We Must Defend.  —  It's true.  Ben Domenech is Augustine.  And I stand behind him 100%.  He has said nothing filled with racism or hate, or bigotry.  In fact, Ben has been a leader in keeping those he dubs the "evilcons" off RedState.  Unbeknownst to all of you, RedState continually self-polices …

Western Hostages Rescued by Coalition Forces (UPDATED)  —  A great day for those of us following hostages in Iraq closely!!  Three peace activists from the Christian Peacemakers Team held hostage in Iraq have been freed by Coalition Forces.  Ironically, the CPT activists were in Iraq …

Afghan Judge in Convert Case Vows to Resist Foreign Pressure  —  KABUL, Afghanistan, March 23 — Despite growing international concern, the judge presiding over the prosecution of an Afghan man facing the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity said today that international pressure …

Former first lady's donation aids son  —  Katrina funds earmarked to pay for Neil Bush's software program  —  Former first lady Barbara Bush donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund with specific instructions that the money be spent with an educational software company owned by her son Neil.

Two Quick Notes  —  Two clarifications for the many folks who have risen up in force to attack the existence of this blog (I appreciate the attention, by the way).  —  Some people have taken issue with an old two-line comment of mine on RedState.com where I referred to Coretta Scott King as a Communist on the day after her funeral.

U.S. Hiring Hong Kong Co. to Scan Cargo  —  WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of the Dubai ports dispute, the Bush administration is hiring a Hong Kong conglomerate to help detect nuclear materials inside cargo passing through the Bahamas to the United States and elsewhere.

Breaking the Silence  —  A prominent former insider is criticizing the administration's handling of Iraq's reconstruction.  And there's more to come.  —  Marwan Naamani / AFP-Getty Images  —  Bremer reviews Iraqi troops in 2003  —  March 22, 2006 - Andrew Natsios has taken a lot of flak over his role in Iraq.

Another Bad Slip for 'NY Times': Katrina Victim Unmasked  —  NEW YORK For the second time in less than a week, The New York Times today admitted to a serious error in a story.  On Saturday it said it had misidentified a man featured in the iconic "hooded inmate" photograph from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Carbon: too much, not too little  —  Like Henry George's theory of land taxation, Peak Oil seems to be one of those ideas, reasonable enough in itself, and modest in scope, that attracts a cult following in which it becomes the answer to all kinds of questions.

Now the bloody Yanks are offended  —  A major conservative American lobby group is set to unleash a campaign of protest against Australian tourism's "where the bloody hell are you?"  TV advertisement.  —  The controversial commercial has made its US debut in front of 20 million American TV viewers …

NOW says it will back challenger to Casey in U.S. Senate bid  —  WASHINGTON — Two women's rights groups yesterday endorsed Philadelphia lawyer Alan M. Sandals for U.S. Senate, warning that abortion rights supporters may stay home this November if state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. gets …

Cafferty smacks down Kurtz  —  Cafferty smacks down Kurtz  —  On the Situation Room, Jack Cafferty just smacked down Howard Kurtz after Howie agreed with the GOP talking point that the press is too negative in its coverage of Iraq.  Cafferty came on immediately and was livid, saying that was ridiculous.

Rough Draft  —  The gross unfairness of an all-volunteer Army.  —  Three years after the invasion of Iraq, the United States does not feel much like a country at war.  Nearly 20,000 American soldiers have been killed or injured to date, but the more comfortable among us find it shockingly easy …