Kerry knocks Bush on handling of Mideast conflict  —  U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D- Mass., who was in town Sunday to help Gov. Jennifer Granholm campaign for her re-election bid, took time to take a jab at the Bush administration for its lack of leadership in the Israeli-Lebanon conflict.

Study: Ex-Rep. Made Use of 'Black' Budgets  —  WASHINGTON - An independent investigation has found that imprisoned former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham took advantage of secrecy and badgered congressional aides to help slip items into classified bills that would benefit him and his associates.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Says Invasion and Aftermath Are the 'Work of Butchers'  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 22 — The speaker of the Iraqi Parliament criticized the American government's involvement in Iraq on Saturday, likening the invasion and its consequences to "the work of butchers" …

Suicide bombers kill 8 in Afghanistan  —  KABUL, Afghanistan - Suicide bombers killed eight people, including two U.S.-led coalition soldiers, in Kandahar Saturday, officials said.  A purported Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the blasts and warned of more as NATO prepares to take control of the volatile southern region.

Israel Signals It May Accept Foreign Forces on Border  —  KIRYAT SHMONA, Israel, July 23 — As Israel again pounded south Lebanon from the air and ground on Sunday and the Hezbollah militia rained dozens more rockets on Israel's north, diplomatic efforts increased with growing discussion …

ACLU Sues for Anti-Gay Group That Pickets at Troops' Burials  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas church group that protests at military funerals nationwide filed suit in federal court, saying a Missouri law banning such picketing infringes on religious freedom and free speech.

IDF: Terrorists running out of rockets  —  IDF Military Intelligence (MI) believes the army has 10 days left before diplomatic pressure puts an end to operation Change of Direction against Hizbullah, The Jerusalem Post learned on Sunday.  —  In addition, MI - reflecting its latest strategic assessment …

Saddam Hussein taken to hospital  —  Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein has been taken to hospital as a result of a hunger strike, prosecutors at his trial in Baghdad say.  —  Saddam Hussein is thought to have begun refusing food on 7 July in protest at the murder of his lawyer.

Signs of the Times  —  From the Arlington National Cemetery: The Bombing of the Marine Barracks, Beirut Lebanon. … From CNN: Iran responsible for 1983 Marine barracks bombing, judge rules. … From TimesOnline: God's army has plans to run the whole Middle East by Amir Taheri.

Mayhem at the Defend Hizballah Rally!  —  This past Friday, the Muslim American Society held their "Justice for Palestine and Lebanon Protest" at Boston's City Hall Plaza referred to at the end of this post.  The Boston Globe has its report here: Muslims, Christians protest bombardment of Lebanon

DELAYED-BLOGGING MISS UNIVERSE  —  No live-blogging this year, as we have house guests—my youngest brother, the Rocket Prof, and his family.  But, through the miracle of Tivo, we preserved the pageant finale to watch after dinner.  —  The initial impression is that this was an evening of upsets.

Surveillance We Can Live With  —  President Bush's electronic surveillance program has been a festering sore on our body politic since it was publicly disclosed last December.  Civil libertarians, myself included, have insisted that the program must be subject to judicial review to ensure compliance with the Fourth Amendment.