To the Point

Renewed Resistance in Iraq

The worst nightmare for the occupying coalition has been simultaneous resistance by Iraq-s minority Sunni Muslims and the majority Shiites. Today, US Marines are fighting hard in the Sunni City of Fallujah, and Muqtada al-Sadr is trying to foment a Shiite rebellion in the holy city of Najaf. American generals are drawing contingency plans for sending in more troops, and the June 30 deadline for political transition may be in doubt. As the occupation moves into a new and more dangerous phase, Warren Olney updates the military situation and looks at Muqtada al-Sadr in the context of Iraq-s recent history with journalists in Iraq, Middle East experts and a former military intelligence analyst. Making News: June 30 to Mark Political, Not Military, Transition in Iraq As violence and confusion increase in Iraq, American commanders are making contingency plans to send in more troops. Meantime, the June 30 deadline for the transfer of power is questioned on Capitol Hill. John Hendren, who covers the Pentagon for the Los Angeles Times, says Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today emphasized the distinction between the political transition and the military reality. Reporter's Notebook: WalMart Bypasses City Officials, Takes Case to Voters Today, Inglewood voters are being asked to bypass their city council--as well as all traffic studies, economic reports and environmental reviews-to approve a WalMart super-center the size of 17 football fields. Nancy Cleeland, who just shared a Pulitzer Prize for her Los Angeles Times series on the giant retailer, says although the world-s biggest retailer has gone to the voters before, today-s issues represent something new.