A Judicial Misfire  —  THE NATION would benefit from a serious, scholarly and hard-hitting judicial examination of the National Security Agency's program of warrantless surveillance.  The program exists on ever-more uncertain legal ground; it is at least in considerable tension with federal law and the Bill of Rights.

France Says It'll Double U.N. Contingent  —  President Jacques Chirac announced Thursday that France will immediately double to 400 troops its contingent in the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon.  —  The statement from Chirac's office came after he spoke by phone with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

CLAIMS OF CENSORSHIP AND INTIMIDATION AT DARTMOUTH  —  This morning's edition of The Dartmouth carries a worrisome story by reporter Rebekah Rombom.  Here is a significant portion of it, but please click here to read the whole thing. … For reference, Nick's entire statement is posted on this website …

Republicans Losing The 'Security Moms'  —  Married women with children, the "security moms" whose concerns about terrorism made them an essential part of Republican victories in 2002 and 2004, are taking flight from GOP politicians this year in ways that appear likely to provide a major boost …

Kurds flee homes as Iran shells Iraq's northern frontier  —  Michael Howard in Qandil Mountain  —  Turkey and Iran have dispatched tanks, artillery and thousands of troops to their frontiers with Iraq during the past few weeks in what appears to be a coordinated effort to disrupt the activities of Kurdish rebel bases.

It sounded so good to start with.  But where did it all go wrong, George?  —  "HOW'M I DOIN'?" was the question the quixotic Ed Koch used to ask New York's voters during Hizzoner's eleven turbulent years as the city's mayor.  For a man who governed the globe's most neurotic metropolis …

Inquiry Suggests Marines Excised Files on Killings  —  A high-level military investigation into the killings of 24 Iraqis in Haditha last November has uncovered instances in which American marines involved in the episode appear to have destroyed or withheld evidence, according to two Defense Department officials briefed on the case.

No JonBenet Apologies Necessary  —  THE PRESS NEEDN'T REGRET ITS COVERAGE OF THE CASE.  —  This morning finds at least four press-hounds baying their apologies to the Ramseys on behalf of their colleagues or society at large.  They beg the family's forgiveness for having ever suspected them of killing JonBenet.

N. Korea Appears to Be Preparing for Nuclear Test  —  U.S. Officials Tell ABC News Evidence Show Signs an Underground Test is in the Works  —  There is new evidence that North Korea may be preparing for an underground test of a nuclear bomb, U.S. officials tell ABC News.

American Attitudes Hold Steady in Face of Foreign Crises  —  Strong Support for Israel - No Surge in Terror Concerns or Boost for Bush  —  Summary of Findings  —  The public is paying a great deal of attention to major overseas events - the reported terrorist plot against U.S. trans-Atlantic jet liners …

Cafferty on the NSA Ruling: Bush is breaking the Law!  —  Jack Cafferty ripped into the Republican leadership today over the recent ruling that the NSA warrantless program is illegal.  For all the wingers that say the NSA helped in the UK terror plot, they should turn to their good pal O'Reilly …

Explosive Liquids Scare In W. Virginia  —  Air Terminal Evacuated, But 2 Bottles Thought To Be Explosives Were Cosmetics  —  (CBS/AP) A terminal at the Tri-State Airport was evacuated Thursday morning after two containers in a female passenger's bag tested positive for liquid explosives …