DECEMBER
December 30, 2006, 7:50 AM ET

Saddam Hussein Executed for Role in Shiite Massacre
Saddam Hussein, who brutally governed Iraq for a quarter century, was hanged in the pre-dawn hours Saturday for his role in the killing of 148 Shiite men and boys in the northern Iraqi city of Dujail in 1982.

December 29, 2006
Iraqis Face Challenges Finding Work, Stabilizing Lives
In addition to the attacks and sectarian clashes that dominate the headlines in the worldwide media, the average Iraqi is also struggling with a difficult financial reality -- trying to find and keep a job, conducting everyday business and planning a future for their children in a nation wracked by uncertainty and violence.

Profile: Former President Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein, one of the most controversial figures in modern Middle East politics, was hanged Dec. 30 after being convicted of crimes committed during his nearly 25-year reign as president of Iraq.

December 29, 2006, 8:25 PM ET

Saddam Execution May Take Toll on Deteriorating Situation in Iraq
Diane Orentlicher, a professor of international law at American University in Washington, D.C., and author Rajiv Chandrasekaran join the NewsHour's Jeffrey Brown to discuss how Saddam's execution could affect the increasingly unstable situation in Iraq.

December 28, 2006, 8:15 PM ET

Sectarian Violence Driving Iraqis from Home and Country
More than 100,000 internally displaced Iraqis registered for aid in the last month, the country's deputy migration minister said Thursday. Thousands more are fleeing the country for neighboring states including Syria due largely to sectarian violence.

December 26, 2006, 4:15 PM ET

Iraqi High Court Upholds Saddam Death Sentence
An Iraqi appeals court upheld a death sentence for Saddam Hussein Tuesday and ordered his execution within 30 days, although the decision must be ratified by President Jalal Talabani and Iraq's two vice presidents under Iraqi law.

December 25, 2006, 7:15 PM ET

Iraqi President Decries U.S. Detention of Iranians
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani complained Monday that the U.S. is holding Iranians seized in a raid last week. The New York Times reporter who broke the story describes the raids that sparked the incident and speculation about Iranian influence on sectarian violence in Iraq.

December 21, 2006, 8:15 PM ET

Condoleezza Rice Responds to Iraq Options
A day after President Bush said that a short-term increase in American troops was an option under consideration, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice backed the president, saying many options for moving forward in Iraq are being weighed and that opening dialogue with Syria and Iran must first follow a change in those countries' foreign policies.

December 21, 2006, 8:40 PM ET

Marines Charged in Haditha Killings
At least three U.S. Marines were charged Thursday in the November 2005 deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in the central Iraqi city of Haditha. Five other Marines are facing similar charges as part of the incident which has sparked an international outcry and launched the biggest criminal murder case to come out of the Iraq War.

December 20, 2006, 9:00 PM ET
President Bush Vows to Continue in Iraq in Year-End Speech
The NewsHour reports on President Bush's year-end address about the state of U.S. operations in Iraq and a possible short-term increase in troop levels.

December 20, 2006, 4:00 PM ET
Economic Instability Tied to High Inflation, Unemployment and Uncertain Oil Revenues
In the first of a two-part series examining Iraq's economy, the Online NewsHour reports on how the country is faring post Saddam Hussein. Part 2, on December 28, will look at how ordinary Iraqis are hashing out an existence in a country broken by daily occurrences of violence.

December 20, 2006, 11:00 AM ET
Iraqi Security Force Aims for 2007 Changing of the Guard
Despite predictions from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that Iraqi forces will be ready to take control of the country's security by 2007, sectarian killings and, some say, inadequate training by ill-prepared American troops, has left the force of some 328,000 struggling to stand up to a growing insurgency.

December 20, 2006, 9:30 PM ET
Incoming House Chairman Discusses U.S. Role in Iraq
Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., who will become the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee next month, discusses his new role and gives his assessment of the war in Iraq.

December 19, 2006, 8:40 PM ET
Pentagon Report Shows Spike in Violence in Iraq
Attacks on U.S. personnel, Iraqi forces and Iraqi civilians are at record highs, according to a Pentagon report tracking violence in Iraq from August to November. Ann Scott Tyson, a military reporter for The Washington Post, talks about the latest violence and struggle to plot a new U.S. course in Iraq.

December 18, 2006, 8:35 PM ET
Proposals to Increase Troop Levels in Iraq Raise Questions at Home
Republican Sen. John McCain, among others, has vocally called for more American troops in Iraq, at a time when many have called for scaling down combat forces in the country. NewsHour Correspondent Kwame Holman reports on the debate. Then, Jeffrey Brown speaks with editorial page editors about U.S. public sentiment.

December 13, 2006, 8:35 PM ET
Iraqi Political Leaders Talk of Limiting Shiite Cleric al-Sadr as Killings Continue
At least 17 people died in vehicle bomb attacks Wednesday and several dozen kidnapping victims were found dead. The New York Times reported Iraq has offered a plan for its troops to take over security in the capital by March and that a coalition of political parties are in talks to limit the power of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. New York Times journalist Ed Wong reports from Baghdad.

December 12, 2006, 8:35 PM ET
Opinions on Iraq Options Hold Steady Following Iraq Study Report
Following up on our series of conversations about U.S. Iraq policy, six guests debate the Iraq Study Group and the president's response to the different options offered.

