White House Responds to Charge of Politicizing 9/11  —  The White House today dismissed charges by prominent Democrats that President Bush sought to capitalize politically on the Sept. 11 attacks when he addressed the nation on Monday night.  —  "The president was not making partisan remarks …

Theory that U.S. orchestrated Sept. 11 attacks 'not absurd': Venezuela  —  Theory that U.S. orchestrated Sept. 11 attacks 'not absurd': Venezuela  —  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that it's at least plausible that the U.S. government was involved in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Attack on U.S. Embassy foiled … DAMASCUS, Syria (CNN) — Syrian security forces killed four attackers Tuesday outside the U.S. Embassy in Damascus after a car exploded near the walls of the American compound, the Syrian Information Ministry said.  —  There was no claim of responsibility for the attack …

ONE ARAB'S APOLOGY  —  WELL, here it is, five years late, but here just the same: an apology from an Arab-American for 9/11.  No, I didn't help organize the killers or contribute in any way to their terrible cause.  However, I was one of millions of Arab-Americans who did the unspeakable on 9/11: nothing.

Reinforce Baghdad  —  We are at a crucial moment in Iraq.  Supporters of the war, like us, have in the past differed over tactics.  But at this urgent pass, there can be no doubt that we need to stop the downward slide in Iraq by securing Baghdad.  —  There is no mystery …

Arkansas Governor: Beebe by 11  —  Beebe (D) 49% Hutchinson (R) 38%  —  For the first time since May, State Attorney General Mike Beebe's lead in the race for Arkansas governor is back to double digits (see crosstabs).  The latest Rasmussen Reports election survey shows Beebe leading Asa Hutchinson 49% to 38%.

Fears of revenge attacks on stingrays over Irwin death  —  At least ten stingrays have been found dead and mutilated on Australia's eastern coast in the last week in what conservationists believe could be revenge attacks for the death of Steve Irwin, the popular naturalist and television personality.

Montgomery to Extend Voting Hours After Election Glitches  —  County Polling Places to Stay Open Until 9 P.M.  —  Polling stations in Montgomery County will remain open until 9 tonight—an hour later than usual—to accommodate voters who were turned away from the polls this morning …

CONSPIRACY CRANKS  —  CREATING CRAZED '9/11 TRUTH'  —  ON Feb. 7, 2005, I became a member of the Bush/Halliburton/Zionist/CIA/ New World Order/Illuminati conspiracy for world domination.  That day, