What happened
The final report of the Iraq Study Group, presented this week to President Bush, warns that 'œthe situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating' and could lead to 'œthe collapse of the Iraqi government and a humanitarian catastrophe.' In the most intensive assessment yet of the 4-year-old war, the bipartisan group said the Bush administration's current policy 'œis not working,' and recommended seeking a regional, diplomatic solution to escalating conflict between Sunnis and Shiites. The report makes 79 recommendations aimed at helping the Iraqi government take control of the country, including embedding more U.S. troops in Iraqi army units to speed their training. No immediate troop withdrawals, or increase in troop levels, are suggested, though the report recommends that most U.S. troops be withdrawn by 2008.
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Putin’s threat to fracture Ukrainefeature Fears that Russia was building a pretext for an invasion of eastern Ukraine grew, as pro-Kremlin protesters occupied government buildings in three cities.
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Curbing NSA surveillance
feature The White House said it will propose a broad overhaul of the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program.
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Downsizing the military
feature A new budget plan for the Pentagon would save hundreds of billions of dollars by taking the military off its post-9/11 war footing.
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Putin ratchets up pressure on Ukraine
feature Russian President Vladimir Putin put 150,000 troops at the Ukraine border on high alert and cut off $15 billion in financial aid.
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Ukraine on the brink of civil war
feature Ukraine’s capital was engulfed in flames and violence when hundreds of riot police launched an assault on an anti-government protest camp.
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Ukraine at the breaking point
feature An alliance of opposition groups vowed protests would continue until President Viktor Yanukovych is removed from power.
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Dim prospects for Syrian talks
feature A long-awaited Syrian peace conference in Montreux, Switzerland, quickly degenerated into a cross fire of bitter accusations.
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The fight over jobless benefits
feature A bill to restore federal benefits for the long-term unemployed advanced when six Republican senators voted with Democrats.