American Hostage Jill Carroll Free (Updated)  —  American journalist Jill Carroll has been freed by her captors.  This post will be updated throughout the day.  Scroll through for updates.  —  UPDATE: Jill Carroll video interview here.  Hat tip: Allah  —  Jill Carroll had been held hostage …

Insulating Bush  —  Karl Rove, President Bush's chief political adviser, cautioned other White House aides in the summer of 2003 that Bush's 2004 re-election prospects would be severely damaged if it was publicly disclosed that he had been personally warned that a key rationale for going to war …

Photographer: Herald got it right  —  Amid a growing national controversy about the gesture U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia made Sunday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the freelance photographer who captured the moment has come forward with the picture.

An Open Letter to Borders Books (updated repeatedly)  —  Dear Borders representatives:  —  After reading this, please forward it to the appropriate Borders executive.  Be advised also that I am circulating this message far and wide, and posting it online on my blog:  —  http://bidinotto.journalspace.com/?

Opinions split over red, white and green  —  Mexican flags divisive topic as principal shows his support for student protests  —  Reagan High School Principal Robert Pambello was ordered to remove a Mexican flag Wednesday morning that he had hoisted below the U.S. and Texas flags …

This is about war and democracy  —  In 1968, there was one overriding issue in America, and that was the war in Vietnam.  America had what was known as "the peace movement."  I am one who was a small part of it - teach-ins, marches, vigils, and politics.  —  Our president lied to us about that war.

George Will: Ich Bin Ein Ost-Berliner?  —  George Will makes his conservative case for the moderate approach to immigration reform, giving enough room for hard-line enforcement while arguing for eventual absorption of the illegals already inside the US.  However, he starts out with an almost …

THE VERDICT, TAKE 2  —  Last night John rendered his "Verdict: The New York Times blew the story."  The "story" was the testimony of five federal judges — Magistrate Judge Allan Kornblum and four former FISA court judges — on Senator Specter's proposed reform of the FISA statute.

Senate GOP Fears Frist's Ambitions Split Party  —  By pushing his way to the front of the volatile debate over immigration, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has reignited complaints that his presidential ambitions conflict with his leadership duties at times and put him at odds with his GOP caucus.

Three Israelis killed in West Bank suicide bombing attack  —  Three Israelis were killed when a Palestinian suicide bomber exploded in a car after nightfall Thursday at the entrance to the West Bank settlement of Kedumim, located west of Nablus.  —  The suicide bomber was also killed in the attack.

On Web, Error Is Uncovered Through Relentless Pursuit  —  LOS ANGELES, March 29 — The sleuths of cyberspace never sleep.  —  Starting Tuesday afternoon and working through the night, a group of bloggers dissected a photo and a caption on the Web site of a Republican Congressional candidate in California …

On the Return of History  —  In the darkness with a great bundle of grief the people march.  —  In the night, and overhead a shovel of stars for keeps, the people march:  —  "Where to? what next?"  — Carl Sandburg: The People Yes  —  IN THE DAYS AFTER THE TOWERS FELL …

O.K., Knockoffs, This Is War  —  FOR readers of Marie Claire, one of its most popular monthly features is Splurge vs. Steal, a column that shows an expensive runway look next to a knockoff costing a fraction of the price.  But within the fashion trade the magazine column is roundly disliked …

Answering 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Illegal Immigration  —  1) How many illegal aliens are there in the United States?  Since they're not here legally, there's no way to do a precise count.  Most estimates are in the 10-12 million range, but some people believe as few …

Perspective: Google does K Street  —  Google is setting up a political operation in Washington and collecting big-name lobbyists with Republican connections faster than you can search the Web for Jack Abramoff.  —  At first, I thought it was another of those famed Google April Fools' Day jokes, just a week early.

Beleaguered Premier Warns U.S. to Stop Interfering in Iraq's Politics  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 29 — Facing growing pressure from the Bush administration to step down, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari of Iraq vigorously asserted his right to stay in office on Wednesday and warned the Americans …