Past conversations:
James Dobbins on engaging Iraq's neighbors
Frederick Kagan on adding troops to end the violence
Eric Davis on encouraging economic projects
Michael Vickers on training Iraqi security forces
Peter Galbraith on decentralizing Iraq
Phyllis Bennis on withdrawing U.S. troops

December 12, 2006, 12:20 PM ET
Truck Bomb Kills Dozens, Government Seeks to Limit al-Sadr Influence
A man pulled into a busy Baghdad market Tuesday, called for help unloading his pickup truck and then detonated explosives, killing at least 60 people and wounding another 150.

December 11, 2006, 8:35 PM ET
Iraq Report Continues to Draw Range of Reaction
Eliot Cohen, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, met Monday with President Bush and David Rothkopf of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace react to the study and its impact.

December 8, 2006, 8:35 PM ET
Military Community Responds to Iraq Study Group's Proposed Strategy Shift
Two days after the Iraq Study Group proposed refocusing U.S. military efforts on training instead of combat, the military community is responding. Retired Army Colonel Paul Hughes, who ran the military and security secretariat at the Iraq Study Group and served in Iraq in 2003, and Phillip Carter, a lawyer in Los Angeles who was an Army captain and police adviser in Iraq last year, debate the options.

December 7, 2006, 8:35 PM ET
Iraqi Shiite Leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim Responds to Baker-Hamilton Report
Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, a leading Shiite cleric in Iraq who is visiting Washington this week offers an Iraqi perspective on the Iraq Study Group's proposals.

Sandra Day O’Connor, former Supreme Court Justice, and Vernon Jordan, former advisor to President Clinton, discuss the recommendations and prospects for a satisfactory outcome.

December 6, 2006, 8:35 PM ET
Baker, Hamilton Discuss 'New Way Forward' Proposals for Iraq
A bipartisan committee of former senators and government officials delivered its assessment of America's involvement in Iraq Wednesday. Lee Hamilton and James Baker, chairmen of the Iraq Study Group, explain their report.

Iraq Study Group Report (PDF: 1.8 MB)

Additional analysis:
Counselor to the president Dan Bartlett responds to the study.
Sens. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., discuss potential impacts on Iraq policy.

December 4, 2006, 8:40 PM ET
Experts Discuss Evolving U.S. Strategy in Iraq
The number of U.S. Troops killed in Iraq passed 2,900 over the weekend, as President Bush met with a top Shiite leader at the White House Monday to mull ways to stop the violence. Jessica Mathews of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Pentagon official Dov Zakheim talk about U.S. strategy in Iraq under outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and how it may change under a new secretary.

NOVEMBER
November 30, 2006, 8:30 PM ET
U.S. to Stay in Iraq as Long as Needed, President Says
President Bush, after a meeting Thursday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said the United States will stay in Iraq as long as necessary, and both pledged to speed the training of Iraqi security forces. Former State Department official Dennis Ross and Washington Post foreign affairs columnist David Ignatius talk about the results of the summit.

November 29, 2006, 8:20 PM ET
U.S.-Iraq Talks on Security Delayed a Day
A meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Bush on security matters was postponed Wednesday, the same day a classified White House memo highly critical of the Iraqi leader was leaked to the press. The leaders are expected to meet on Thursday.

November 28, 2006, 8:00 PM ET
Reports Start Deeming Violence in Iraq as Civil War
Several media outlets are starting to describe the violence in Iraq as a civil war between Sunni and Shiite factions. Marjorie Miller, foreign editor of the Los Angeles Times, history professor Donald Kagan of Yale University and political science professor Richard Betts of Columbia University discuss the decision facing the media and whether Iraq is indeed sliding into a civil war.

November 27, 2006, 8:15 PM ET
Iran Pledges Security Assistance to Longtime Rival Iraq
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged to provide Iraq with whatever security is necessary to prevent its struggling neighbor from descending into civil war. Ahmadinejad made the offer during a visit Monday from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

November 24, 2006, 7:45 PM ET
Attacks Spur Reprisal Killings in Baghdad
Reprisal killings swept across Baghdad Friday after the car bombings and other attacks on Shiites. Salameh Nematt of the Arab newspaper Al Hayat and Mark Levine of the University of California at Irvine discuss the fallout.

November 23, 2006, 7:30 PM ET
Series of Car Bombs Rips Through Eastern Baghdad
Suspected Sunni Muslim insurgents blew up five car bombs and fired mortars into Baghdad's largest Shiite district Thursday, killing at least 161 people and wounding more than 250. John Burns, the Baghdad bureau chief of The New York Times, updates the story.

November 21, 2006, 8:30 PM ET
Iraq, Syria Restore Political Ties
Iraq agreed to restore full diplomatic relations with neighboring Syria Tuesday, ending a 25-year political disagreement that began when Syria backed Iran during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988. Robert Malley, a former member of the National Security Council under President Clinton, and David Schenker of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy discuss the implications for stability in the Middle East.

November 20, 2006, 8:15 PM ET
Debate Swirls over Sending More Troops to Iraq
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called for additional troops in Iraq on Sunday, while Democratic congressional leaders countered with a cry for their phased reduction. Frederick Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute and Michael Vickers, a former Army special forces and CIA operations officer who is now with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, assess the proposal.

November 15, 2006, 8:35 PM ET
Reconstruction Efforts Criticized for Faulty Work and Mismanagement
The Baghdad Police Academy, rebuilt by Parsons Corporation headquartered in California to the tune of $73 million, was supposed to be a shining example of America's Iraq reconstruction program. Instead, it has become an icon of incompetence to its critics and a showcase for the challenges of rebuilding in a war zone to its defenders.

