When Do We Publish a Secret?  —  SINCE Sept. 11, 2001, newspaper editors have faced excruciating choices in covering the government's efforts to protect the country from terrorist agents.  Each of us has, on a number of occasions, withheld information because we were convinced that publishing it could put lives at risk.

GOP Seeks Advantage In Ruling On Trials  —  National Security Is Likely Rallying Cry, Leaders Indicate  —  Republicans yesterday looked to wrest a political victory from a legal defeat in the Supreme Court, serving notice to Democrats that they must back President Bush on how to try suspects …

Poll: Good News Fails to Boost Bush's Job Approval  —  In a new TIME survey, Americans say the President is performing poorly and that the country is increasingly on the wrong track  —  A spate of good news at home and abroad has so far failed to boost how Americans feel about President Bush's job performance.

Israel: Either free Shalit or we will act to free him  —  Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said mediation efforts by Egypt and other countries to resolve the crisis over abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit had yet to bear fruit mainly because it was unclear who in Hamas …

Gitmo win likely cost Navy lawyer his career  —  'Fearless' defense of detainee a stinging loss for Bush  —  Lt. Cmdr.  Charles Swift — the Navy lawyer who beat the president of the United States in a pivotal Supreme Court battle over trying alleged terrorists — figures he'll probably have to find a new job.

Weekends With the President's Men  —  There is a lens in the birdhouse at the driveway of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's home at St. Michaels, Md.  —  JUST an hour and a half from Washington, across the 4.3-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge, or less than 30 minutes in a government-issue Chinook helicopter …

State Tracked Protesters in the Name of Security  —  Officials say they have stopped monitoring antiwar and political rallies.  The practice violates civil rights, Atty. Gen. Lockyer says.  —  SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office in charge of protecting California against terrorism …

G.I.'s Investigated in Slayings of 4 and Rape in Iraq  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 30 — The American military is investigating accusations that soldiers raped an Iraqi woman in her home and killed her and three family members, including a child, American officials said Friday.

Moderate Islamists Found … SULEIMANIYA, IRAQ - When I went to the Middle East for a six-month extended visit I wanted to see if I could find a genuinely moderate Islamist political party, one that not only practices democracy but also believes in it.  There was a slight chance Hezbollah might fit that description.

Munitions Found in Iraq Renew Debate  —  Panel Is Divided Over Whether Troops Uncovered Weapons of Mass Destruction  —  Do the 20-year-old Iraqi chemical munitions found by U.S. and coalition forces support the prewar contention that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and justify the invasion of Iraq?

Budget impasse shuts down N.J. government  —  TRENTON, N.J. - Gov. Jon S. Corzine shut down the state government Saturday after a deadline to adopt a new balanced budget expired, bringing road construction projects to a halt and furloughing tens of thousands of state employees indefinitely.

Clash of the Comics Titans  —  Battle Lines, if Blurry, Are Still Drawn Between Marvel and DC  —  Of the great brand-loyalty debates — Ford or Chevy?  John or Paul?  Road Runner or Coyote?  Newport or Marlboro?  Orthodox or Reform? — only a very few people still sort themselves along …