Annan: Israel bombed UN base for hours  —  Staff and agencies  —  The UN general secretary, Kofi Annan, today accused the Israeli military of carrying out a sustained bombing of the UN base on the Lebanon-Israel border that culminated in the killing of four unarmed monitors.

McCain Falsely Claims the Iraqi Prime Minister Has 'Condemned Hezbollah'  —  Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has repeatedly refused to condemn Hezbollah for its role in initiating the Lebanon-Israel conflict.  Yesterday, in a press conference with President Bush, he …

Senate Removes Abortion Option for Young Girls  —  WASHINGTON, July 25 — The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would make it a federal crime to help an under-age girl escape parental notification laws by crossing state lines to obtain an abortion.  —  The bill was approved on a 65-to-34 vote …

Battle for Baghdad Boils Down to Grabbing a Slice at a Time  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 25 — The Bush administration's announcement on Tuesday that it will shift more forces to Baghdad is much more than a numbers game.  It reflects a new strategy to reclaim control of the Iraqi capital and a new approach for deploying the troops.

Rome conference fails.  —  I'm watching al-Jazeera's live coverage of the Rome conference right now.  Al-Jazeera bumper sticker summary: Rome conference fails because United States rejects a ceasefire.  The camera captured Condoleeza Rice looking visibly uncomfortable Lebanon's Prime Minister Seniora calmly …

Polls show Harris losing GOP voters  —  In the latest poll on the U.S. Senate race, Republican Katherine Harris remained far behind incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, indicating that her prospects of beating him are slim.  —  mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com  —  In only three months …

Browner Still  —  At approximately 7:00 AM Central European Time I received a phone call from a blocked number.  The person on the phone told me I had written naughty things on my blog, and then laughed when I asked them who they were.  —  "You're a dead man."

White House Bill Proposes System to Try Detainees  —  WASHINGTON, July 25 — Legislation drafted by the Bush administration setting out new rules on bringing terror detainees to trial would allow hearsay evidence to be introduced unless it was deemed "unreliable" and would permit defendants …

Dump Condi: Foreign policy conservatives charge State Dept. has hijacked Bush agenda  —  Conservative national security allies of President Bush are in revolt against Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, saying that she is incompetent and has reversed the administration's national security and foreign policy agenda.

Tax Cuts May Come At a Price, Study Says  —  The federal government will need to either cut spending or raise taxes down the road to pay for extending President Bush's recent tax cuts, the Treasury Department said in a report released yesterday, dismissing the idea popular with many Republicans that such sacrifices can be avoided.

Senator Santorum Repugnant Remarks on Islam, Iran, and Syria  —  Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) remarks at the National Press Club on Wednesday July 19th 2006 calling for regime change in Iran and described "Islamic fascism" as the "great test" of this generation, as threatening to the United States …

Chris Matthews comes unglued on the Imus In The Morning program.  —  If you're a rancher, according to Matthews, you can't be president.  —  Here is an excerpt of audio from Chris Matthews from earlier today on the Imus In The Morning program.  Listening is fine, but you need to really read what he had to say.

ConocoPhillips profit leaps 65 pct. in 2Q  —  HOUSTON - Lofty oil prices fueled a 65 percent surge in ConocoPhillips' second-quarter net income, the company announced Wednesday.  Its shares rose 2 percent in morning trading.  —  The nation's third-largest oil company earned $5.18 billion …

Iran: The Next War  —  Even before the bombs fell on Baghdad, a group of senior Pentagon officials were plotting to invade another country.  Their covert campaign once again relied on false intelligence and shady allies.  But this time, the target was Iran.  BY JAMES BAMFORD