November 14, 2006, 8:45 PM ET
Iraqis Work to Cope Amid Violence
Three guests who have witnessed the Iraq war and its destruction firsthand describe how they tried to lead normal lives despite the chance of violence: Bilal Wahab, an Iraqi attending American University in Washington, D.C.; Shahla Waliy, who will begin studies at Tufts University this year; and Anthony Shadid, a Washington Post reporter.

November 13, 2006, 8:30 PM ET
Senators Debate Changes in U.S Strategy Toward Iraq
President Bush met with members of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group Monday to discuss the situation on the ground, as some Democrats called for a phased troop pullout. A Republican and a Democratic senator debate recalling U.S. forces.

Update: Iraq Study Group Develops Policy Options as More Attacks Scar Country

November 8, 2006, 1:45 PM ET
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Steps Down
Under fire from Democrats and a growing number of Republicans for the way the war in Iraq has been conducted, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld resigned Wednesday, a day after Democrats scored major electoral victories.

RealAudio | MP3: President Bush talks about Donald Rumsfeld, his plans to work with former Secretary of State James Baker and former Rep. Lee Hamilton on their recommendations about Iraq policy and the impacts of the midterm elections in a 43-minute press conference Wednesday.

November 6, 2006, 8:45 PM ET
Iraqis React to Saddam Hanging Verdict
Saddam Hussein was convicted of crimes against humanity Sunday and sentenced to hang for the 1982 killings of 148 people in a Shiite town, prompting thousands to spill into the streets in either jubilation or protest. New York Times Baghdad bureau chief John Burns provides an update.

Update: Shiites, Kurds Celebrate Saddam Death Sentence; Sunnis Protest

November 2, 2006, 5:30 PM ET
Iraq's Neighbors Must Play Role in Ending Violence, Former Official Says
As part of a series of conversations about mapping out a new U.S. strategy in Iraq, James Dobbins, a former Bush administration official now with the RAND Corporation, discusses the need to involve Iraq's neighbors in the effort to stabilize and rebuild the war-torn nation.

Past conversations:
Frederick Kagan on adding troops to end the violence
Eric Davis on encouraging economic projects
Michael Vickers on training Iraqi security forces
Peter Galbraith on decentralizing Iraq
Phyllis Bennis on withdrawing U.S. troops

November 1, 2006, 8:30 PM ET
Experts Eye Relationship Between U.S., Iraqi Governments
President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki agreed to expedite the handing over of control of Iraqi security forces to Baghdad, easing tensions between the two governments somewhat. Experts discuss the relationship as it now stands.

OCTOBER
October 30, 2006, 8:25 PM ET
Bolstering Business Possible Avenue to Lessen Attacks in Iraq
The fourth in a series presenting various views on Iraq focuses on Eric Davis of Rutgers and his ideas about how small economic projects can help reduce violence in Iraq.

October 27, 2006, 8:20 PM EDT
U.S. Works to Equip, Train Iraqi Security Forces in Push for Stability
Next in a series exploring how the United States should handle the war in Iraq, former Army special forces and CIA officer Michael Vickers discusses how the security situation can be improved by properly training Iraqi security forces.

October 26, 2006, 8:30 PM EDT
National Security Adviser Outlines Three-Step Plan for Iraq
National security adviser Stephen Hadley recommends a three-phase process to help Iraqi security forces assume more responsibility: training, placing them "in the lead on security" and providing logistical support.

Democratic Response: Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a member of the Armed Services Committee, discusses his observations from visiting Iraq and the direction he thinks the United States should go.

October 25, 2006, 8:40 PM EDT
President Says U.S. Must Stay in Iraq Until War Is Won
While acknowledging rising discontent with the situation in Iraq, President Bush said Wednesday that victory there was essential for the broader war on terror. Policy experts Zbigniew Brzezinski and Walter Russell Mead discuss the questions surrounding U.S. policy in Iraq.

RealAudio | MP3: Full presidential press conference

October 24, 2006, 8:20 PM EDT
Plan Floated to Divide Iraq Along Ethnic Lines
In the second conversation exploring views on Iraq, former State Department official Peter Galbraith argues in favor of separating Iraq into different ethnic areas.

Update: U.S. officials said Tuesday Iraqi leaders have agreed to develop a timeline by the end of the year toward stabilizing Iraq and taking control of security from U.S. forces in the next 12 to 18 months with some level of U.S. support.

October 23, 2006, 8:30 PM EDT
Deadly Month in Iraq Bolsters Plans for Withdrawal
In the first in a series exploring different views about how the United States should handle the Iraq war, Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies considers a withdrawal of U.S. troops.

October 20, 2006, 8:15 PM EDT
Mahdi Army Stages Deadly Attack in Southern Iraq
Iraqi police battled insurgents loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who temporarily took over the southern city of Amarah Friday. The clash, which killed at least 25 insurgents and police, underscores an increase in violence in and around Baghdad in recent weeks. James Hider, the London Times' correspondent in Baghdad, reports on the violence and what it means for the drive to stabilize Iraq.

October 18, 2006, 8:20 PM EDT
Violence Escalates Amid Reconciliation Efforts By Iraqi Premier
At least 10 American soldiers died in Iraq as a sudden spike in violence swept the war-torn nation. Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times in Baghdad describes the latest developments, including the release of an aide to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the incidents of violence and efforts by the Iraqi government to boost security.

