Divided House rejects Iraq pullout date  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Friday rejected a timetable for pulling U.S. forces out of Iraq, culminating a fiercely partisan debate between Republicans and Democrats feeling the public's apprehension about war and the onrushing midterm campaign season.

Top court upholds no-knock police search  —  WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court made it easier Thursday for police to barge into homes and seize evidence without knocking or waiting, a sign of the court's new conservatism with Samuel Alito on board.  —  The court, on a 5-4 vote …

Vietnam, Watergate and Rove  —  Left-wing nostalgia dies hard, but can it survive the events of this week?  —  It has been a tough 10 days for those who see current events through the prisms of Vietnam and Watergate.  First, the Democrats failed to win a breakthrough victory …

Rep. Jefferson loses Democratic caucus vote  —  Black Caucus leader cites racial unfairness  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — With members of the Congressional Black Caucus crying double standard, House Democrats met behind closed doors Thursday and voted to strip Rep. William Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee.

Bill Gates, Version 2.0: Full-Time Philanthropist  —  Three decades after starting the most influential American technology company, Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates said yesterday that he plans to step down from day-to-day work at the software giant to focus his energy full …

Who Is to Blame for Grief on a Beach?  —  It was another one of those pictures that goes instantly around the world.  A young Palestinian, wailing in wretched sorrow, grieving over her dead father, stepmother and five siblings who had been killed by an explosion on a Gaza beach.  Then came the blame.

Only on The Colbert Report:  —  Only on The Colbert Report:  —  Westmoreland co-sponsors bill on the Ten Commandments and can't even name them  —  Colbert was priceless last night.  His guest was Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland and I guess he never heard of The Colbert Report before.

Al Qaeda in Iraq Died For Our Sins  —  June 16, 2006: Al Qaeda in Iraq has been virtually wiped out by the loss of an address book.  The death of al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi was not as important as the capture of his address book and other planning documents in the wake of the June 7th bombing.

'Movimiento' aims to take back America  —  Advocates of an open border between the U.S. and Mexico do their best to present a mellow American flag-waving image to the public.  But when they gather in semiprivate, they communicate much differently to each other.  Perhaps they need to be even more careful.

'06 Race Focuses on the Suburbs, Inner and Outer  —  BELLEVUE, Wash., June 15 — In searching for any advantage in this year's Congressional elections, the two parties are focusing with increased intensity on those cul de sac jungles of tenuous political loyalties, the suburbs and exurbs.

Uranium from Africa: Who forged the bogus Iraq-Niger uranium sale "accord" and why?  —  I am pleased to report on an important development in the Nigergate story, based in part on collaborative sleuthing with investigative reporter Solomon Hughes from the British publication Private Eye.

Maliki Aide Who Discussed Amnesty Leaves Job  —  Premier Disavows Remarks; Egyptian Seen Replacing Zarqawi  —  BAGHDAD, June 15 — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office on Thursday accepted the resignation of an aide who had told a reporter that Maliki was considering a limited amnesty …

Iran would 'use nuclear defense'  —  TEHERAN, Iran  —  Iran's defense minister on Thursday vowed that his country would "use nuclear defense as a potential" if "threatened by any power."  —  Speaking following a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Hassan Ali Turkmani in Teheran on Thursday …

10 killed, 20 hurt in Iraq mosque bombing  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide bomber struck a Shiite mosque during Friday prayers in Baghdad, killing at least 10 people and wounding 20, police said, as violence persisted in the capital despite a massive security operation aimed at restoring order.