A U.S. soldier stands guard outside a school in Mahmudiya, 30 km (20 miles) south of Baghdad June 26, 2008.
Will the Calm in Baghdad Last? -- Time Magazine
As the sun sets over the Jadriya bridge in central Baghdad, groups of young men jostle each other, laughing wildly on the sidewalk; their cars parked in a line that stretches from one side of the Tigris river to the other. In a country now in its fifth year of war, the sight may be unexpected. But perhaps more startling is what they're drinking: beer. Local residents say that sort of activity hasn't occurred here in public since the first year of the war — now looked upon nostalgically as the year before life really got bad.
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More News On Iraq From Other Sources:
Bombs kill 18 as sheikhs meet, 18 near market -- CNN
Many killed in Iraqi bomb attacks -- BBC News
Car bomb in northern Iraq kills 18, wounds 60 -- Yahoo News
Suicide bomber kills 12 at sheiks' meeting -- The Guardian
Iraqi and U.S. Troops Seize 7 EFPs, Mortar Systems in New Baghdad Night Raids -- Long War Journal
Dozens die as bombers target Iraqi officials -- MSNBC
Roadside bombs kill 4 US soldiers in spike of violence against American forces -- International Herald Tribune
At least 30 killed in 2 suicide attacks in Iraq -- International Herald Tribune
Iraq Attacks Claim More Americans -- CBS News
Arrest of four Al-Qaeda commanders in Baghdad -- Kuwait News Agency
My Comment: In the past week there has been a spike in attacks and deaths in Iraq. Is this a short term thing or a more long term trend? My thinking .... I do not know which way this will go.