From the BBC

Pentagon boosts [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6100906.stm|'media war'] unit

The US defence department has set up a new unit to better promote its message across 24-hour rolling news outlets, and particularly on the internet.
The Pentagon said the move would boost its ability to counter "inaccurate" news stories and exploit new media.
Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said earlier this year the US was losing the propaganda war to its enemies.
On Monday, vice-President Dick Cheney said insurgents had increased attacks in Iraq to sway the US mid-term polls.
The Bush administration does not believe the true picture of events in Iraq has been made public, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says.
The administration is particularly concerned that insurgents in areas such as Iraq have been able to use the web to disseminate their message and give the impression they are more powerful than the US, our correspondent says.

From the New York Times

Bombs Sweep Baghdad; Cleric Faults U.S.

By SABRINA TAVERNISE
Published: October 31, 2006
BAGHDAD, Oct. 30 — [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/world/middleeast/31iraq.html?hp&ex=1162357200&en=aa7daf52a1f38900&ei=5094&partner=homepage|A spasm of violence] seized the capital on Monday. Forty-six Iraqis were killed in six bombings across the city and a moderate Sunni Arab figure was gunned down by two men on motorcycles.
The American toll for October rose to 102, the highest since January 2005, with the military’s announcement of three more deaths.

from the Washington Post

The top U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., predicted last week that Iraqi security forces would be able to take control of the country in 12 to 18 months. But several days spent with American units [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103001323_pf.html|training the Iraqi police] illustrated why those soldiers on the ground believe it may take decades longer than Casey's assessment.