Solidarity  —  Our first duty is to stand together against bin Ladenism.  —  Never mind where I was standing or what I was doing this time five years ago.  (Because really, what could be less pertinent?)  Except that I do remember wondering, with apparent irrelevance, how soon I would be hearing one familiar cliché.

War's Critics Abetting Terrorists, Cheney Says  —  He Cites Allies' 'Doubts' About U.S. Will  —  Vice President Cheney offered a veiled attack yesterday on critics of the administration's Iraq policy, saying the domestic debate over the war is emboldening adversaries who believe they can undermine the resolve of the American people.

Situation Called Dire in West Iraq  —  Anbar Is Lost Politically, Marine Analyst Says  —  The chief of intelligence for the Marine Corps in Iraq recently filed an unusual secret report concluding that the prospects for securing that country's western Anbar province are dim …

STUFF HAPPENS by David Hare  —  'America changed.' That's what we're told.  'On September 11th everything changed.' 'If you're not American, you can't understand.'  —  The infantile psycho babble of popular culture is grafted opportunistically onto America's politics.

Worried CIA Officers Buy Legal Insurance  —  Plans Fund Defense In Anti-Terror Cases  —  CIA counterterrorism officers have signed up in growing numbers for a government-reimbursed, private insurance plan that would pay their civil judgments and legal expenses if they are sued or charged …

How safe a world?  —  THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY of the Sept. 11 attacks is a day of remembrance and special sadness for the nation, and all those who knew any of the 2,973 victims.  Yet in the long run, the reaction of the Bush administration may prove more harmful to the national interest than even these horrific attacks.

ABC Airs 9/11 Film — Contested Scenes Remain  —  NEW YORK The first part of the controversial "The Path to 9/11" movie aired as scheduled on ABC on Sunday — despite pleas that it be halted by several top officials in the Clinton administraton, among others — and while several last-minute cuts were made …

9/11 pledge: "I will not submit"  —  The above phrase in Arabic is "lan astaslem."  It means "I will not surrender/I will not submit."  (Thanks to Rusty, Laura, and Daveed for translation help.)  This is the last line of my 9/11 column and it's my 9/11 anniversary message to the convert-or-die jihadists.

Republicans to Concede RI if Chaffey Loses Primary  —  Politics, they say, makes strange bedfellows.  A classic case-in-point: The Republican Party is sparing no expense to help Lincoln Chafee, its least reliable Senator, get re-nominated.  Further, the party has announced …

Khatemi Is Served With Summons at Gala Dinner  —  WASHINGTON — When Iran's ex-president was having his picture taken with admirers at a gala dinner sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in northern Virginia, he received an unexpected message from some of his former countrymen.

9/11: FIVE YEARS ON  —  GETTING IT RIGHT  —  THE biggest story since 9/11 is that there hasn't been an other 9/11.  According to our hysterical media culture, everything's always going wrong.  The truth is that we've gotten the big things right.  —  On this fifth anniversary …

Proposal for Autonomous States in Iraq Creates Tension  —  An agreement struck 11 months ago by Shiite and Kurdish leaders to win Sunni Arab support for a new constitution is fraying, causing concern among some political leaders that it could jeopardize Iraq's fragile governing coalition.

For Democrats' Hopes, Less Promise in New York  —  Kirsten Gillibrand campaigned with Hillary Rodham Clinton last month.  She is trying to unseat Representative John E. Sweeney, a four-term Republican.  —  In a year when Democrats hope to take control of the House of Representatives …

A new low in Bush-hatred  —  SIX YEARS into the Bush administration, are there any new lows to which the Bush-haters can sink?  —  George W. Bush has been smeared by the left with every insult imaginable.  He has been called a segregationist who yearns to revive Jim Crow and compared ad nauseam to Adolf Hitler.

Democrats already counting their eggs  —  Party leaders prepare agenda in anticipation of gaining control of House and Senate in elections  —  WASHINGTON - If Democrats win one or both houses of Congress in November's elections, as polls suggest is increasingly likely, President Bush's Washington will change dramatically.

Imam casts doubt over existence of bin Laden  —  The leader of Muslim imams in Norway said Monday that many Muslims feel they've been under collective suspicion since September 11, 2001.  He also questioned whether Osama bin Laden actually exists.  —  Imam Zulqarnain Sakandar Madni answered …

Al-Zawahri: Gulf, Israel next targets  —  CAIRO, Egypt - Osama bin Laden's deputy warned that Persian Gulf countries and Israel would be al-Qaida's next targets, according to a new videotape aired by Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera on Monday, the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.