October 16, 2006, 8:35 PM EDT
Iraqi Government Grapples with Sectarian Violence
Dozens of Iraqis were killed in attacks over the weekend as the Iraqi government considers how to deal with the sectarian violence. Matthew Sherman, head of a political risk assessment company who was deputy senior adviser and director of policy to Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, and Juan Cole, a professor of Middle East history at the University of Michigan, discuss the situation.

October 11, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
Death Toll Higher Than Originally Thought, According to New Study
A new study suggests as many as 655,000 Iraqis -- more than previously reported -- have died since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. President Bush said the study, conducted through Johns Hopkins University, was not credible. Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times in Baghdad discusses this and other developments in Iraq.

October 10, 2006, 6:45 PM EDT
Bomb Attacks Kill at Least 18 in Iraq as Security Plan Proceeds
Scattered explosions left at least 18 dead in Iraq Tuesday, as the Iraqi government went ahead with plans aimed at ending the sectarian violence.

October 4, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
Iraqi Police Investigated for Possible Ties to Mass Kidnapping
A 700-member Iraqi police squad has been barred from duty because of suspected links to the kidnapping of 24 workers that occurred earlier in the week. A reporter provides an update on the situation.

October 2, 2006, 6:45 PM EDT
Iraqi Prime Minister Announces Peace Plan; Curfew Extended
In an effort to curb the sectarian killings across Baghdad, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki presented a four-point plan after talking with Sunni and Shiite party leaders, while Iraq's parliament extended the state of emergency in the capital Monday.

SEPTEMBER
September 29, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
Relative of Judge in Saddam Trial Killed in Baghdad
Gunmen killed a brother-in-law of the chief judge in the Saddam Hussein trial, police said Friday. A reporter provides an update on the murder and other violence, and comments made by U.S. generals about the security situation in Iraq.

September 25, 2006, 7:50 PM EDT
Iraqi President Rejects Report Linking Iraq and Terror
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said he disagreed with the leaked findings of a U.S. intelligence report that found the Iraqi war had increased the threat of terrorism, saying militants are focusing on his nation, rather than posing a greater danger to the United States.

Analysis: A former CIA official offers his take on the leaked intelligence assessment.

September 20, 2006, 7:50 PM EDT
Top U.S. General Says Iraq Becoming More Stable
Army Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, discussed security efforts in Iraq with Jim Lehrer Wednesday, saying the Middle Eastern country is moving slowly but steadily toward stability.

September 15, 2006, 7:30 PM EDT
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih Offers Iraq View on Growing Violence
In response to the 130 tortured and murdered bodies found around Baghdad in the last two days, the Iraqi government announced plans for trenches around the city to control access. Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, an Iraqi Kurd who has been part of post-war governing efforts since soon after the invasion, discusses the violence, its causes and plans to stem the sectarian strife.

September 13, 2006, 7:30 PM EDT
Tortured Bodies Found; Car Bombs Kill 40
More than 60 bodies were found in Baghdad Tuesday night; the victims had been tortured, shot and then dumped in mostly Sunni neighborhoods. Car bombs and mortar attacks killed another 40 people Wednesday, and the U.S. military announced the deaths of two more American soldiers. Ed Wong of The New York Times reports on the violence.

September 7, 2006, 7:30 PM EDT
Iraqis Take Reins of Security Force
The United States handed over control of Iraq's new military to the Iraqi government Thursday. Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the No. 2 U.S. general in Iraq, discusses the handover, new interrogation rules and other issues pertaining to Iraq and the war on terrorism.

AUGUST
August 29, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
Iraq Works to Clamp Down on Al-Sadr's Militia
U.S. and Iraqi forces battled militias loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in southern Iraq this week, with one 12-hour battle in the southern town of Diwaniyah leaving some 60 dead. Laith Kubba, spokesman for Iraq's former government; Juan Cole, history professor at the University of Michigan; and Bing West, assistant secretary of defense under the Reagan administration, assess the strength of the militias.

August 28, 2006, 2:30 PM EDT
Shiite Militia, Iraqi Forces Clash in Southern Iraq
Fighting between Shiite militiamen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and U.S. And Iraqi soldiers left at least 34 people dead and 70 injured in the southern city of Diwaniyah Monday, officials said.

August 10, 2006, 1:05 PM EDT
Suicide Bomber Attacks Shiite Shrine in Iraq
A suicide attacker detonated his explosives outside a Shiite shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Thursday, killing at least 35 people and injuring at least 122, the Iraqi army said. Shiite religious leaders blamed the attack on Sunni loyalists of Saddam Hussein.

August 7, 2006, 8:00 PM EDT
Khalilzad Describes Efforts to Curtail Violence in Iraq
U.S. and Iraqi forces fought Shiite militiamen in Baghdad Monday, as scattered violence around the country killed at least 28 people. The U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad discusses efforts in his country to end the sectarian violence.

JULY
July 31, 2006, 7:50 PM EDT
Violence Prompts Planned Troop Increase in Baghdad
More than two dozen people were kidnapped in an upscale neighborhood of Baghdad, while at least 23 others were ambushed and killed on a road outside the capital. Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times provides an update on the attacks and the decision to increase U.S. troops in Baghdad to help stem the violence.

July 25, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
President Bush, Iraqi Prime Minister Agree to Boost U.S. Troops in Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Bush agreed Tuesday that more U.S. troops are needed in Baghdad to secure the capital against sectarian violence while they are reduced in other parts of the country.

