1. Nawaz Sharif (PML-N) and Asif Ali Zardari (PPP) announced that their coalition government will begin impeachement proceedings against president Pervez Musharraf “immediately” and plan to reinstate the supreme court justices removed by Musharraf immediately after he is removed. Pakistan’s status as a cooperative ally against al-Qaeda and the Taliban hangs in the balance.

2. According to a Georgian news blog, the Georgian president addressed via television and declared a moratorium that included amnesty for fighting Ossetians. Leader of de-facto alternative Ossetian government issued televised statement calling in response for an Ossetian ceasefire. No reports of ceased fighting. BBC reports Russian tanks rolling in support of the Ossetians opposing Georgia.

3. Muqtada al-Sadr is widely reported as ‘ending the Shi’a insurgency’ in Iraq as he calls for the Mahdi Army to lay down its arms. Caution advised in reading, as the Mahdi Army is already defeated and Iran likely building another Hizballah, but this time in the opposite developmental sequence of the Hizballah model in Lebanon.

AFGHANISTAN
SecDef Gates Pushing Plan to Double Afghan Army - New York Times

GAZA STRIP
Gaza’s Lifelines: Tunnels to Egypt Keep Hamas in Business - der Spiegel

GEORGIA
Russian tanks enter South Ossetia - BBC
Georgian Army Moves To Retake South Ossetia - New York Sun
Regular Updates on Gerorgia News Blog - Georgian Messenger
Separatists Planning to Bomb Positions of Russian Forces to Involve Them in Conflict - Georgian Times

IRAN
Israel: ‘We’ll neutralize (Russian) S-300 if sold to Iran’ - Jerusalem Post

IRAQ
Baghdad: U.S. troops will exit by 2010 - Washington Times
Muqtada al-Sadr Vows to Stop Shi’a Insurgency - ABC
BBC frames as ‘Mehdi Army to give peace a chance?’ - BBC

LEBANON
Israel: Lebanon is responsible for Hezbollah’s actions - Haaretz
Analysis: Subtly and determinedly, Syria is taking over Lebanon - Jerusalem Post

PAKISTAN
Musharraf Impeachment Proceedings to Begin Immediately - Daily Times (Pak)
Musharraf Given Option to Resign Before Impeachment - Los Angeles Times

TURKEY
Kurdish PKK Rebels Claim Responsibility for Oil Pipeline Fire - New York Sun

VENEZUELA
Venezuela Opposition Presses Chavez Over Election Rule - New York Sun