Detroit Free Press: As America anticipates the reports next month from Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on the current military and political status of our efforts in Iraq, more and more attention is being paid to the destabilizing and deadly role being played by Iran in this conflict. And rightfully so.

UPI: New reports from Iran say the Islamic republic is running more than 3,000 centrifuges, an announcement that is certain to augment fears in Washington and Western Europe that Iran’s nuclear program is for military, rather than civilian, use, as Iran’s leadership insists.

Detroit Free Press: Like me, many Americans are spending this week buying the last-minute pencils, backpacks and school clothes our kids need as they head back to their classrooms. As we are busy with this important task, I hope we don’t forget about a threat that is looming 3,000 miles away.

Washington Post – Editorial: For some time Mohamed ElBaradei, the Egyptian diplomat who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency, has made it clear he considers himself above his position as a U.N. civil servant. Rather than carry out the policy of the Security Council or the IAEA board, for which he nominally works, Mr. ElBaradei behaves as if he were independent of them, free to ignore their decisions and to use his agency to thwart their leading members — above all the United States.