Morning Buzz: Oct. 17, 2007

Today Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, which is located outside Israel's West Bank separation barrier, in a symbolic bid to urge peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Rice is meeting with Israeli, Palestinian, and Egyptian leaders this week in preparation for the U.S.-sponsored peace conference that is to be held later this fall.

President Bush's pick for the nation's top law enforcement officer will begin testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. At the confirmation hearing, Michael Mukasey is expected to highlight how he would keep the nation safe but still protect civil liberties as attorney general. 

The drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq, which reflects a commitment made by President Bush earlier this fall, is to begin in December in the volatile Diyala province. Instead of replacing a brigade that is scheduled to go home, soldiers from a neighboring brigade in Salahuddin will expand into Diyala, decreasing U.S. military combat brigades in Iraq from 20 to 19.