RealAudio | MP3: Press conference with the two leaders (29 minutes)

July 24, 2006, 6:05 PM EDT
Iraqi Prime Minister Denies Civil War
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asserted Monday that, despite sectarian violence across the country that kills an average of 100 civilians per day, Iraq is not slipping into a civil war.

July 20, 2006, 6:30 PM EDT
Leading Shiite Cleric Calls for End to Sectarian Violence
Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Ali al-Sistani, called for an end to sectarian "hatred and violence" Thursday, saying the fighting would prolong the presence of U.S. forces in the country. At least a dozen Iraqis and one U.S. Marine were killed Thursday and the U.S. military said the average number of attacks around Baghdad is up 40 percent in the last five days. Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times provides an update.

July 19, 2006, 1:30 PM EDT
Months of Sectarian Violence Leave Heavy Casualties in Iraq
A wave of violent crime led to the deaths of nearly 6,000 civilians in Iraq in May and June, a new U.N. report said, widening concerns that the country was spiraling into a civil war.

July 17, 2006, 2:15 PM EDT
Brazen Attack on Market Kills Dozens
An attack on a market south of Baghdad Monday killed at least 40 Iraqis, mostly Shiites, and prompted members in the legislative bloc of the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to walk out of Parliament in protest.

July 13, 2006, 8:15 PM EDT
Senators Weigh Next Steps in Iraq
Coalition troops handed over security operations to Iraqis in a southern province Thursday, marking the first time for such a transfer of power. Following excerpts from U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad's testimony before a Senate committee, Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Joseph Biden, D-Del., just back from the region, discuss next steps.

July 10, 2006, 4:50 PM EDT
Car Bombings, Street Fighting Escalate in Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pleaded for unity Monday after numerous attacks over the past few days killed and injured dozens. Phebe Marr of the U.S. Institute of Peace and foreign affairs columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer Trudy Rubin discuss who's behind the latest violence and what it means for the new Iraqi government.

July 7, 2006, 2:20 PM EDT
U.S.-Iraqi Forces Increase Pressure on Militias
Iraqi troops backed by U.S. forces have launched a crackdown on insurgent militias blamed for the recent increase in sectarian violence that has led to fears of a civil war.

July 3, 2006, 3:30 PM EDT
Saddam's Wife, Daughter, New Al-Qaida Leader on Wanted List
Iraqi officials recently released a most wanted list of 41 people, including Saddam Hussein's wife and eldest daughter, and the new al-Qaida in Iraq leader, Abu Ayyub al-Masri.

JUNE
June 26, 2006, 1:30 PM EDT
Iraq Offers Amnesty to Some Insurgents
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday released a 28-point plan to calm ethnic and sectarian factions and offer amnesty to insurgents who were not proven to be involved in terrorist activities.

June 21, 2006, 7:35 PM EDT
Eight U.S. Troops Charged with Murder of Iraqi Civilian
Seven U.S. Marines and one sailor were charged with murder, kidnapping and conspiracy Wednesday for the April death of a disabled Iraqi man in Hamdania, while a fourth soldier was charged with murder in the deaths of three Iraqis in May.

June 20, 2006, 6:35 PM EDT
Killing of U.S. Soldiers Raises Questions About Insurgent Tactics
The bodies of two American soldiers who disappeared Friday were discovered late Monday and showed signs of having been tortured, according to the Iraqi military. Analysts look at the tactics and leadership of insurgent groups operating in Iraq.

John Burns reports from Baghdad

Update: Two Missing U.S. Troops Found Dead in Iraq

June 19, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
U.S. Forces Launch Search for Missing Troops
John Burns of The New York Times discusses the kidnapping of two U.S. soldiers at a checkpoint in Iraq and the security crackdown in Baghdad.

June 16, 2006, 7:30 PM EDT
Iraqi Officials Hopeful Security Initiative Will Bring Peace
Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, in the United States for meetings at the U.N. Security Council, discusses the challenges facing his country and efforts to combat the ongoing insurgency.

June 16, 2006, 4:00 PM EDT
Challenges Just Beginning for New Iraqi Unity Government
More than three years after American troops toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, Iraq established a permanent government that joins Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish politicians under a federal Constitution.

June 14, 2006, 8:30 PM EDT
President's Baghdad Trip Sparks U.S. Iraq Policy Debate
President Bush Wednesday hailed efforts to build a democratic Iraq, but called for "patience" as U.S. troops continue to fight the war on terror. Analysts Zbigniew Brzezinski and Walter Russell Mead discuss the direction of U.S. foreign policy.

RealAudio: President Bush answers questions about Iraq policy at Wednesday's news conference.

June 13, 2006, 6:25 PM EDT
President Bush Discusses New Security Plan with Iraqi Leaders
President Bush made a surprise visit to Baghdad Tuesday to meet with Iraqi leaders and discuss Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's reported plan to deploy 75,000 Iraqi and multinational forces in the capital Baghdad. The visit came the same day as a series of explosions hit the northern city of Kirkuk, killing at least 16 people.

Transcript: New York Times reporter Dexter Filkins describes the president's trip and reaction from Iraqis.

Update: President Bush makes an unannounced visit to Iraq.

June 9, 2006, 8:00 PM EDT
U.S. Ambassador Comments on Future of Iraq
As more details emerge about how al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed and the new ministers of a unity government take their posts, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad stresses the new government faces a "moment of opportunity" for the war-torn country. He discusses the situation in a newsmaker interview with Margaret Warner.

