The Party of Retreat and Defeat  —  As the fall elections approach, the Democrats have formally unveiled their platform for the war in Iraq: snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  —  At the very moment that documents captured from the Zarqawi death site indicate that Al Qaeda feels …

HRW: We can't contradict IDF findings  —  While sticking to its demand for the establishment of an independent inquiry into a blast on a Gaza beach 10 days ago that killed seven Palestinian civilians, the Human Rights Watch conceded Monday night for the first time since the incident …

Lieberman Will Primary  —  MIDDLETOWN — Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman said today that he will not withdraw from the Aug. 8 Democratic primary , but he left open the possibility of running in November as a petitioning candidate if he loses the primary.  —  "I will be in the Democratic primary.

North Korea fuels missile, readies launch, U.S. officials say  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) — North Korea is believed to have completed fueling a missile capable of reaching Alaska, raising the probability of an imminent test launch, U.S. officials said on Sunday.

Returning to "06 cr 128"  —  What will follow will be a rather frank discussion of our reporting of and involvement in the Rove indictment matter.  If you like simple answers or quick resolutions, turn back now.  This is our report to our readership.  Our primary sources for this report …

Cheney Sees Success in Warding Off Attacks  —  Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday that aggressive U.S. action is responsible for preventing new terror attacks since the Sept. 11 strikes.  —  "Nobody can promise that we won't be hit," Cheney said.  But he credited a determined offense …

Court Splits Over Wetlands Protections  —  WASHINGTON, June 19 — The Supreme Court set the stage for a re-examination of the 1972 Clean Water Act, as it narrowly ruled today in favor of two Michigan property owners who have sought to develop tracts designated as wetlands.

REASONABLE CONFINEMENT:  —  Sadly, few people besides Andrew and the ACLU care much about torture anymore.  But, thanks to the ACLU, on Friday the Pentagon finally declassified a missing piece of the grim portrait of American torture: a November 2004 report about detainee abuse by Special Operations Forces in Iraq.

Truthout "Trying to Mitigate Hysteria" Over Leopold Stories, Tactics  —  I spoke with Truthout editor Marc Ash this afternoon.  His correspondent Jason Leopold wrote a number of stories involving Karl Rove's legal worries — that the White House adviser had been indicted …

Light 'Em Up on Net Neutrality  —  The net neutrality fight moves to the Senate this week, with Ted Steven's Senate Commerce Committee set to vote on the bill on Thursday.  Time to pick up the phones again, boys and girls, because this is crunch time.  —  Save the Internet has a great excerpt …

Federal contracts up 86% under Bush; Halliburton rises 600%  —  Top contractor Lockheed got contracts larger than budget of Congress, Dept. of Interior  —  WASHINGTON — A new report claims that a "shadow government" of federal contractors has exploded in size over the last five years.

3 U.S. soldiers charged with killing of Iraqis  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Three members of the 101st Airborne Division have been charged in connection with the deaths of three detainees during an operation in Salaheddin province, Iraq, the U.S. military announced Monday.

Interview: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  —  This month, Rolling Stone ran an investigative feature claiming that Republicans used a systematic combination of voter disenfranchisement and fraud, centered in Ohio, to rob John Kerry of a win in the 2004 presidential election.