The United States spent the weekend trying to come to conceptual terms with both the war in general and the Iraqi campaign in particular. Quite apart from the inevitable politics of the situation, which has focused on the question of intelligence failures and who knew what -- and when.

Potentially significant developments were all over the map on July 23.

After 82 postwar days of absorbing casualties in Iraq, the United States has inflicted two significant blows on the Iraqi resistance. Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's two sons, Odai and Qusai, were confirmed killed in a six-hour raid in Mosul on July 22, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez said at a news conference in Baghdad.

Well, at least U.S. President George W. Bush's administration has something to distract attention from Iraq. Three HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters flew into Monrovia, Liberia, on July 21, with an advance contingent of U.S. Marines.

Four U.S. soldiers were killed in action over the weekend -- including two members of the 101st Airborne Division who were killed in an ambush west of Mosul that left another soldier injured. Sunday's ambush occurred near Tall Afar.

Interesting things are happening in Syria. After reports of clashes between U.S. and Syrian troops a few days ago, Damascus appears to have shifted policy in a number of areas.

Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. Central Command, said July 16 that the United States is facing "what I would describe as a classical guerrilla-type campaign against us.

North Korean officials have told the Bush administration they have produced enough plutonium to make half a dozen nuclear bombs. They also told the administration they intended to move ahead quickly to turn the material into weapons. U.S. officials tended to believe the claims, which intensified the ongoing crisis with North Korea.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given OPEC a one-year respite, announcing it would take that long to return Iraqi oil production to prewar levels. This is an extremely fortunate thing for OPEC, because it did not include a quota for Iraqi production at its last meeting.

This week will be about Iraq. There are widespread reports that the guerrillas intend either to intensify operations this week or launch a major offensive. Such rumors come and go, but this one seems to have some credibility. An Iraqi council, a sort of prototype government for Iraq, was installed on Sunday, July 13.