A MANIFESTO AGAINST ISLAMISM  —  Danish reader P.H.N. sends an important document published today in the Jyllands-Posten from 12 brave intellectuals:  —  MANIFESTO: Together facing the new totalitarianism  —  After having overcome fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism, the world now faces a new totalitarian global threat: Islamism.

Poll of troops in Iraq sees 72% support for withdrawal within a year  —  WASHINGTON — Seventy-two percent of troops on the ground in Iraq think U.S. military forces should get out of the country within a year, according to a Zogby poll released Tuesday.  —  The survey of 944 troops …

Intelligence agencies warned about growing local insurgency in late 2003  —  WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence agencies repeatedly warned the White House beginning more than two years ago that the insurgency in Iraq had deep local roots, was likely to worsen and could lead to civil war …

GOP Unease Spreads to Security Issues  —  Port Deal Among Challenges to What Has Been Bush's Strength  —  The first heading on the issues page of Rep. Mark Foley's Web site brags that he is "one of President Bush's strongest supporters in Congress."  The Florida Republican voted …

Supreme Court Hears Anna Nicole Smith Case  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appeared ready Tuesday to bless Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith's pursuit of a piece of her late husband's oil fortune.  —  The court waded into an 11-year family feud over the estate of J. Howard Marshall II …

Bush: U.S. Won't Get Into Iraq Civil War  —  President Bush Grants Elizabeth Vargas Exclusive, Wide-Ranging Interview  —  WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2006 — In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Elizabeth Vargas, President Bush offered his views on a range of topics, including the response …

Iraq's worst week — and Bush's  —  The catastrophe in Iraq, the scope of which is now apparent to even the most disengaged observer, and his mishandling of the Dubai port issue have sent President George W. Bush's public approval ratings to the lowest of his presidency.

Prosecutors: Saddam Approved Executions  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Prosecutors presented documents Tuesday they said show Saddam Hussein approved executions of more than 140 Shiites in the 1980s, the most direct evidence yet against the former Iraqi leader in his four-month trial.

U.S. Opposes U.N.'s Planned Rights Panel  —  UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 — The Bush administration will oppose a U.N.-backed resolution calling for the creation of a council to expose the world's worst human rights abusers, John R. Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Monday.

MORE ON THE GAS TAX.  These are all very sensible comments by Duncan, but I want to particularly underscore one: For many people, using less car is Just Not An Option.  I tend to find gas taxes most appealing to people in dense, urban environments with highly-functioning public transport systems.

Shays Endorsing Lieberman  —  It's been the subject of whispered conversations among top Republican officials for the past month.  Now, U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-4th District, has let slip the secret: GOP officials have discussed cross-endorsing Democratic Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman this fall.

'Controversy helped Europe understand Islam'  —  "We have to solve this matter through dialogue; the outcome of this controversy is that it facilitated a deeper dialogue', he told your favourite No. 1 newspaper Khaleej Times.  —  "We Europeans have realised that we can say anything to Muslims …