Libby testimony shows a White House pattern of intelligence leaks  —  WASHINGTON - The revelation that President Bush authorized former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby to divulge classified information about Iraq fits a pattern of selective leaks of secret intelligence to further the administration's political agenda.

Threat of Shiite Militias Now Seen As Iraq's Most Critical Challenge  —  BAGHDAD, April 7 — Shiite Muslim militias pose the greatest threat to security in many parts of Iraq, having killed more people in recent months than the Sunni Arab-led insurgency, and will likely present the most daunting …

Congressman's Special Projects Bring Complaints  —  As lawmakers have increasingly slipped pet projects into federal spending bills over the past decade, one lawmaker has used his powerful perch on the House Appropriations Committee to funnel $250 million into five nonprofit organizations that he set up.

Kerry Sharply Criticizes Bush on Several Fronts  —  Senator John Kerry made a slashing attack on the Bush administration yesterday, comparing it to the faltering government in Iraq and equating its war strategy with its planning for Hurricane Katrina, while also invoking Jesus as he criticized federal Medicaid policy.

Snow's Job  —  Why no Wall Street CEO wants to be the new Treasury secretary.  —  Several Democrats yesterday unveiled the Hamilton Project, an effort to create a new vision for economic policy.  Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to engineer their own Hamilton project …

In Page Six Inquiry, Gossip Swirls Around Gossips  —  The New York Post is cooperating with a federal investigation into whether a longtime contributor for the Page Six gossip column — the avidly read daily log of wrongdoing, double-dealing and sexual indiscretions by celebrities both minor and major …

Touch Of Evil  —  Oh well, since we are in full swing, we might as well continue with the conspiracies.  But don't be fooled; the spreading of these seemingly idiotic conspiracy theories are serving a much bigger purpose, you could say, the mother of all conspiracies.  But more of that later:

THE IRAN PLANS  —  Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?  —  The Bush Administration, while publicly advocating diplomacy in order to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, has increased clandestine activities inside Iran and intensified planning for a possible major air attack.

Air trends 'amplifying' warming  —  Environment Correspondent, BBC News website, in Vienna  —  Reduced air pollution and increased water evaporation appear to be adding to man-made global warming.  —  Research presented at a major European science meeting adds to other evidence that cleaner air …

Give Rebuilding Lower Priority in Future Wars  —  WASHINGTON, April 7 — As factions in the Bush administration continue their bitter infighting over the reconstruction program in Iraq, the State Department has produced a draft planning document saying that after any future conflicts …

FLAG WAVERS AND SABER RATTLERS  —  "White riot/I wanna riot/white riot—a riot of my own" sang-chanted the Clash on their first album, and that seems to be the rallying cry of angry white middle-aged pundits and radio hosts fed up with having Mexican flags flaunted in their faces like the dancing skirts of haughty senoritas.

Race Baiting  —  From AP: NASCAR: Dateline NBC Plan 'Outrageous' … This cartoon is based on a combination of ideas by three Michelle Malkin readers: Chris S., Steve B. and Uncle Jack.

Whistle-Blower Outs NSA Spy Room  —  AT&T provided National Security Agency eavesdroppers with full access to its customers' phone calls, and shunted its customers' internet traffic to data-mining equipment installed in a secret room in its San Francisco switching center …