Bill Frist threatens to re-structure the Intelligence Committee in order to block NSA hearings  —  (updated below - updated again)  —  The Senate Intelligence Committee was created in 1976 and, from the beginning, it has been unique in its structure and operation.

PM attacked on Iraq 'God' remarks  —  Anti-war campaigners have criticised Tony Blair after he suggested his decision to go to war in Iraq would ultimately be judged by God.  —  The prime minister told ITV1's Parkinson chat show: "If you believe in God (the judgement) is made by God."

Army to open criminal probe of Tillman death  —  Friendly fire blamed in death of former NFL player in Afghanistan  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Pentagon has directed the Army to open a criminal investigation into the death of former NFL star Pat Tillman, CNN learned on Saturday.

Bush Says Pakistan Cannot Expect Nuclear Deal Like One With India  —  ISLAMABAD, March 4 — President Bush made clear today that Pakistan should not expect anytime soon a civilian nuclear agreement like the one the United States reached only days ago with India, and he bluntly …

A state with one abortion clinic  —  FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Already, South Dakota is perhaps the most difficult place in the country to get an abortion.  There's a 24-hour waiting period and mandatory counseling to discourage the procedure.  The law requires parental notification in cases where the patient is a minor.

Aide's role in mosque deal eyed  —  BRA official raised funds, priced land  —  A top Boston Redevelopment Authority official who previously downplayed his role in the Roxbury mosque project of the Islamic Society of Boston assisted in the city's reduction of the price the mosque backers paid …

2005 Koufax Awards — The Polls Are Open  —  It is time to vote.  Before doing so, please allow me to make a short comment about the awards and explain the procedure.  —  First, the comment.  From our point of view, the important work of the awards is mostly complete.

BARBRA STREISAND STILL HASN'T FOUND THE SPELL-CHEQ  —  Today's grammar-addled foreign policy wrapup, in which the Diva comes out in favor of profiling to oppose the UAE ports deal...  Bonus points: "political curruption," "subpoening," "impeachment preceedings," "warrented," "dictatoriship …

Pomp and punch-ups in Belarus  —  Being in Minsk this week is like being back in the USSR.  —  At the giant Palace of the Republic, 2,500 delegates are attending a lavish Soviet-style congress.  —  Among them are tractor drivers and priests, factory directors and soldiers.

Vermont Losing Prized Resource as Young Depart  —  POULTNEY, Vt. — Not long ago, Ray Pentkowski, the principal of Poultney Elementary School, published an unusual request in the school newsletter.  Please, he urged parents, have more babies.  The school desperately needs them.

E-mails undermine Reed claim  —  Ralph Reed has said he didn't know it until last year, but emails suggest he was informed that eLot — a firm then in the online lottery business — was behind his effort to fend off a ban against internet gambling in 2000.  —  The e-mails passed between Reed …

U.S. commander says Iraqi 'crisis has passed'  —  The top U.S. commander in Iraq yesterday declared an end to a 10-day wave of sectarian violence that killed an estimated 350 civilians, asserting that many reports of violence were "exaggerated."  —  "It appears that the crisis has passed …

Bush Plan Would Raise Deficit by $1.2 Trillion, Budget Office Says  —  WASHINGTON, March 3 — President Bush's budget would increase the federal deficit by $35 billion this year and by more than $1.2 trillion over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office reported on Friday.