Free the Captives: Witness Against Illegal Detention and Torture

The Associated Press headline is likely nearest the truth: Iraq Edges Closer to Open Civil Warfare. Though this may in fact be an understatement:

Iraqi authorities discovered at least 87 corpses - men shot to death execution-style - as Iraq edged closer to open civil warfare. Twenty-nine of the bodies, dressed only in underwear, were dug out of a single grave Tuesday in a Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad. [...]

...the bloodshed appeared to be retaliation for a bomb and mortar attack in the Sadr City slum that killed at least 58 people and wounded more than 200 two days earlier. [...]

Underlining the unease in the capital, Interior Ministry officials announced another driving ban, from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 4 p.m. Thursday to protect against car and suicide bombs while the Iraqi parliament meets for the first session since the Dec. 15 election.

Reuters added that while radical Shi'ite cleric and militia leader, Moqtada al-Sadr "called publicly for restraint" on Monday, nevertheless, "in Sadr City, the bodies of men labelled 'traitors' were hung from telegraph poles and officials say privately that Shi'ite militia commanders are no longer all heeding clerical appeals for calm."

There's more. Juan Cole cites an Arabic-language report on a study examining the negative effect of the current situation on Iraqi women. "They are 62% of the population, and face the practical effects of the unemployment and poverty... which contributes to higher rates of divorce and abandonment, as well as prostitution."

Says Cole, this "administration keeps crowing about having liberated Iraqi women. It is to weep."

We found no new reports on Tuesday of the three remaining CPT peaceworkers, held captive in Iraq since late November. Given the day's ghastly tally, no news can only be considered – well, not bad news.

And one more item: "Defense Secretary Rumsfeld hinted Tuesday that US troop levels may increase slightly in Iraq in the coming days," as commanders "bulk up slightly" because of upcoming religious pilgrimages.