Iraq's new parliament will meet again Saturday to try to close a deal on choosing a government. If successful, the formation of a functional government will be one more reason for the US to at least loosen control of the country such as removing most of its military presence, just like Syria was forced to in Lebanon. The US continues to hold back on a specific withdrawal plan which many people think is good because of the insurgency and resistance going on. However one of the main reasons cited for the need for the continuous presence of US forces is the threat of civil war between the Shiite majority and Sunni minority. Though plausible, this possibility does not seem as much a likelihood as Dahr Jamail writes here.

US and Iraqi army forces dealt their largest blow in recent times to Iraqi resistance/insurgents by killing a large number of militants in a raid on a training camp in Tikrit.

Talks continue between Iran and the European powers of Germany, France and Britain over Iran's nuclear program while the US continues to exert pressure to prevent Iran from continuing building its nuclear power. OF course, there's a little irony in all of this.