U.S. general will run Iraq: Powell shares details of postwar strategy. This comes a day after Secretary of State General Colin Powell told the House International Relations Committee an American general will run Iraq for at least two years. But leaders of Iraq opposition groups who were briefed in Turkey last week by the U.S. said many of the Bush administration’s plans are deeply troubling. The postwar Iraq would rely on the current government infrastructure minus Saddam Hussein, and it would continue the dominance of Arab Sunnis, who represent 10 to 15% of the country’s 22 million population. The head of the Kurdish Democratic Party says he’s particularly concerned about Washington’s agreement to allow Turkey to occupy some Kurdish territory in northern Iraq. The Turkish government has killed thousands of Kurds. Leyla Zana, the Kurdish parliamentarian who dared to speak Kurdish in the Turkish parliament, remains in prison.

In other Iraq news, weapons inspectors say Iraq may be in breach of its disarmament obligations because it’s developed a missile that slightly exceeds range limits set by the Security Council. The U.S. said the violation proved Iraq is cheating, while the French said it proves inspections work. Tomorrow, chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei will address the Security Council in an open meeting.

Meanwhile, Pope John Paul II’s senior adviser has arrived in Baghdad for meetings with senior Iraqi leaders. Last night he presided over a Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in central Baghdad. Democracy Now! Jeremy Scahill correspondent was there.

Jeremy Scahill: “Regardless of their faith, Iraqis are praying for a miracle. Almost no one believes that war can be averted, and people of all religions repeat the phrase, ’We’re asking God to save us.’ Iraqi Christians came from across Baghdad and beyond to pack the large St. Joseph Cathedral in the center of the capital. For them, it was a rare day of hope in very disparate times. Roger Cardinal Etchegaray was saying the Mass. As Pope John Paul II’s senior adviser, he’s the highest church official to visit Iraq in decades. For several years the pope himself has expressed interest in coming to Iraq, but the trip never materialized. Cardinal Etchegaray described his trip to Baghdad as a peace mission. And the hundreds of Iraqis at St. Joseph’s listened intently to his every word as he delivered a message from the pope.”

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray: “Peace. Who doesn’t talk about it today everywhere in the world without thinking about the huge threats that weigh on Iraq? Who does not desire peace? But how many among them think that it is still possible? How many truly want it with all their will? Today, this night, here, we pray for peace in Iraq.”

Jeremy Scahill: “After the cardinal finished his prepared statement, he looked out at the congregation, raised his arms and repeated in Arabic, 'Salaam, salaam' — 'Peace, peace.' The church erupted with applause and cheering, followed by rhythmic clapping. Cardinal Etchegaray’s visit to Baghdad hasn’t dramatically increased hope that peace will indeed prevail. But it did send a message to Iraq’s Christians that they’re not forgotten. The Vatican appears to be stepping up its efforts at reaching a peaceful solution to the crisis. Later this week, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, himself a Christian, is scheduled to meet the pope in Rome. John Paul II has added his voice to the growing chorus against a war on Iraq. But it’s unlikely that George W. Bush will listen. His own Methodist Church has come out against an attack on Iraq, and Bush won’t even meet with its leaders. For Democracy Now!, this is Jeremy Scahill in Baghdad.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency yesterday found North Korea in breach of its international commitments and passed the issue to the U.N. Security Council. This came on the same day the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency warned North Korea may be ready to test an advanced ballistic missile able to reach the western United States.

Belgium’s highest court ruled yesterday Israeli Prime Minister General Ariel Sharon can be sued for war crimes connected to his role in the Sabra and Shatila massacre, in which up to 2,000 Palestinian refugees were slaughtered. However, Sharon is immune until he leaves office. In response to the ruling, Israel immediately recalled its ambassador to Belgium.

The Guardian of London is reporting the U.S. knew about the latest Osama bin Laden tape five days before its broadcast on Al Jazeera. The government of Qatar reportedly passed the tape on to Washington. It is unclear whether the U.S. influenced the timing of the broadcast and, if not, why it was delayed until Tuesday.

Just two days before space shuttle Columbia disintegrated, a safety engineer warned by email about possible catastrophic failures from extreme heat due to malfunctions. No NASA engineers acted on the warning.

The Philippine military said today it may have killed as many as 122 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in three days of heavy fighting on the southern island of Mindanao.

Afghan officials said yesterday a U.S.-led bombing raid in southern Afghanistan killed at least 17 civilians.

In Bolivia, the president rescinded a tax hike after at least 14 protesters, including four police officers, were shot dead by soldiers in clashes.

In New York, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that New York’s mayor can ban an antiwar march, though not rally, planned for Saturday. The massive rally is set for the United Nations on Saturday. We’ll have more in a few minutes.