War and peace

Are those who generalize about Islam as a “religion of peace” telling the whole truth? As the deadliest month of the year for American forces in Iraq highlights obstacles to U.S. goals, a Christian family’s harrowing escape from Jordan raises questions about even the most “moderate” Muslim countries | Jill Nelson

Polls show Americans by far viewing the war in Iraq and the war against terror as the most important issue in the Nov. 7 balloting. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman connected last month's spike in violence—October was the deadliest month for U.S forces in Iraq this year—to the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam, a turning point that led President Lyndon Johnson not to seek a second term. "He could be right," President Bush said about Friedman's theory during an October press conference. "There's certainly a stepped-up level of violence, and we're heading into an election."

With terrorists trying to convince American voters to choose candidates favoring U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, the Bush administration was deep in talks with Iraqi leaders—proposing timelines, suggesting some tactical changes, and restating its resolve. President Bush affirmed the five-month-old government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki while pushing it to "respect the fact that we've got patience, but not unlimited patience."