Iraqi claims U.S. GIs beat wounded man  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi man who was one of the first people on the scene of the U.S. airstrike targeting Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said he saw American troops beating a man who had a beard like the al-Qaida leader.  —  The witness, who lives near …

Gingrich May Run in 2008 If No Front-Runner Emerges  —  Former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) expects to run for president in 2008 if the contest for the Republican nomination still seems wide open late next year, he said yesterday.  —  In remarks that were critical of both parties' recent performance …

Brown: E-mail shows Bush glad FEMA took Katrina flak  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The former emergency management chief who quit amid widespread criticism over his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina said he received an e-mail before his resignation stating President Bush was glad …

Gathering Highlights Power of the Blog  —  LAS VEGAS, June 9 — If any more proof were needed of the rising influence of bloggers — at least for the Democratic Party — it could be found here on Friday on the Las Vegas Strip, where the old and new worlds of American politics engaged …

Iraq War Critic Surprises Democrats  —  Murtha Says He Will Run for Majority Leader if Party Wins  —  Rep. John P. Murtha (Pa.), one of the Democrats' leading antiwar voices, startled his political colleagues yesterday by announcing he would seek a senior leadership position if the Democrats win control of the House in November.

Councilman asks Geno's to lose 'Speak English' sign  —  PHILADELPHIA -  —  At a City Council meeting Thursday, Councilman Jim Kenney asked Geno's Steaks to take down its sign that says, "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING SPEAK ENGLISH."  —  That's just the latest example of how an English …

Teacher witnessed transformation of some bomb-plot suspects  —  A Muslim religious leader in Toronto who knows some of those charged in the suspected bomb plot says the young men underwent rapid transformations from normal Canadian teenagers to radicalized introverts.

9/11 Commissioner Criticizes Coulter  —  A member of the Sept. 11 commission on Friday lashed out at conservative pundit Ann Coulter for a "hate-filled attack" in saying the widows whose husbands died in the World Trade Center used the deaths for their own political gain.

Flier Blasted on Drawing of Jewish Opponent  —  Senate candidate James H. Webb, President Reagan's former Navy secretary, was criticized by his Jewish opponent Friday over a campaign flier that depicted the opponent with a hooked nose and cash spilling from his pockets.

Poop prank has Musgrave staff fuming  —  A UNC emeritus professor is charged with returning the congresswoman's mailer - with interest.  —  A former professor of French at the University of Northern Colorado has been cited for allegedly making a special delivery to U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave that reeked of political partisanship.

Freedom Nears for JI Spiritual Leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir: A Real Setback in the War on Terror  —  On Wednesday, Indonesian authorities will release Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, a 68 year old cleric and the spiritual leader of the Southeast Asian affiliate of Al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah.

Officer's 'omissions' targeted in lacrosse motion  —  DURHAM — The exotic dancer who has accused three Duke lacrosse players of gang-raping her was drinking while taking medication that night, and had sex with at least four men and a sexual device in the days immediately leading up to the off-campus party …

Secret report brands Muslim police corrupt  —  Fury over internal Met study which says Asians need special training  —  A secret high-level Metropolitan police report has concluded that Muslim officers are more likely to become corrupt than white officers because of their cultural and family backgrounds.