------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------ The number of attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq has reached record levels, according to a new report from the Pentagon, and the White House says an increase in troop numbers is under consideration (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16275630/). Are more boots on the ground the right solution? On NBC's "Today," Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), the '08 Democratic frontrunner, said she would not support an increase of troops in Iraq unless it was part of a broader plan to stabilize the region (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16267456/). We'll have that interview for you later in the show. But, we begin tonight with a report from Hardball Correspondent David Shuster, followed by MSNBC Military Analyst Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Ret.) and Maj. Gen. Arnold L. Punaro (Ret.), chairman of the Commission on National Guard and Reserves.
Go to www.politics.msnbc.com for the latest on these stories and all of today's political news. Then, as Washington continues to search for a resolution in Iraq, we also remember the fallen, especially at this time of year. MSNBC's Mike Barnicle will have a report on a special holiday tribute at Arlington National Cemetery - 5,000 evergreen wreaths from a small town in Maine. Learn more about the tribute here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/14/AR2006121401578.html. And, we'll hear from New York Times Columnist Bob Herbert and Kate O'Beirne of the National Review to parse through Iraq, Clinton/Obama and all of the potential '08 contenders. Stories you may have missed today: - Vice President Cheney called to testify in CIA leak case: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16284994 - Washington Post looks at Guiliani '08: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16275634/ - U.S. plans for Navy buildup in Gulf: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16281057/ - Latest from HotSoup: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16282162/ - MSNBC's Political Calendar: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14708421/ Shelby Poduch and Tina Urbanski compiled the Hardball Briefing in Washington, D.C. ========================================= This e-mail is never sent unsolicited. You have received this The Hardball Briefing Newsletter newsletter because you subscribed to it or, someone forwarded it to you. To remove yourself from the list (or to add yourself to the list if this message was forwarded to you) simply go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7140407/, select unsubscribe, enter the email address receiving this message, and click the Go button. Microsoft Corporation - One Microsoft Way - Redmond, WA 98052 MSN PRIVACY STATEMENT http://privacy.msn.com <http://privacy.msn.com/>