White House Disputes Iraq Is Sinking Into Civil War  —  Three years after the American-led invasion of Iraq, top Bush administration officials today reiterated their upbeat assessment of the American military effort and political progress in the country, insisting that the violence plaguing Iraq did not amount to civil war.

Afghan Man Faces Execution After Converting to Christianity  —  An Afghan man who recently admitted he converted to Christianity faces the death penalty under the country's strict Islamic legal system.  The trial is a critical test of Afghanistan's new constitution and democratic government.

Congressman Doolittle, wife profited from Cunningham-linked contractor  —  Commissions taken on campaign cash  —  A week before former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham was sentenced to prison, he stressed to the court that a number of other lawmakers also helped arrange federal funding for the defense contractors who bribed him.

Lobbyists Foresee Business As Usual  —  Post-Abramoff Rules Expected to Be Merely a Nuisance  —  Some of Washington's top lobbyists say that they expect to find ways around congressional efforts to impose new restrictions on lobbyists' dealings with lawmakers in the wake …

A Top-Down Review for the Pentagon  —  DURING World War II, American soldiers en route to Britain before D-Day were given a pamphlet on how to behave while awaiting the invasion.  The most important quote in it was this: "It is impolite to criticize your host; it is militarily stupid to criticize your allies."

Wanted: A Few Good Sperm  —  One day last October, Karyn, a 39-year-old executive, pulled her online dating profile off JDate and Match.com, two sites she had been using, along with an endless series of leads, tips and blind dates arranged by friends and colleagues, to search for a man she wanted to marry and raise a family with.

Republican 2006 Strategy Will Be To Define Foes And "Change The Subject" (UPDATED)  —  Independent voters, those who believe elections are job performance reviews, and those who want to see the quality of political debate elevated in this country will not be heartened by a piece …

Why Do So Few Women Reach the Top of Big Law Firms?  —  HUNDREDS of feet above Manhattan, the reception area of Proskauer Rose's headquarters boasts all of the muscular, streamlined ornamentation that symbolizes authority and power in a big city law firm — modern art, contemporary furniture …

Ministers of Debate  —  Correction Appended  —  The slogan of Lynchburg, Va., is engraved on the tile floor of its modest airport: "The most interesting spot in the state."  This was the assessment of an early resident of Lynchburg, Thomas Jefferson, who also suggested that someday Lynchburg would be a great metropolis.

Transcript: Sen. Dick Durbin on 'FOX News Sunday'  —  The following is a partial transcript of the March 19, 2006, edition of "FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace":  —  "FOX NEWS SUNDAY" HOST CHRIS WALLACE: Joining us now to discuss Iraq and other national security issues is the number …

The Democrats' Disciplinarian  —  Emanuel's approach is giving Democrats the feeling they might not blow it this time.  That's what worries him now: overconfidence.  —  March 27, 2006 issue - Lyndon Johnson was famous for something called "the treatment," where he would loom over cowering colleagues …

On 3rd Anniversary: Editorials Dither While Iraq Burns  —  Anyone who hoped that this landmark would inspire the country¿s leading newspapers to finally editorialize for a radical change in war policy has to be disappointed, again.  Calling for "urgent diplomacy" is about as strong as the proposals get.

Camp Nama  —  There are a several very strange items floating in today's front page New York Times piece on Camp Nama, the torture chamber run by Special Operations forces at Baghdad airport.  —  Consider: American soldiers treated prisoners so viciously that even the CIA blanched …

COME WITH FLOWERS  —  After a flawed — to say the least — referendum in 2004 to allow for unlimited consecutive presidential candidacies, Dictator Alexander Lukashenko is running for the third time for president again today.  People will go to the polls, voting without freedom of conscience …

Cindy Sheehan's year of living famously  —  The sun is rising over a house in the Berkeley Hills, and in its modest studio apartment, America's most compelling anti-war activist is making her bed, apologizing for the clutter and running late.  —  Cindy Sheehan was up much of the previous night …