Critical cease-fire in Iraq unravels as U.S. death toll mounts

By Leila Fadel and Nancy A. Youssef, McClatchy Newspapers Mon Mar 24, 8:19 PM ET

BAGHDAD — A cease-fire critical to the improved security situation in Iraq appeared to unravel Monday when a militia loyal to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr began shutting down neighborhoods in west Baghdad and issuing demands of the central government...[Open in new window]

...meanwhile in another part of the forest...

McCain says US succeeding in Iraq

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - Fresh off his eighth Iraq visit, Sen. John McCain declared Monday that "we are succeeding" and said he wouldn't change course — even as the U.S. death toll rose to 4,000 and the war entered its sixth year...[Open in new window]

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McSame...