Israel mounts fresh Lebanon raid  —  Israel carried out an overnight raid inside Lebanon aimed at disrupting an arms transfer, the Israeli army says.  —  One soldier died and two were injured in the Bekaa Valley operation, it said.  Lebanese sources earlier told Reuters agency that three militants also died.

Allen Flap May Give A Boost To Webb  —  RICHMOND — The nationwide fallout from controversial remarks Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) made last week has given Democrats new hope in a race many thought would be difficult to win in the historically conservative state.

A CULTURE OF FREE SPEECH: Just a final thought that bears on the context of the recent Dartmouth imbroglio, as well as the possible larger implications of the story.  This is the College's recent history of actually punishing students for speech of which the College disapproves.

Fight fear-mongering with fear-mongering?  —  Slate's John Dickerson offers Dems some advice in responding to Republicans' election-year fear-mongering: fight fire with fire.  With the GOP telling voters, "Vote for Democrats and more Americans will die," it's the only reasonable approach.

Officer Called Haditha Routine  —  Marine Said Deaths Didn't Merit Inquiry  —  The Marine officer who commanded the battalion involved in the Haditha killings last November did not consider the deaths of 24 Iraqis, many of them women and children, unusual and did not initiate an inquiry …

At White House, Strange Silence Over Terror Probe Leak  —  The Bush administration hates leaks, especially when they involve classified information.  They and their allies have made that abundantly and forcefully clear (Plame affair aside).  Attorney General Al Gonzales has mounted …

Fearful Iraqis Avoid Mosques as Attacks Rise  —  Haider Ali says he quit attending mosque because it was too dangerous.  Now he prays at home or in the basement of his convenience store, above.  —  Haider Ali communes with God through his CD player.  —  That is how he listens to the lectures …

In Nashville, Sounds of Political Uprising From the Left  —  A bar on Music Row in Nashville.  Democrats in the music industry are frustrated with country and western's reputation for being conservative.  —  NASHVILLE — Country music videos flashed on a television set at the Idle Hour …

Intelligence officials doubt Iran uranium claims, say Cheney receiving suspect briefings  —  The Bush administration continues to bypass standard intelligence channels and use what some believe to be propaganda tactics to create a compelling case for war with Iran, US foreign policy experts …

Ahmadinejad roadshow seduces an adoring public  —  Eyewitness report: Iran's president arrives on a US-made helicopter - an evangelist from the sky  —  He arrives amid a hurricane of swirling brown dust and deafening noise.  A dense, rolling cloud of straw and dirt sweeps across the parched field …

Maybe We Can Still Be Friends, Though  —  Inspired by Jacqueline, I would like to tell all you losers why I am way too good for you:  —  1. My hair has lots of bounce and body.  Not every woman's hair is thick and full, as any shampoo commercial will inform you.

Experts Fault Reasoning in Surveillance Decision  —  Even legal experts who agreed with a federal judge's conclusion on Thursday that a National Security Agency surveillance program is unlawful were distancing themselves from the decision's reasoning and rhetoric yesterday.