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            The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Hardball airs tonight on MSNBC at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a PT  Find MSNBC on your 
TV http://www.msnbc.com/CableOperator.asp  MSNBC also is on your XM satellite radio on 
channel 130

Big day in Iraq as power is officially handed over from the United States to Iraqis 
themselves two days earlier than originally scheduled...While they'll have 
sovereignty, U.S. troops will still be on the ground to provide security...So now 
what? We'll bring you the latest from Baghdad and tell you what it means from the 
perspective of a few foreign policy heavyweights: Norman Schwarzkopf, fmr. Clinton 
national security chief Sandy Berger & former Bush '41 Secretary of State Lawrence 
Eagleburger....

Howard's in the house tonight and he'll do the politics of the transfer and what it 
means for the race for the White House...Shuster is working on a set up package to 
layout the political particulars...

And finally, Michael Moore's controversial new documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" hit 
theaters over the weekend and took in near $22 million bucks, making in #1 in box 
office earnings and the highest grossing documentary of all time...We'll Ray 
Bradbury's take...He wrote the legendary sci-fi thriller "Fahrenheit 451", the book 
from which Moore derives his title...A "must read" for those interested in the 
pernicious effect of a totalitarian government...

And oh yeah, Andrea Mitchell fills in for Chris...

Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing from Washington, DC

Militants: Marine held hostage...An Arab  TV network broadcast a videotape on Sunday 
showing a blindfolded man in military uniform it said was a U.S. Marine taken hostage 
in Iraq. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5310187/

Early handover in Iraq...The U.S.-led coalition transfers power to an Iraqi government 
two days early, in an apparent bid to frustrate insurgents opposed to the new 
government. (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5312795/

"The Iraqi people have their country back," President Bush declared in Istanbul, where 
he is attending the NATO summit. "We have kept our word." (The Washington Post) 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A10917-2004Jun28?language=printer

The Bush administration welcomed the early transfer of political power in Iraq Monday 
and said it would strengthen the new government's hand to deal with rampant violence 
and the threat of terrorism. (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5313897/

With Iraqi sovereignty restored, the State Department will assume the dominant role in 
shaping Bush administration policy on Iraq, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage 
said Monday. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040628/D83G4L0O0.html

Is history repeating itself?...Americans try their hand at resolving the 'Mesopotamia 
question' http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5313721/

Subdued reaction on streets of Baghdad...Happiness tempered by fear of more violence, 
uncertain future http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5316060/

Post Analysis: Iraq occupation erodes Bush doctrine...Setbacks test foreign 
policy...The occupation of Iraq has increasingly undermined the core tenets of 
President Bush's foreign policy, according to a wide range of Republican and 
Democratic analysts and U.S. officials. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5311406/

Court rules U.S. can hold citizen as 'enemy combatant'...But justices say detainees 
can mount legal challenge to harsh treatment (MSNBC) 
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5316401/

NATO to help train Iraq's armed forces...Alliance also agrees to boost force in 
Afghanistan (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5282414/

Saddam to face Iraqi judge soon, official says...Ex-leader to remain in physical 
custody of U.S. (Reuters) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5314794/

With thousands of Republicans set to invade the city this summer, high-priced escorts 
and strippers are preparing for one grand old party (NY Daily News) 
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/206962p-178564c.html

The choice for voters: Health care or tax cuts...Policy costs crowd out other 
initiatives (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5311849/

Picket line keeps Kerry from mayors' meeting...He cancels Boston appearance over 
planned police demonstration (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5315908/

Sammon: President Bush's re-election campaign is ridiculing what it calls "John 
Kerry's coalition of the wild-eyed," which includes filmmaker Michael Moore and former 
Vice President Al Gore. http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040628-123409-3914r.htm

Fineman: How to Run For Veep...The final lap: Some make deals. Others show off their 
public support. There are a lot of ways to curry favor. But only John Kerry knows what 
will work http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5305082/site/newsweek/

Candidates Take Aim at Sportsmen's Vote...Group Seen as Factor in Swing States (The 
Washington Post) 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A10525-2004Jun27?language=printer

Kerry lacking coherent message...John Kerry is having problems crafting a message that 
connects with the swing voters and parts of his Democratic base that his presidential 
campaign needs to win in the battleground states, several analysts say. (The 
Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040628-123408-5008r.htm

Teresa Heinz Kerry controls a family fortune valued at nearly $1 billion, the Los 
Angeles Times reported Sunday. (AP) 
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040627/D83FJMF81.html

Majority Leader Bill Frist refused on Sunday to criticize Vice President Dick Cheney 
for cursing on the floor of the Senate in a confrontation with a Democratic senator. 
(AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5316384/

Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" took in a whopping $21.8 million in its first three 
days, becoming the first documentary ever to debut as Hollywood's top weekend film. 
(AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5310191/

Moore says 'Fahrenheit' success 'mind-boggling'...Director credits political 
detractors for boosting ticket sales (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5316390/

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun the first sustained civilian use of 
unmanned aerial vehicles, as part of a $10 million Department of Homeland Security 
initiative aimed at gaining "operational control" of the Arizona-Mexico border. (The 
Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040628-123415-2931r.htm

Irish television viewers tuning in to watch coverage of President Bush's visit to 
their country may have seen a bit more of him than expected. Cameras filming Dromoland 
Castle, the 16th-century estate where he was staying, inadvertently caught a glimpse 
through a window of the president changing his clothes, and sent an embarrassed Irish 
government scrambling to suppress release of the images. (AP) 
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040626/D83EUV9O0.html

Opinion/Editorial

Fund: Bad ACTors...If Dems want honest elections, why did a Soros-backed group hire 
criminals to get out the vote? http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110005278

Bob Dole: Gauging our Success 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10683-2004Jun27.html

Katrina's editors' cut: Nader--Unsafe at Any Speed...The Green candidate is sane 
enough to make the distinction between Kerry and Bush. 
http://www.thenation.com/edcut/index.mhtml?bid=7


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