When Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo was freed from Taliban captivity last month in exchange for prisoners, it made global headlines—if only as an opportunity to portray the Italians as weak-willed. The Afghan journalist he was abducted with was sold down the river. His beheading now barely rates a notice in the global media. From the Committee to Protect Journalists, April 9:

We certianly hope that the expressions of Shi'ite-Sunni solidarity in this story are not exaggerated—or insincere. From AP, April 10 via Turkey's Zaman:

Tens of thousands draped themselves in Iraqi flags and marched through the streets of two Shiite holy cities Monday to mark the fourth anniversary of Baghdad's fall.

Lawmen are warning that growing violence along the Mexican border poses a threat to national security. Chief Lynne Underdown, retiring Border Patrol chief for the Rio Grande Valley sector, told reporters at a press conference in Edinburg, TX, April 6, that attacks on border agents are fast escalating. She especially cited a December 2005 incident in which assailants on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande shot at agents on boat patrol, where they were at "maximum exposure." Ironically, she admitted the increased violence is a result of more agents with more equipment and firepower—making more drug seizures and raising the stakes for smugglers.

From AP, April 8:

Mother's high-speed chase leads to baby's death
9-month-old ejected from SUV when woman crashes trying to evade police
ALVARADO, Texas - A woman led police on a 25-mile high speed chase until she crashed into a concrete median, killing her 9-month-old daughter in the collision, authorities said.

Gunmen opened fire on Shi'ites April 6 in Parachinar, a remote town in northwestern Pakistan, triggering gunbattles between majority Sunni and minority Shi'ites that have left at least 40 dead and 43 wounded. Some Shi'ites retaliated, burning down Sunni-owned shops and homes. Arbab Mohammed Arif Khan, secretary for law and order in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas, confirmed the death toll, and said the local government has imposed a round-the-clock curfew in the town. "People from both sides damaged each other’s property yesterday and today, and sporadic clashes are still continuing there," he said April 7. (AP, April 7) Later that day, the army and paramilitary forces, backed by armored personnel carriers, entered Parachinar and secured positions. Cobra helicopters attacked combatant positions from the air. (Dawn, Pakistan, April 8)

Stepping up the assault on the Iraqi city of Diwaniya, believed to be a stronghold of Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, US occupation forces launched an air strike on a supposed safehouse April 7. At least six people, including two women and a child, were killed by a missile fired into their home from a US warplane. Mahdi Army fighters reportedly returned fire with rocket-propelled grenades. The operation dubbed "Black Eagle" was launched the previous morning, aimed at disrupting the Mahdi Army's position in the city and within the local police force—which has been ordered to stay off the streets during the operation. US Col. Michael Garrett, who is leading the operation, said that joint US-Iraqi security bases will be set up inside the city, to permanently deter the Mahdi Army. (Arab Monitor, April 7; LAT, April 8).

Hilmi al-Asmar writes for the Jordanian newspaper Al-Dustur, April 7:

Barzani accuses extremist Shi'i, Sunni forces of fuelling the conflict, welcomes hosting Palestinians residing in Kurdistan
Arbil, Iraqi Kurdistan — Mas'ud Barzani, head of the Iraqi Kurdistan region and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, welcomed hosting the Palestinian refugees residing in Iraqi Kurdistan and offered them a safe haven in the region that is more than a self rule region and less than a state.

Since we officially closed our winter fund drive at the start of the month, we have made another $150. This brings our total to $1,555—just $445 short of our ambitious goal of $2,000. So even though the drive is "officially" closed, we still appeal to readers to support us.