June 8, 2006, 4:16 PM EDT
Iraq Finalizes First Full-term Government Since Saddam's Fall
The Iraqi parliament finalized a permanent government Thursday after filling three contentious cabinet posts of the defense, interior and national security ministries, renewing hope that Iraq's nascent democracy can overcome sectarian differences.

June 8, 2006, 8:35 AM EDT
Al-Qaida Leader Al-Zarqawi Killed in Air Strike
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose al-Qaida in Iraq has claimed responsibility for some of the bloodiest attacks against Shiite Iraqis and American forces, was killed in an American air strike Wednesday night.

RealAudio: President Bush comments on the death of al-Zarqawi

June 7, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
Marine Corps Head Urges Patience in Haditha Investigations
For the first time since allegations arose of Marines killing civilians in Iraq, the commandant of the Marine Corps discussed the issue in public Wednesday. Gen. Joseph Hoar and Lt. Gen. Michael DeLong, both retired, talk about the investigation and how the war should be handled at this point.

June 5, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
Violence Continues as Iraqis Await Appointment of Key Ministers
Gunmen dressed in Iraqi police uniforms kidnapped at least 50 people Monday at bus stations in Baghdad a day after 21 Shiite students were killed by gunmen.

New York Times Baghdad bureau chief John Burns discusses the kidnappings and mounting sectarian strife, in addition to the deadlock over naming key positions in the new government.

June 2, 2006, 6:15 PM EDT
U.S. Military Says it Will Cooperate with Iraqi Govt. Haditha Investigation
A reporter provides an update on the U.S. military's investigation into civilian deaths in Iraq allegedly at the hands of Marines and soldiers.

MAY
May 31, 2006, 9:00 PM EDT
Pentagon Orders New Training for Soldiers in Iraq
Army Gen. George W. Casey ordered all U.S. and allied troops to undergo training in battlefield ethics and values. The order follows allegations that U.S. Marines murdered 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha last November.

May 31, 2006, 12:15 PM EDT
Iraqi Prime Minister Declares State of Emergency in Basra
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared a state of emergency Wednesday in the southern city of Basra, where 140 people have been killed in rival gang clashes in May alone, police said.

May 29, 2006, 7:30 PM EDT
Political Furor over Haditha Killings Continues
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace has said the U.S. government will press criminal charges if American Marines killed civilians in restive city of Haditha last November. New York Times reporter Richard Oppel updates the investigation and the brewing controversy over whether the military attempted to cover up the incident.

May 26, 2006, 8:30 PM EDT
Update: New York Times Pentagon correspondent Eric Schmitt reports on the Pentagon investigation.

May 23, 2006, 8:00 PM EDT
Ambassador Discusses New Iraqi Government, Insurgency
As Iraq's new government takes charge, Margaret Warner talks to the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad about the U.S. role in rebuilding and securing the country.

Profile: Zalmay Khalilzad

May 22, 2006, 7:00 PM EDT
New Iraqi Government Takes Office, Outlines Timeline for Security Handover
Iraq's new prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, who was sworn in with 36 of his ministry appointments Saturday, said Iraqi forces could assume control of much of the country by year’s end. Three Iraq analysts access the new government and the challenges ahead.

May 18, 2006, 6:00 PM EDT
Scattered Attacks in Iraq Kill at Least 20
More than 20 people were killed in attacks across Iraq Thursday, including 19 deaths in Iraq's capital.

May 16, 2006, 7:45 PM EDT
Gunmen Kill 19 Iraqis in Coordinated Baghdad Attack
Gunmen launched an attack in a Baghdad parking lot Tuesday, killing 19 Iraqis. The attackers first shot five guards, then set off a car bomb next to an oil tanker just as rescuers arrived. The U.S. military also reported the deaths of three Americans from roadside bombs. Judy Woodruff talks to New York Times reporter Sabrina Tavernise about the latest round of violence.

May 10, 2006, 1:00 PM EDT
Sectarian Violence Leaves More Than 1,000 Dead in April
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Wednesday that 1,091 people were killed in Baghdad in April, an indicator of rising sectarian violence since the February bombing of a Shiite shrine.

APRIL
April 28, 2006, 2:45 PM EDT
Report Shows Terrorism Increasing in Iraq, Worldwide
The State Department issued an update on terrorist activities around the world Friday and tallied over 11,000 attacks in the past year, a fourfold increase from 2004. The report also said terrorist organizations in Iraq are strengthening.

April 26, 2006, 8:40 PM EDT
Rumsfeld and Rice Meet with Iraqi Officials to Discuss Unity Government
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister-designate Jawad al-Maliki in Baghdad Wednesday to discuss how to unify the country. Former Iraqi government spokesman Laith Kubba and professor Mohammed Hafez talk about the road ahead for the Iraqi government.

April 24, 2006, 1:00 PM EDT
New Iraqi Premier Urged to Quickly Form Government
Over the weekend, leaders of seven political parties under the United Iraqi Alliance nominated Jawad al-Maliki to be the country's prime minister. He is tasked with forming a cabinet and unity government.

April 21, 2006, 7:40 PM EDT
New Prime Minister Nomination May End Impasse
The Iraqi Shiite Alliance nominated Jawad al-Maliki for prime minister Friday, gaining support of Sunni Arabs and possibly ending a four-month deadlock over forming a coalition government.

