It seems like only yesterday that scenes of destruction combined with rumors of atrocities and illegal weapons use by Russian troops against the Chechnyan people were all over the evening news.

A huge US offensive codenamed “Operation Arrowhead Ripper” is underway in the Iraqi city of Baqubah, as part of extensive American operations aimed at suppressing freedom fighters and Mujahideen groups in Baghdad and areas to the north and south of the capital.

Top Bush administration and Pentagon officials have held intensive consultations with Pakistan’s embattled military regime during the past two weeks with the aim of bolstering the autocratic rule of General Pervez Musharraf and securing increased Pakistani military support in staunching the insurgency against Afghanistan’s US-installed government.