never p!ss off the cia, page-4

The BBC says 50,000

"Papers see crisis in Iraq


Thursday's front pages


In pictures

There is agreement in Thursday's newspapers that there is a real crisis for America's policy in Iraq.
Wednesday's hastily arranged meeting between President Bush and his administrator of Iraq, together with the suicide bombing in the south of the country, prove this, the papers say.

The Daily Telegraph senses a growing panic at the White House, and suggests the president is speeding up America's exit strategy from the country.

The Guardian's front page examines a bleak CIA report which warns that the situation inside Iraq is getting out of control, and estimates that anti-coalition elements may number 50,000.

However, there is no consensus on how America should deal with this crisis.

The Times says more troops might be needed, and calls for greater resolve by the international community.

The Guardian warns that US-led "bombing and heavy-handed raids" will only fuel the insurgency.

For the Independent, the key is for the coalition to get out as soon as possible and accelerate the process towards elections in Iraq.

An editorial claims that the conflict is beginning to resemble the Vietnam war. "