Update: Iraqi Shiite Alliance to Reconsider Al-Jaafari's Nomination (4/20/06)

April 13, 2006, 8:45 PM EDT
Generals Criticize Handling of Iraq War
Several former generals have recently made public comments critical of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld -- the principal architect of the Iraq war strategy. Jim Lehrer speaks with one of the critics, retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste, about his comments that the Defense Department needs "a fresh start."

April 7, 2006, 1:30 PM EDT
Mosque Attack in Baghdad Kills Dozens
Suicide attackers wearing women's robes blew themselves up Friday in a Shiite mosque in Baghdad, killing at least 79 people and wounding more than 160, police said, the Associated Press reported. It was the second major attack against a Shiite target in as many days. Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times reports from Baghdad.

April 4, 2006, 1:55 PM EDT
Saddam, Six Others Face New Criminal Charges in Iraq
The Iraqi special tribunal in charge of the Saddam Hussein trial announced Tuesday that it is bringing new charges based on the deaths of thousands of Iraqi Kurds against the former Iraqi president and six of his former deputies including "Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majid.

April 3, 2006, 9:00 PM EDT
Rice, Straw Urge Unity Government to Quell Violence
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said during a surprise visit to Iraq that the country must form a coalition government to ease growing sectarian violence and allow foreign forces to withdraw. Trudy Rubin, a foreign affairs columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Babak Rahimi, an assistant professor of Islamic studies at the University of California in San Diego, discuss the problems Iraq faces in trying to form a government.

MARCH
March 30, 2006, 8:00 PM EST
Kidnapped Reporter Freed After Three Months in Captivity
American journalist Jill Carroll, kidnapped three months ago, walked into the office of the main Sunni political party in Baghdad Thursday after being released by her captors. David Cook of the Christian Science Monitor and Nic Robertson of CNN discuss Carroll's release.

March 27, 2006, 8:00 PM EST
Al-Sadr Influence Grows in Iraq
The scion of one of Iraq's most powerful Shiite clerical families, Muqtada al-Sadr has emerged as one of the most potent political and military leaders in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq and as one of the most vocal critics of the U.S. occupation. Judith Yaphe, former Middle East analyst at the CIA, and Juan Cole, a history professor at the University of Michigan, explain al-Sadr's evolving role in Iraq.

Profile: Muqtada al-Sadr

March 24, 2006, 7:15 PM EST
Iraqi Americans Worry of Growing Threat of Civil War in Homeland
For those who fled Iraq during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the ongoing attacks and the lack of political developments have caused many to view the possibility of a civil war in Iraq as a very real threat. Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW-Chicago reports on how Iraqi Americans are viewing the situation in their former homeland.

March 23, 2006, 3:00 PM EST
Car Bombs in Iraq Kill at Least 56
At least 56 Iraqis died Thursday in attacks, including a suicide car bombing outside a police crimes unit headquarters in Baghdad in which 25 people, including at least 10 policemen, died.

March 22, 2006, 7:30 PM EST
Iraqi Forces Ward Off Insurgent Raid on Police Station
Insurgents attacked a police station near Baghdad killing three police officers and one commander after a two-hour gunbattle with Iraqi and U.S. Forces that resulted in the capture of at least 50 insurgents. New York Times reporter Jeffrey Gettleman discusses the day's events.

March 20, 2006, 8:30 PM EST
President Urges Public Support as War Enters Fourth Year
President Bush reiterated the theme that the conflict in Iraq, entering its fourth year and at a new low point in public support, remained the central front in the ongoing war against terrorism Monday in a speech in Cleveland. Two experts comment on his message.

March 17, 2006, 8:30 PM EST
New Book Details Iraq War Strategy
New York Times military correspondent Michael Gordon and retired Marine Lt. Gen. Bernard Trainor traced the planning and execution of the Iraq war in their new book "Cobra II." Margaret Warner speaks with the two men about their findings.

March 16, 2006, 7:45 PM EST
U.S. Launches Largest Air Assault Since Start of War
U.S. forces and Iraqi troops on Thursday launched the largest air assault since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. The offensive, dubbed "Operation Swarmer", involved more than 1,500 troops, 200 tactical vehicles and 50 aircraft, and was aimed at a suspected insurgent operation northeast of Samarra, according to the Pentagon. Two military operations experts consider the new assault and what it says about the counter-insurgency efforts.

Transcript: Edward Wong of The New York Times discusses what is known about the early stages of the operation.

March 14, 2006, 8:15 PM EST
Body Count Rises as Sectarian Violence Continues to Rock Baghdad
Police discovered more than 80 bodies in the Baghdad area Tuesday, many bearing the marks of torture and execution. Washington Post Baghdad Bureau Chief Ellen Knickmeyer discusses the latest violence and the challenges of reporting from a dangerous and turbulent war zone.

March 7, 2006, 8:15 PM EST
Prime Minister Refuses to Step Down
Shiite Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Tuesday he would not bow to pressure to oust him from office in the latest troubles surrounding the new Iraqi government. Three regional experts consider the violence and political uncertainty and what they may spell for the future stability of Iraq.

March 1, 2006, 8:30 PM EST
Saddam Admits to Execution Orders
At least 30 more Iraqis died Wednesday in violence in and around Baghdad. Elsewhere in the Iraqi capital, Saddam Hussein admitted his role in some of the main allegations at his mass-murder trial but said his actions were legal. Edward Wong of The New York Times in Baghdad describes the day's events.

