Senate Colleagues to Help Lieberman  —  WASHINGTON — Embattled Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman is getting a little help from his Senate friends as he tries to fend off an anti-Iraq war challenger in an intraparty fight.  —  Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware, Barbara Boxer of California and Ken Salazar …

NBC: N. Korea prepares 2nd missile test  —  The revelations from South Korean media follow Wednesday's confirmation by the United States that it had prepared its missile interceptors to meet a specific threat - North Korea's launch of a long-range missile said to be capable of reaching Alaska.

ENRON'S KEN LAY DIES: 'HIS HEART SIMPLY GAVE OUT'  —  Convicted Enron Corp. founder Ken Lay, who was found guilty of helping perpetuate one of the most sprawling business frauds in U.S. history, has died of a massive coronary.  He was 64.  —  Nicknamed "Kenny Boy'' by President Bush …

Leftist has surprise lead in Mexico recount drama  —  MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A leftist anti-poverty campaigner took a slim lead over his conservative rival in a dramatic recount of Mexico's presidential election vote on Wednesday and warned the country's stability was at stake.

Limbaugh will not be charged over Viagra  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh will not face charges in Palm Beach County for the bottle of Viagra found in his luggage that was prescribed in his doctor's name, prosecutors said Wednesday.  —  Charges could have nullified …

SWIFT Deposits  —  According to Treasury and Justice Department officials familiar with the briefings their senior leadership undertook with editors and reporters from the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, the media outlets were told that their reports on the SWIFT financial tracking system presented risks …

Maverick Mambo  —  McCain positioning himself for '08 is becoming quite an interesting pas de deux.  It appears to me that he's decided to kiss up the religious right and run against K Street, using his campaign finance reform cred.  And he's prepared to do battle with Grover Norquist to that end.

'Stars and Stripes' Lands Exclusive, and Revealing, Bush Interview  —  NEW YORK When Stars and Stripes nabbed anexclusive interview with President Bush on July 4 — aboard Air Force One — it devoted most of the questions to ones submitted by service members.

Update: Company to Probe Coulter Plagiarism Charges  —  I heard back from Universal Press Syndicate's Kathie Kerr.  Her company distributes Ann Coulter's column to over 100 newspapers around the country — columns which, according to recent news, may have contained plagiarized material.

Our enemies aren't drinking lattes  —  'AMATEURS TALK strategy.  Professionals talk logistics.  " That well-worn saying, sometimes attributed to Gen. Omar Bradley, contains an obvious element of wisdom.  Modern militaries cannot fight without a lengthy supply chain, and the success or failure …

Tax cuts losing force as rallying cry on the Hill  —  Lawmakers say constituents wary of deficit, help for rich  —  WASHINGTON — Support for tax cuts — a signature campaign issue for congressional Republicans — is waning on Capitol Hill, with the GOP-led Congress reaching its Independence …