IDF official: Hizbullah hid rockets in houses  —  Officer says Israeli planes struck houses in Southern Lebanon villages used by Hizbullah for concealing long-range rockets.  'We have no intention of hitting civilians, but those who live by the sword are bound to get hurt,' he states  —  Hanan Greenberg

Arab League declares support for Lebanon, calls on UN to step in  —  The Arab League said on Saturday after an emergency meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo that the Middle East peace process had failed, and called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene to stop the escalating violence.

The Real Agenda  —  It is only now, nearly five years after Sept. 11, that the full picture of the Bush administration's response to the terror attacks is becoming clear.  Much of it, we can see now, had far less to do with fighting Osama bin Laden than with expanding presidential power.

8 killed in rocket attack on Haifa  —  (VIDEO) Attack on north resumes: Rockets fired by Hizbullah terrorists from Lebanon land in Haifa; eight killed by direct hit on train depot.  Worker: The truth is that last night (Saturday) I had a very bad feeling that this time it (rocket fire) would reach us.

The Media Are the Enemy  —  New York Times photographer Joao Silva was right there in the room as a member of Muqtada al-Sadr's "Mahdi Army" tried to kill American troops: The New York Times - New York Region - Slide Show - Slide Show: Memorable Photographs.

Gingrich says it's World War III  —  Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich says America is in World War III and President Bush should say so.  In an interview in Bellevue this morning Gingrich said Bush should call a joint session of Congress the first week of September and talk …

Link to Disgraced Lobbyist Taints Race  —  Ralph Reed, left, and Casey Cagle, his opponent in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor, at a forum on Thursday in Marietta, Ga.  —  MARIETTA, Ga., July 13 — It is curious enough to see Ralph Reed, a man who was on the cover of Time magazine at age 33 …

How Common Ground of 9/11 Gave Way to Partisan Split  —  It was the moment that was supposed to change everything.  But almost five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, American politics has reverted to many of its old habits and patterns.  —  The bipartisanship …

Iraq Announces 2nd Province Will Assume Control of Security  —  Iraq approved this week the transition of its second province from the Multi-National Forces to full provincial control.  —  The first of 18 provinces to assume complete control of security held a ceremony earlier this week.

New Radio Ad: "Side Effects" [11]  —  New Radio Ad: "Side Effects"  —  You know those awful pharmaceutical ads where the narrator goes on to explain the potential side effects to exposure?  Well, buidling of that theme, I present our newest radio ad: "Side Effects"  —  LISTEN TO SIDE EFFECTS (60 SEC. .MP3)

Democrats pull ad with flag-draped coffins  —  ROCK HILL, S.C. - Democrats pulled an Internet ad that showed flag-draped coffins Friday after Republicans and at least two Democrats demanded it be taken down on grounds the image was insensitive and not fit for a political commercial.

PUTIN TO BUSH: THANKS, BUT NO THANKS  —  Well, this is just priceless: … This beats Putin's crack about Cheney's unsuccessful hunting shot, methinks.  The fact that the President, even as Baghdad descends into ferocious sectarian conflict, would dare to describe Iraq as a model for anything just now …