New Feature: Human Cost of the War

From ABC News:

BAGHDAD, Iraq Apr 11, 2006 (AP)— The U.S. military reported the deaths of five more American soldiers, including three killed Tuesday north of Baghdad.

A U.S. statement said the three members of Multinational Division Baghdad died Tuesday afternoon in a roadside bombing but did not give a precise location.

Read more at the title.

Total US Casualties: 2,360 and counting.

More foul play from the GOP

From The Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

WASHINGTON -- Republican officials describe the two-dozen calls to the White House around Election Day 2002 as normal conversations about a close Senate race in New Hampshire.

Democrats have suggested in a court filing that another subject was discussed: a GOP scheme that jammed phone lines to keep state Democrats from being encouraged to vote.

The phone-jamming operation has led to three federal convictions and a pending indictment. Prosecutors have not raised questions in court about the White House conversations - but records of the calls were available to them as criminal court exhibits.

The records show that Republican campaign operative James Tobin, who recently was convicted in the case, made two dozen calls to the White House within a three-day period around Election Day 2002 - as the jamming operation was finalized, carried out and then abruptly shut down.

Read more at the title. Fair voting practice is another big theme here at UPVoices. More on this issue to come...