Najaf

CNN says Iraqi officials have announced peace talks to end the fighting in Najaf have broken down.

No surprise there. I don't think either side - and perhaps especially the US command - is looking for a peaceful solution. This is bad news, obviously for the residents of Najaf and our soldiers, but also for the world.

The media has talked little about it, but the Arab world has been vocally opposed to our operations there, with Egypt and a number of other countries weighing in. Clearly, many civilians are dying. We're not hearing about them or the soldier sacrifices among the US and the rest of the coalition of the dragged along.