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By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press Writer SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - The United States must deliver weapons to Iraq more quickly, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday, in the wake of an announcement that the Iraqis have ordered $100 million in military equipment from China. He agreed that there are concerns that it is harder for the U.S. military in Iraq to track weapons purchased from countries other than America. In many cases, the Iraqis cannot account for weapons, which often end up in the hands of insurgents. Speaking to reporters, Gates said the issue also came up at his...

Dear Americans: On my second visit to the United States representing free and democratic Iraq, I felt it my duty to give you an update on what has been achieved in Iraq over the past year and on the challenges that lie ahead. The first thing I would like to convey is the gratitude of all Iraqis, who are fighting for a democratic government and a civil society, to the Americans. Without your commitment, our struggle against despotism could not have made the progress that we have achieved. No expression of thanks could be enough for those who lost loved...

Things have actually been going a bit better in Iraq these days.  Fewer American soldiers are dying and the Iraqis are slowly taking on more power and responsibilities.  This presents a quandary for the media.  You see, as part of their Bush-bashing template, they need to continue to push the war in Iraq as an un-winnable failure.  The Democrats are counting on failure in Iraq to carry them to victory this fall. That's right...the Democrats are actually invested in American failure in Iraq.  They need more American troop deaths to put them over the top at the polls in November. ...

President Talabani Says Benedict XVI Sees Progress in Constitution VATICAN CITY, NOV. 10, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The Iraqi Constitution guarantees the rights and freedom of the nation's Christians, President Jalal Talabani told Benedict XVI. The country's constitution, and the scourge of terrorism, were the main topics of the talks between the Pope and Talabani, who was received in audience today in the Vatican. In statements published by AsiaNews, Talabani later said that the Holy Father referred to the Iraqi Constitution as "progress." For his part, the president said he assured the Pope that the rights and freedom of Iraqi Christians will...

Today, President Bush met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in the Oval Office, and together they had a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House.This afternoon, President and First Lady Laura Bush left the White House for New York City, where the President will address the United Nations.Enjoy your trip to Sanity Island on the Daily Dose!