Breaking: Group claims responsibility for Centanni abduction (Video added)  —  The "Holy Jihad Brigades"?  Whose very first act of holy jihad is to kidnap a reporter and a cameraman?  —  That's a shrewd way to get press, but at the rather large expense of antagonizing the Palestinian terror …

Marines Who Served Will Be Ordered Back  —  The involuntary return to active duty will affect up to 2,500 reservists at a time.  The Pentagon is scrambling to meet the demands of war.  —  WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps said Tuesday that it would begin calling Marines back to active-duty service …

A Law Unto Herself  —  TO end her opinion in American Civil Liberties Union v. National Security Agency — the case that enjoins President Bush's warrantless surveillance program — Judge Anna Diggs Taylor quoted Earl Warren (referring to him as "Justice Warren," not "Chief Justice Warren," …

Iran Sanctions Could Fracture Coalition  —  It was always going to be tough for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to hold together her fragile coalition of world powers trying to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions.  The Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon has made that job harder.

Gov. Murkowski Concedes Defeat in Alaska  —  Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski concedes race for second term in Alaska  —  (AP) Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski, stung by accusations of arrogance and stubbornness, lost his bid for a second term Tuesday after polling last in a three-way GOP primary.

Israel Shelves Plan to Pull Out Of Settlements In West Bank  —  The Israeli government's plan to dismantle some Jewish settlements in the West Bank and redraw the country's borders is being shelved at least temporarily, a casualty of the war in Lebanon, government officials said.

The Battle of Baghdad  —  Rampant insecurity—and a detailed plan to combat it.  —  BAGHDAD—Although there has been much good news to report about security progress in Iraq this summer—the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the handover of security responsibility for Muthanna province …

Senator Jokes About House Painter  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, whose re-election campaign is pressing for tighter immigration controls, referred to his house painter as "a nice little Guatemalan man" and suggested that worker as well employees of a roofing company he hired might be in the country illegally.

51% in Poll See No Link Between Iraq and Terror Fight  —  Americans increasingly see the war in Iraq as distinct from the fight against terrorism, and nearly half believe President Bush has focused too much on Iraq to the exclusion of other threats, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

For TX GOP, Is Disaster Spelled S-H-E-L-L-E-Y S-E-K-U-L-A—G-I-B-B-S?  —  After Tom DeLay dropped out last week, the Texas GOP was forced to try a Hail Mary, throwing their support behind a write-in candidate.  But the candidate's name — Shelley Sekula-Gibbs — may be a problem.

What Your Freshmen Don't Know  —  Beloit College has released its latest "Mindset List," to help academics understand what freshmen know — and what they don't have a clue about.  This list has been prepared each August since 1998 and past lists are available online.  —  Here is this year's list, for the Class of 2010:

Fixing the Federal Spending Problem  —  On the road tonight, after a full day with great candidates and committed patriots in Alabama.  While scrolling down Instapundit a little while ago, I found a blog post from Andrew Stuttaford at The Corner, discussing the Federal Funding Accountability …

Allen's Campaign Shifts Gears, Seeks Help  —  Burned by a blog-induced firestorm over an an off-hand comment at a campaign rally, Sen. George Allen's campaign is seeking a conservative blog maven who can blunt future attacks and help rally conservatives in the state and elsewhere behind Allen's campaign.

Bin Laden still deadly relevant  —  Ex-CIA official says cleric sets cap of 10 million U.S. deaths … LONDON, England (CNN) — Nearly five years have passed since the September 11 terrorist attacks, yet Osama bin Laden — the world's most-wanted terrorist — remains a dangerous fugitive …

A Jihadi in Love  —  OK, here's the plan.  —  Agent Whitney, all rehabbed and trained up in spy stuff, gets dispatched to Waziristan, on the Pak-Afghan border.  Agent Whitney and a suitcase full of CDs and Playboy magazines, maybe some devil water in a jug marked XXX …

Democrats' Shameful Wal-Mart Demonization  —  Presidential hopefuls only hurt themselves when pandering to unions by bashing the country's largest employer.  —  WITH ONE EYE ON 2008 and one on their labor union base, Democratic luminaries are canvassing Iowa and other states this summer …