Israel using chemical weapons: doctors  —  Lebanon is investigating reports from doctors that Israel has used weapons in its 15-day-old bombardment of southern Lebanon that have caused wounds they have never seen before.  —  "We are sending off samples tomorrow, but we have no confirmation yet …

Al-Qaida calls for holy war against Israel  —  CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida's No. 2 leader issued a worldwide call Thursday for Muslims to rise up in a holy war against Israel and join the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza until Islam reigns from "Spain to Iraq."  —  In the message broadcast …

Howard Dean Calls for End to Divisiveness  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Down with divisiveness was the message Wednesday delivered by Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean as he told a group of Florida business leaders that Republican policies of deceit and finger-pointing are tearing American apart.

Administration and Critics, in Senate Testimony, Clash Over Eavesdropping Compromise  —  WASHINGTON, July 26 — Senior Bush administration officials said Wednesday that it would be impractical for them to obtain individual warrants every time they needed to eavesdrop on a conversation suspected of involving Al Qaeda.

'Waiting to Get Blown Up'  —  Some Troops in Baghdad Express Frustration With the War and Their Mission  —  BAGHDAD, July 26 Army Staff Sgt. Jose Sixtos considered the simple question about morale for more than an hour.  But not until his convoy of armored Humvees had finally rumbled …

Poll Shows Skepticism in U.S. Over Peace in Mideast  —  Americans are overwhelmingly pessimistic about the state of affairs in the Middle East, with majorities doubtful there will ever be peace between Israel and its neighbors, or that American troops will be able to leave Iraq anytime soon …

Tour de France winner failed drug test in race  —  Team to dismiss Landis if excessive level of testosterone confirmed  —  Tour de France champion Floyd Landis tested positive for high levels of testosterone during the race, his Phonak team said Thursday on its Web site.

The Bolton Nomination, Act II  —  Bush Presses Anew for Confirmation of Controversial Envoy  —  UNITED NATIONS, July 26 — U.N. Ambassador John R. Bolton's blunt diplomatic style has made him a political rock star among conservative Republicans who relish his routine exposure of U.N. foibles and criticism of its bureaucrats.

CNN or CBN?  Phillips asks apocalypse authors: "[A]re we living in the last days?" … For the second time in three days, CNN featured a segment on the potential coming of the Apocalypse, as indicated by current conflicts in the Middle East.  The July 26 edition of CNN's Live From …

Security cabinet decides against expanding Lebanon operation  —  The security cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, decided Thursday morning against expanding the Israel Defense Forces operation in southern Lebanon, Israel Radio reported.  —  The discussion came a day after nine IDF troops …

House Panel Faults Pace of U.S. Intelligence Overhaul  —  A House subcommittee has concluded that the Bush administration has been slow to implement major changes in information sharing and other key provisions of the 2004 law that overhauled the U.S. intelligence community.

Bet On Handcuffs  —  Although they supposedly speak English in England, they have different names for certain things.  When they say "lift," they mean "elevator."  "Lorry" is their word for "truck."  And someone they call a "businessman" is what we call a "racketeer."

Best of the Web  —  War on Words  —  Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki spoke this morning to a joint meeting of Congress, and some Democrats seized an opportunity to burnish their credentials as supporters of Israel, CNN reports: … Well, what exactly did al-Maliki say?  Here are some quotes:

Chicago Orders 'Big Box' Stores to Raise Wage  —  After months of fevered lobbying and bitter debate, the Chicago City Council passed a groundbreaking ordinance yesterday requiring "big box" stores, like Wal-Mart and Home Depot, to pay a minimum wage of $10 an hour by 2010, along with at least $3 an hour worth of benefits.

BACK TO BAGHDAD  —  THE NEW STRUGGLE IN IRAQ  —  July 27, 2006 — WHEN I visited Baghdad in March, there was no civil war.  There is no civil war in Iraq today.  But it's beginning to look as if there might be one tomorrow.  —  Something vital has changed.  In Baghdad.

Homeland Security Contracts Abused  —  The multibillion-dollar surge in federal contracting to bolster the nation's domestic defenses in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has been marred by extensive waste and misspent funds, according to a new bipartisan congressional report.