Read full text here.

I won't say it's unbaised, and there is alot of stary-eyed wonder and hope for the future. But this is certainly not what we are getting in the media. Somehow the WaPo came away from this speech with this report:

America's top envoy in Baghdad yesterday denied that Iraq is now embroiled in a civil war but acknowledged growing concern that sectarian clashes could derail the new government if violence is not brought under control. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also said the new security crackdown in Baghdad has been a disappointment and is being reviewed to make "adjustments."

"I do not believe that what's happening could be described . . . as a civil war. But there is significant sectarian violence, there's no question about that," he said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. ". . . There is a risk that the sectarian conflict will expand, state institutions will be overwhelmed. And that's what needs to be avoided." For now, however, he said the government is holding together, and political parties are committed to trying to prevent a full war.

(HT: Mudville Gazette)

Pretty good interview with Paul Bremer (former head of CPA in Iraq). It discusses some of the top-level issues such as the disbandment of the army and the deBaathification process. I agree w/ him on these points at least.

His wiki page is here.