Vilsack fourth in presidential poll  —  1 in 10 Iowans would back governor if he ran for White House  —  Edwards, Clinton top Democratic choices for president in 2008  —  Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina leads a list of potential Democratic presidential candidates while Iowa …

Just How Far Did They Go, Those Words Against Israel?  —  EVER since he spoke at an anti-Zionism conference in Tehran last October, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has been known for one statement above all.  As translated by news agencies at the time, it was that Israel "should be wiped off the map."

Castro: Al-Zarqawi Killing a 'Barbarity'  —  Cuban President Fidel Castro Calls U.S. Airstrike That Killed al-Zarqawi a 'Barbarity'  —  HAVANA Jun 10, 2006 (AP)— President Fidel Castro called the U.S. airstrike that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi a "barbarity," saying he should have been put on trial.

John Kerry's Skimmer Scam  —  As the Kate Zernike front page Memorial Day weekend New York Times story indicates, a number of Kerry supporters were disappointed that Kerry had not vigorously defended himself against the charges of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth during the 2004 Presidential campaign.

Iran accused of hiding secret nuclear weapons site  —  Fresh evidence has emerged that Iran is working on a secret military project to develop nuclear weapons that has not been declared to United Nations inspectors responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear programme.

Two die as hardline Islamists ban World Cup  —  Hardline Islamic courts shut cinema halls and barred residents from watching the World Cup, prompting scores of civilians to protest the ban in which two people were killed, court officials and residents have said.

School Ties Link Alleged Plotters  —  Arrested Canadians Had Bonded at Clubs and on Soccer Fields  —  TORONTO — They were school pals.  One is 15.  Most are just out of high school, some still in.  The 17 boys and men whom Canadian police are calling "homegrown terrorists" …

Smoke of Iraq War 'Drifting Over Lebanon'  —  In Political and Social Life, Returned Fighters Inspire Climate of Militancy  —  TRIPOLI, Lebanon — Abu Haritha still carries traces of the battles he fought in Iraq, 500 miles away.  —  On his hand is a black ring, a gift from a fellow insurgent …

'Warmongers' have a point: It's a war  —  Here are four news stories from the last week:  —  Baghdad: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi found himself on the receiving end of 500 pounds of U.S. ordnance.  —  London: Scotland Yard arrested a cell of East End Muslims allegedly plotting a sarin attack in Britain.

Al Gore's Convenient Fiction  —  In "A Streetcar Named Desire," character Blanche DuBois depended on the kindness of strangers.  In the newly released film, "An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore depends on their forgetfulness.  —  Just 10 years ago, Gore told the Democratic National Convention …

Always the Party of What-Went-Wrong  —  The Democrats have become too good at losing.  —  Even now, with the Republicans looking bruised and beatable as the midterm elections approach, the first signs of another period of Democratic discontent are emerging.

Fox News host to guest: 'You're going to hell!'  —  News analyst Julie Banderas attacks anti-homosexual Christian preacher  —  A discussion about protests by an anti-homosexual church at the funerals of fallen American soldiers turned into an astounding shoutfest on national television this weekend …

We failed our youth: Imam  —  Congregations urged to take responsibility for influencing young minds  —  But some Muslim Canadians upset by backlash following last week's arrests  —  HEBA ALY, SURYA BHATTACHARYA AND THULASI SRIKANTHAN  —  Imams across the GTA urged families and communities …

Deadly Intent: Ann Coulter, Word Warrior  —  ONCE again, Ann Coulter has a book in need of flogging, and once again, people are stunned by what a "vicious," "mean-spirited," "despicable" "hate-monger" they say she is.  —  Ms. Coulter, who seems afflicted by a kind of rhetorical compulsion …

US 'planning to keep 50,000 troops in Iraq for many years'  —  America plans to retain a garrison of 50,000 troops, one tenth of its entire army, in Iraq for years to come, according to US media reports.  —  The revelation came as George W Bush summoned his top political …

GO BACK TO WHAT WORKS (Be Like Bill)  —  As the 2006 and 2008 elections loom ever nearer, Democrats are racking their brains for a political philosophy that can return the party to power.  Everywhere, we hear the same lament: If only Democrats had a proven formula for winning elections and governing the country.

Israel denies firing shell that killed Palestinians  —  A top Israeli general says the country's armed forces didn't cause the explosion that killed eight Palestinians on Friday and ended the fragile ceasefire in the region.  —  Hamas, which leads the Palestinian Authority parliament …