Rumsfeld's Iraq-Germany analogy disputed  —  Former top officials disagree with comparison  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former top officials in two presidential administrations — one Democratic, one Republican — disagreed Sunday with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's characterization …

President Remarks on Third Anniversary of Beginning of Iraq Liberation  —  Fact Sheet: Operation Iraqi Freedom: Three Years Later  —  THE PRESIDENT: This morning I had a phone call with our ambassador to Iraq.  And the ambassador informed me of the progress that the Iraqis are making in forming a unity government.

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.

Transcript for March 19  —  MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday, March 19, 2003: The war in Iraq  —  begins with shock and awe.  Exactly three years later, millions have voted in free elections and a parliament have been seated.  But 2,300 Americans have been killed, more than 17,000 wounded and injured.

Afghan Man Faces Death for Allegedly Converting to Christianity  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan man who allegedly converted from Islam to Christianity is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death, a judge said Sunday.  —  The defendant, Abdul Rahman …

Changing Public Opinion  —  John Amato has the video up of Brit Hume having a hyperventilating hissy fit this morning on Fox news at Bill Kristol's assertion that Feingold's motion is good for Democrats.  Wow.  —  Brit seemed unusually concerned that Mara Liasson, Bill Kristol and Juan Williams …

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 …

Anti-war protesters in SLC, elsewhere lament apathy  —  By the time the war protesters began their march Saturday morning in Salt Lake City, only about 50 people had gathered.  Their numbers had swelled to about 200 by noon - and that was with a little high-tech help from a marcher who text-messaged friends to join him.

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 …

Texas legislators take issue with O'Connor's warnings  —  WASHINGTON - Now that she's left the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor has a few things to get off her chest.  One of the first was to warn that the nation could slide into dictatorship if harsh critiques of the judiciary …

Task Forces 6-26, 121 and 20  —  Today's New York Times has a front page article about torture by a special forces unit called Task Force 6-26 at a secret prison near the Baghdad airport.  I strongly recommend reading the whole thing, but here are some notable excerpts: … And one final excerpt:

A Contractor's Purchase on Power  —  Mitchell Wade's Cultivation of 'Duke' Cunningham Was Just One Part of His Tactical Assault for MZM  —  The consulting work that MZM Inc. received from a Pentagon agency in 2003 was for only $40,000, but to company owner Mitchell J. Wade, the face value was just the beginning.

Chavez blasts Bush as "donkey" and "drunkard"  —  CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday lobbed a litany of insults at U.S. President George W. Bush ranging from "donkey" to "drunkard" in response to a White House report branding the left-wing leader a demagogue.