Ex-wife gives alibi for JonBenet suspect  —  BANGKOK, Thailand - A former American school teacher said publicly Thursday that he was with JonBenet Ramsey when she died in what he called "an accident," a stunning admission after a decade without answers in the 6-year-old girl's murder.

Hagee's Office Responds: Contradicts L.A. Times  —  I heard back from General Hagee's office yesterday regarding my inquiry about when Gen. Hagee briefed John Murtha about Haditha.  The bottom line: Gen. Hagee's office has directly contradicted an assertion by the L.A. Times …

THE NEED TO BE CLEAR  —  The magnitude of Israel's failure in Lebanon becomes clearer every day.  Hezbollah, stating the obvious, has said it has no intention of disarming (but it may curtail public displays of its weapons).  Lebanese officials have made it clear that the "government" has no intention of disarming Hezbollah.

Kidman condemns Hamas, Hezbollah  —  NICOLE Kidman has made a public stand against terrorism.  —  The actress, joined by 84 other high-profile Hollywood stars, directors, studio bosses and media moguls, has taken out a powerfully-worded full page advertisement in today's Los Angeles Times newspaper.

Insurgent Bombs Directed at G.I.'s Increase in Iraq  —  A recent bombing in Baghdad.  Most of the roadside bombs are directed at American-led forces, officials say.  —  The number of roadside bombs planted in Iraq rose in July to the highest monthly total of the war, offering more evidence …

Eye on Election, Democrats Run as Wal-Mart Foe  —  Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, delivered a 15-minute, blistering attack to warm applause from Democrats and union organizers here on Wednesday.  But Mr. Biden's main target …

Faces, Too, Are Searched at U.S. Airports  —  As the man approached the airport security checkpoint here on Wednesday, he kept picking up and putting down his backpack, touching his fingers to his chin, rubbing some object in his hands and finally reaching for his pack of cigarettes, even though smoking was not allowed.

White House backing new plan to defuse insurrection in Pakistan  —  WASHINGTON - A U.S.-backed plan to defeat Islamist militants in Pakistan's autonomous tribal areas has backfired badly, and the Bush administration is working with Pakistan to come up with a new strategy to defuse the insurrection.

Top al Qaeda Man In Pakistan Nabbed  —  Gretchen Peters and Habibullah Khan Report:  —  A senior al Qaeda commander allegedly tied to the London airplane bomb plot has been arrested in Pakistan, Pakistani intelligence and law enforcement officials have told ABC News.

For the GOP, a Heartland Plunge  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the Columbus Dispatch's respected poll recently reported that Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell was trailing Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland by 20 points in the race for governor of Ohio, there was dismay but no shock among his fellow Republicans.

Democrats' Stock Is Rising on K Street  —  Washington lobbying firms, trade associations and corporate offices are moving to hire more well-connected Democrats in response to rising prospects that the opposition party will wrest control of at least one chamber of Congress from Republicans in the November elections.

Tramm Hudson Destroys Himself  —  Tramm Hudson is the current front runner in the GOP primary in FL-13, the Congressional District being vacated by Katherine Harris.  RedState has happened upon the clip below of Tramm talking to a group of people.  His words will, justifiably …

Backing Harris?  Her list shortens … In the U.S. Senate primary, Rep. Katherine Harris has been touting key political endorsements from fellow Republican lawmakers.  The problem is, some of them never endorsed her.  —  Several members of the U.S. House called the Harris campaign …

Duke Cunningham's Wife Speaks!  (But Not to Us)  —  It's not a pretty picture: the night before Duke Cunningham was sentenced and taken into custody, he dumped a duffel bag filled with dirty underwear and $32,000 in $20 and $100 bills in his wife's driveway as a desperate attempt to salvage some of his ill-gotten gains.