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 …

Lebanon prime minister condemns Israel  —  BEIRUT, Lebanon - Standing in the midst of the rubble of south Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora called the Israeli bombing campaign "a crime against humanity," and Lebanon's defense minister warned any group that breaks the Middle East cease-fire will be dealt with harshly.

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.

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 …

Arab media slam Syrian president  —  BEIRUT, Lebanon  —  Syria's president sparked a wave of anger after he knocked Mideast leaders as "half men" in a televised speech, underlining the divisions as Arab nations try to form a unified front in the wake of the Lebanon crisis.

Democrats Add January Voting in 2 More States  —  Democrats agreed to shake up tradition Saturday by wedging Nevada between Iowa's leadoff caucuses and the New Hampshire primary in the 2008 presidential nominating calendar and adding South Carolina soon afterward.

DHS Terror Research Agency Struggling  —  Science and Technology Unit Crippled by Turnover, Budget Cuts, Priority Shifts  —  The federal research agency in charge of countering emerging terrorist threats such as liquid explosives is so hobbled by poor leadership, weak financial management …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

Israel Committed to Block Arms and Kill Nasrallah  —  French troops arrived at a United Nations base in southern Lebanon Saturday.  Israel says it will still pressure Hezbollah despite a cease-fire deal.  —  Despite a cease-fire agreement, Israel intends to do its best to keep Iran and Syria …

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.

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.