Attacks Could Erode Faction's Support  —  Pressure Building Against Shiite Militia  —  BEIRUT, July 13 — The radical Shiite movement Hezbollah and its leader, Hasan Nasrallah, hold an effective veto in Lebanese politics, and the group's military prowess has heartened its supporters at home and abroad in the Arab world.

Valerie Plame Wilson and Ambassador Joseph Wilson Initiate a Civil Action Against Vice President Cheney, Karl Rove, and Scooter Libby for Violations of their Constitutional and Other Legal Rights  —  WASHINGTON—(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 13, 2006—Former CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband …

Bush Would Let Secret Court Sift Wiretap Process  —  WASHINGTON, July 13 — After months of resistance, the White House agreed Thursday to allow a secret intelligence court to review the legality of the National Security Agency's program to conduct wiretaps without warrants on Americans suspected of having ties to terrorists.

Poll: Americans want Democrats in power  —  WASHINGTON — Republicans are in jeopardy of losing their grip on Congress in November.  With less than four months to the midterm elections, the latest Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that Americans by an almost 3-to-1 margin hold …

Watching Finances Of Terror Suspects Discussed in 2002  —  At a House subcommittee hearing five months after the Sept. 11 attacks, plans were openly discussed to give the government a highly secure, real-time electronic capability to request and receive data from financial institutions …

Story of 'Joe's dead intern' began Harris' slide, insiders say  —  When Katherine Harris attacked a TV pundit, insiders say the incident revealed the depth of problems with her campaign — which was hit again by six staff departures.  —  mcaputo@herald.com

Bush defuses tension at German news conference with gentle jibes  —  STRALSUND, Germany - With the world's most perplexing problems weighing on him, President Bush has sought comic relief in a certain pig.  —  This is the wild game boar that German chef Olaf Micheel bagged for Bush …

Baghdad starts to collapse as its people flee a life of death  —  As I hung up the phone, I wondered if I would ever see my friend Ali alive again.  Ali, The Times translator for the past three years, lives in west Baghdad, an area that is now in meltdown as a bitter civil war rages between Sunni insurgents and Shia militias.

Mother, son killed in Miron rocket attack  —  Mother, son killed by shrapnel from Katyusha that hit a house in Miron, 3 children, elderly woman hurt; earlier, Katyusha rocket hits house in Safed, wounding 12 people.  One person in serious condition after sustaining head injuries; some 14 rockets hit town Friday afternoon.