Journalist Jill Carroll Released in Iraq  —  BAGHDAD, March 30 — American journalist Jill Carroll, abducted in early January by gunmen in Baghdad, was released to a Sunni Arab political party in the capital Thursday morning after 82 days in captivity.  —  "I was never hurt, ever hit," she told a Washington Post reporter.

Borders, Waldenbooks Won't Carry Magazine  —  Borders and Waldenbooks stores will not stock the April-May issue of Free Inquiry magazine because it contains cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that provoked deadly protests among Muslims in several countries.  —  "For us, the safety and security …

Senate Approves Lobbying Limits by Wide Margin  —  WASHINGTON, March 29 — The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed the first major restrictions on lobbying in more than a decade, banning lobbyists from giving gifts and meals to lawmakers and tightening rules for pet projects known as earmarks.

VERDICT: THE NEW YORK TIMES BLEW THE STORY  —  Yesterday, five former judges of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the subject of the amendments to FISA that have been proposed by Senator Arlen Specter.

Real Insecurity  —  This afternoon, congressional Democrats will, at long last, unveil their security "agenda," something they call "Real Security."  Unfortunately, the culture of obstruction they have created on important matters of national security demonstrates a profound misunderstanding …

Afghan Christian Given Asylum in Italy  —  ROME - The Afghan man who faced the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity received asylum in Italy Wednesday, despite requests by lawmakers in Afghanistan that he be barred from fleeing the conservative Muslim country.

Congressional Candidate Slams Press Coverage of Iraq—With Bogus Photo  —  NEW YORK How far will critics of media coverage of the Iraq war go to prove reporters are wrongly focusing on the negative?  —  One answer came this week, in a shocking if amusing episode featuring one Howard Kaloogian …

Gallup Throws Doubt On Political Polling  —  Editor & Publisher noted yesterday that Gallup reported a shift in party identification in the US; Democrats outpoll Republicans in party identification — by a single point: … However, that's not exactly how Gallup itself headlines its results:

'Get Governing,' Bush Tells Iraqis  —  President Bush urged quarreling Iraqi leaders yesterday to set aside disagreements and forge a coalition government that will rein in illegal militias.  His comments signaled increased frustration with the political deadlock in Baghdad more than three months after landmark parliamentary elections.

Canada cuts ties to Palestinian Authority  —  OTTAWA — Canada has become the first country after Israel to cut funding and diplomatic ties to the Palestinian Authority over the new Hamas government's refusal to renounce violence.  —  The Conservatives say they will still offer humanitarian aid …

The Erring Republican Authority  —  Kevin Phillips is wrong about everything.  Why is he taken so seriously?  —  In 1969, an obscure Republican political strategist named Kevin Phillips published a nerdy, statistics-laden book titled The Emerging Republican Majority that offered …

McCain Woos the Right, Makes Peace With Falwell  —  Possible 2008 Presidential Contender Makes Inroads With GOP Base  —  March 28, 2006 — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., still breaks from GOP orthodoxy on such issues as torture and immigration.  But operating below the radar …

Patriots, Then and Now  —  With nations as with people, love them or lose them.  —  I had a great experience the other night.  I met some of the 114 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award.  It was at their annual dinner, held, as it has been the past four years, at the New York Stock Exchange.

When History, Destiny Converged  —  The Assassination Attempt on President Reagan Changed the Future Not Only for Those Involved but for the Rest of the U.S. as Well  —  The shots came from the crowd outside the Washington Hilton that drizzly afternoon — six shots that would show …