What Next?  —  The debate is over: By any definition, Iraq is in a state of civil war.  Indeed, the only thing standing between Iraq and a descent into total Bosnia-like devastation is 135,000 U.S. troops — and even they are merely slowing the fall.  The internecine conflict could easily spiral …

Mutiny on Flight 613  —  Passengers refuse to allow holiday jet to take off until two Asian men are thrown off plane  —  British holidaymakers staged an unprecedented mutiny - refusing to allow their flight to take off until two men they feared were terrorists were forcibly removed.

Arab Media Take Aim At Assad  —  After Bashar Assad called Arab leaders "half men" for failing to rally to Hezbollah's support, state-sponsored media in Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia have castigated Assad in terms usually reserved for infidels.  His critics have called him a coward and a dead rosebud, among other epithets:

Annan says U.N. won't 'wage war'  —  UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to U.N. member states to provide desperately needed U.N. peacekeeping troops for Lebanon and assured them the U.N. force would not "wage war" on Israel, Lebanon, or Hezbollah militants.

The Rise of Shrinking-Vacation Syndrome  —  In August, when much of the world is hard at work trying to do nothing, Jeff Hopkins and his wife, Denise, usually take a week to chase fish in Olympic National Park — a ferry ride and two tanks of gas from here with a boat in tow.

Hamas plea over seized deputy PM  —  Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya has appealed to the international community for help to secure the release of his deputy.  —  Nasser al-Shaer was detained by the Israeli army early on Saturday.  —  The Israeli army said it had detained Mr Shaer …

With doublespeaking France, honor gets lost in translation  —  French is the traditional language of diplomacy.  Diplomacy is the art of saying one thing while doing another.  —  In recent weeks, France stepped forward to act as a broker of peace in Lebanon.

The Osama Card  —  Expect the Republicans to use the specter of the terror leader to frighten voters ahead of the elections.  —  It will soon be five years since the 9/11 attacks thrust America into a state of perpetual anxiety, and the man who inspired and masterminded the carnage that awful day remains at large.

And Now, Islamism Trumps Arabism  —  SHE grew up in Cairo with the privileges that go to the daughter of a military officer, attended a university and landed a job in marketing.  He grew up in a poor village of dusty unpaved roads, where young men work long hours in a brick factory while dreaming …

Bush: Iraq War keystone in terror fight  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush said Saturday that his administration's determination to remain in Iraq and its efforts to end violence in Lebanon are key to protecting the U.S. from future terrorist attacks.  Democrats countered that Americans …

GOP's Financial Edge Shrinks  —  The traditional fundraising advantage held by incumbent lawmakers — which Republicans have regarded as a safety wall in their effort to keep control of Congress — has eroded in many closely contested House races, as many Democratic challengers prove competitive in the race for cash.

Gov't fulfills few Katrina promises  —  Nearly half of New Orleans was still under water when President Bush stood in the Crescent City's historic Jackson Square and swore he would "do what it takes" to rebuild the communities and lives that had been laid to waste two weeks before by Hurricane Katrina.

Sunday Talking Head Thread  —  Here's the Sunday Show line-up: (via WaPo) … Well...that could be...interesting...at times.  Although Face the Nation looks like quite the whiny wanker festivus, doesn't it?  —  Reader Sharon sent me this peaceful shot of a heron flying over Lake Michigan.

The Trouble When Jane Becomes Jack  —  Shane Caya, right, found fulfillment in making the transition from a woman to a man.  But it meant the end of a relationship with his former lesbian partner, left.  They share custody of a child.  —  SAN FRANCISCO  —  IN the most recent season …