Gunmen have killed at least 20 people in an ambush to the north-east of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, officials say.

Initial reports say the victims include policemen and Sunni Arab fighters who oppose al-Qaeda.

The attack took place in a village close to the city of Baquba, in Diyala province, police said.

Diyala province has been the scene of sustained violence, and in July Iraqi forces - backed by the US - began an offensive to drive out insurgents.

Good thing we're not "prioritizing" Iraq over Afghanistan anymore, because things have gone so well with that Surge thing. Of course, just because everything is all peachy keen in Baghdad (in President Bush's rose colored eyeballs) doesn't mean we'll be bringing any of our troops home anytime soon. Victory means never having to say goodbye, doncha know.

Which brings us to Afghanistan, where everything is on the QT, if you know what I mean:

US intelligence analysts are putting the final touches on a secret National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Afghanistan that reportedly describes the situation as "grim", but there are "no plans to declassify" any of it before the election, according to one US official familiar with the process.

Well, what you don't know can't hurt John McCain you, I suppose. Like, for example, the fact that the Taliban can still engage in major military operation inside Afghanistan seven years after we liberated that poor downtrodden country from their clutches:

U.S. military officials are warning that intelligence now indicates that the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan plans to launch major operations this winter. While those officials publicly claim they’re prepared for a winter offensive, it would place U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in unfamiliar territory, with little precedent to guide them. It would likely entail a major escalation of insurgent aggression to cap off what has already been the bloodiest year for the U.S. military in the seven-year war. [...]

During two recent weeks in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers of various ranks expressed concern that they were going to see what one sergeant called a “hot winter.”

Well, I'm sure that this time we'll show them who's the boss of the universe. Now that we've defeated Al Qaeda in Iraq, and all. Right?

Which reminds me. Here's some good news. Did you know the proposed US Defense budget is actually less than the amount of cash Bush and Secretary Paulson want to giveaway to Wall Street bankers and other assorted financial con artists use to protect the foundations of our economy? Well, it is, and isn't that good news?

Bowing to President Bush's demands, the House passed a mammoth package for the Pentagon on Wednesday that contains a pay raise for soldiers, billions of dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — and some political protection for lawmakers during a tense election season.

The 392-39 vote sent the $612 billion defense authorization bill to the Senate, which was expected to clear it quickly.

Isn't it nice to know President Bush is willing to spend more money on his friends epic fail domestic issues than he is on protecting our country from terrorists and other "evildoers." But more importantly, isn't nice to see that Democrats still know how to bow down before the demands of Mr. Unpopularity, himself? If that isn't a sign of victory over the "terrorists" (as defined by Republicans God-fearing American Patriots) than I don't know what is.