Week's War Events Recounted - Part 1.

(From CNN News)

Byline: Bob Schieffer, John Harris

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR, THIS WEEK AT WAR: U.S. helicopters, the latest target of insurgents in Iraq, a troubling new escalation. Iran's supreme leader warns President Bush, attack us and you'll be hit around the world. And danger on the Delta we take you in the heart of darkness on the Niger River. THIS WEEK AT WAR starts in one minute after a check on what's in the news right now.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, John. Here's what's in the news right now. General David Petraeus on the job in Iraq. It's his first day as the head of the multi-national force. Petraeus told U.S. troops and we quote, the mission is doable.

Harsh words from U.S. ally, Russian PresidentVladimir Putin says America's actions are breeding insecurity around the world. Speaking at a conference in Germany, he said the U.S. is always preaching democracy, but doesn't follow its own message.

Negotiators trying to get North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program saying a final sticking point is holding up progress. The differences are over the amount of energy and aid incentives, that North Korea would see. Six-party talks in Beijing are expected to go for at least a few more days. I'm Rick Sanchez. Join me at 10:00 for the surprising results of a study of the sad state of marriage in America, so much so that we're going to specialize on it. We'll bring it you at 10:00. We'll see you here. Meanwhile, here's John.

ROBERTS: It helped drive the Russians out of Afghanistan. Will insurgents change the landscape in Iraq by targeting U.S. helicopters?

New threats from Iran's supreme leader. Are they more bluster or is confrontation inevitable?

And Democrats already waging the 2008 election campaign with Iraq as the central issue. I'm John Roberts with THIS WEEK AT WAR. Let's take a look at what our correspondents reported day by day this week. Monday, a high drama political confrontation over the war, Congress versus the White House fizzles thanks to Republican maneuvering. Tuesday, in charge after the invasion, Paul Bremer defends his record and the handling of plane loads of cash, $12 billion. Wednesday, another U.S. chopper down, the sixth in three weeks. Thursday, in Iran, Ayotollah Ali Khomeni (ph) tells the United States to back off or risk attacks around the globe, saying even President Bush can be made to think. Friday, a new report out of the Pentagon rips at Bush administration officials for using intelligence of dubious quality or reliability to make the case for war in Iraq. Joining us to connect the dots and tell you what it all means this week, Nic Robertson in Saudi Arabia on the Mideast power struggle and the war in Iraq. The political Jim Vandehei on the war of words in Washington and Jeff Koinage on the Niger delta rebels in Africa. THIS WEEK AT WAR. A new report from the Pentagon's inspector general charges that prewar intelligence on Iraq was shaped to support a political agenda, not support the conclusions of the intelligence community. And on the ground in Iraq, a new and deadly tactic has substantially increased the death toll among American service members. Joining me now from Baghdad is our Michael Holmes, Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is at her usual post and Rajiv Chandrasekaran of "The Washington Post" joins us from Washington. He's the author of "Imperial Life in the Emerald City, Inside Iraq's Green Zone."

The Pentagon's inspector general had harsh words for former undersecretary of Defense Douglas Fithe (ph), suggesting he cooked the books on intelligence that took the U.S. into the war. The report released on Friday says, quote, the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy developed, produced and then disseminated alternative intelligence assessments on the Iraq and al Qaeda relationship, which included some conclusions that were inconsistent with the consensus of the intelligence community, the senior decision makers where he gave that intelligence. While such actions were not illegal or unauthorized, the…