’s a bad move," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaking with FOX News. "He stole documents, classified documents, from the National Archives, destroyed them, lied about what he did (and) is not the kind of adviser that you would want surrounding a candidate for president of the United States. I think it’s a bad decision."

GOP's 6th debate is Thompson's 1st
Fred Thompson, a veteran actor but a newcomer to presidential politics, steps onto a debate stage Tuesday for the first time in a decade.

He's been practicing for weeks. Although nine Republicans will take part in the forum, which begins at 4 p.m. EDT in Dearborn, Mich., the focus will be on Thompson, a former Tennessee senator.

Democrats to unveil wiretapping bill
The Justice Department would have to reveal to Congress the details of all electronic surveillance conducted without court orders since Sept. 11, 2001, including the so-called Terrorist Surveillance Program, if a new Democratic wiretapping bill is approved. Read more
here

In Other News…
The CIA's secret overseas prison system "
remains active and has held at least one al Qaeda militant" since first being revealed last year, says a U.S. official. "The official confirmed the detention as the White House" refused to say "whether the agency had resumed holding prisoners at secret sites and insisted that the United States does not torture."

In light of the revelation yesterday of secret opinions giving the CIA approval in 2005 for harsh interrogation techniques, Senate Intel Chairman John (D-WV) "
wrote to the acting attorney general, Peter D. Keisler, asking for copies of all opinions on interrogation since 2004."

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) has launched an
online petition asking conservatives to "band together" and "stand with Rush Limbaugh against liberal attacks."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has "closed the door to negotiations with President Bush on a vetoed children's health bill." "
We're not going to compromise," Reid said. "If he's hoping for that, he better hope for something else, like getting our troops home from Iraq."

Intel Community To Release ‘Three Iran Reports’ To ‘Slow Down’ Bush’s Warmongering. On the Chris Matthews Show today, NBC’s Howard Fineman speaks -listen
here

From The Right: Armstrong Williams: Middle East Peace Summit According to former senior United States diplomats, there is a "profound" chance that the upcoming Middle East peace summit organized by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will fail because of a lack of groundwork done by the American government.

From the Left: Glenn Kessler: Iraq Embassy Costs Soar Amid Poor Planning The massive US embassy under construction in Baghdad could cost $144 million more than projected and will open months behind schedule because of poor planning, shoddy workmanship, internal disputes and last-minute changes sought by State Department officials, according to US officials and a department document provided to Congress.

Quote Of The Day: "I came to the office of the presidency to solve problems, not to pass them on to future presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away." George W. Bush in New York, for the opening swing of his 2004 re-election campaign - June 23, 2003 (read more)

(Sources: TownHall, TruthOut, AP, FOXNews, ThinkProgress, DrudgeReport, NYT, Times-UK, MSNBC, Reuters, Politico, RollCall, PoliticalCartoons.com)