8 U.S. troops have died in Iraq so far this month. 127 Iraqis have died so far this month. (that we know of)

Iraq’s Prime Minister al-Maliki stated Sunday that the Blackwater shootings of Iraqi civilians was deliberate murder and they should be punished accordingly. (like that will happen)

Iran has reopened 5 border crossings with Kurdish-run northern Iraq. The borders had been closed last month in protest of the kidnapping and arrest of an Iranian businessman by U.S. troops.

The situation at the Turkish border is heating up, as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to step up the nation’s fight against rebels from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party after Turkey’s army suffered its worst casualties for more than a decade.

Shiite leaders, who have signed a pact, look to dominate with Moqtada al-Sadr and Abdel Aziz al-Hakim deciding to try to end the bloodshed between their movements that was threatening to undermine their pursuit of power.

The Czech Republic is planning pulling its troops out of Iraq. They have about 100 soldiers deployed to Iraq.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said most U.S. troops should be able to return home by the end of 2008. (sooner, please)

The U.S. military has accused the Iranian ambassador of undisclosed membership in a Revolutionary Guard force and announcing the arrests of three men it described as Iranian agents responsible for kidnappings and weapons smuggling. (beat beat beat of the drum drum drum)

Security developments in Iraq, 10/8/07