FEBRUARY
February 28, 2006, 1:30 PM EST
Violence in Iraq Leaves Dozens Dead and Wounded
A spate of attacks in and around Baghdad killed at least 41 people and left dozens more wounded Tuesday, stoking fears the country could descend into civil war with Sunni and Shiite factions battling for political control.

February 27, 2006, 7:30 PM EST
Scattered Violence Continues in Iraq After Curfew Ends
Traffic returned and businesses reopened Monday after officials lifted a three-day curfew aimed at stemming sectarian violence in Iraq. However, sporadic violence continued with a mortar attack that killed four in Baghdad.

Transcript: Ed Wong of The New York Times reports on the effort to restore normalcy in Baghdad.

February 24, 2006, 7:30 PM EST
Daytime Curfew Calms Violence as Iraqi Leaders Try to Control Sectarian Anger
Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times describes the mood in Baghdad two days after the bombing of a Shiite shrine set off a wave of reprisal killings and sectarian polarization. A rare daytime curfew emptied the streets of Baghdad and three other provinces, stemming the tide of violence Friday.

February 23, 2006, 7:30 PM EST
Mosque Attack Sparks Most Violent Period Since American Invasion
More than 130 people were killed in sectarian violence across Iraq Thursday, as Shiites retaliated for Wednesday's bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra.

Update: Iraqi Sectarian Violence Surges Following Shiite Shrine Attack

February 22, 2006, 4:30 PM EST
Attack on Shiite Shrine Spurs Reprisals Against Sunnis
Two bomb attacks early Wednesday on the Golden Mosque in Samarra, one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites, led to reprisal attacks against Sunni mosques despite calls for calm from Shiite leaders. The New York Times' Edward Wong reports from Baghdad on the latest violence and the threat of civil war in the country.

February 21, 2006, 8:45 PM EST
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad Presses for Formation of Unity Government
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said in an interview from Baghdad that the new Shiite majority government should include sectarian rivals or insurgent violence will continue. The ambassador's call for a unity government marked a public shift in the American approach to the emerging Iraqi democracy, for the first time hinting that U.S. support could be tied to a truly representative government.

February 14, 2006, 8:30 PM EST
Saddam, Others Go on Hunger Strike
Deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and three of his co-defendants launched a hunger strike Tuesday to protest the chief judge of their trial. Lindsay Hilsum of Independent Television News reports on Saddam's troubled trial. Then, Feisal Istrabadi, Iraq's U.N. representative, and Leila Sadat, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis, discuss the legal proceedings.

February 13, 2006, 7:15 PM EST
Shiite Party Narrowly Votes to Retain Iraqi Prime Minister
The leading Shiite alliance party voted Sunday to retain moderate Islamist Ibrahim al-Jaafari as Iraq's prime minister, but the one-vote margin of the premier's selection exposed deep differences within the leading political party over the direction of the new Iraqi parliament.

Transcript: Robert Worth of The New York Times discusses the latest political developments and the recent spate of violence.

February 10, 2006, 4:45 PM EST
Iraq Announces Final Election Results
Iraqi officials certified final results Friday from the Dec. 15 national elections. They confirmed the ruling Shiite Coalition won most of the parliamentary seats but not an outright majority. The announcement came the same day a car bomb killed at least eight Iraqis outside a Sunni mosque in Baghdad. Robert Worth of The New York Times in Baghdad provides an update on the political situation and violence.

JANUARY
January 30, 2006, 7:30 PM EST
Report: Reconstruction Efforts Slowed By Violence, Corruption
It will take substantially more U.S. financial support before the Iraqi government can take control of billions of dollars in reconstruction projects, including oil and electricity infrastructure improvements, according to a government report released Monday. Special Inspector General Stuart Bowen discusses his report and the American effort with Gwen Ifill.

January 20, 2006, 7:30 PM EST
Shiite Parties Win Iraq Elections, Must Form Coalition to Rule
Final election results in Iraq announced Friday show an alliance of Shiite religious parties won most of the seats in the new parliament but not an outright majority. Also, Sunni Arabs won more seats this time after boycotting earlier votes.

Ray Suarez discusses what the election results mean for the future of Iraq with Rend al-Rahim Francke, Iraq's former acting ambassador to the United States, and Vali Nasr, professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

January 9, 2006, 4:20 PM EST
Suicide Bomber Targets Iraqi Ministry; Helicopter Crashes Killing 12
Two suicide bombers attacked the Iraqi Ministry compound during celebrations for Iraqi National Police Day Monday, killing at least 29 and injuring 18.

January 5, 2006, 8:45 PM EST
President Bush Gets Outside View of Iraq Policy
President Bush met Thursday with current and former defense and state department officials about his Iraq policy. Jim Lehrer speaks with Madeleine Albright, secretary of state in the Clinton administration, and James Schlesinger, secretary of defense in the Nixon and Ford administrations, about the White House meeting.

January 5, 2006, 8:45 PM EST
Update: Attacks in Iraq Kill More Than 110 People Including Seven U.S. Soldiers

January 4, 2006, 1:20 PM EST
Attacks Across Iraq Kill at Least 53, Damage Oil Convoy
A wave of attacks across Iraq Wednesday killed at least 53 people and wounded more than 40 others in the country's deadliest day of violence since elections on Dec. 15.

Borzou Daragahi, reporter for the Los Angeles Times in Baghdad, describes the latest wave of deadly attacks in Iraq.

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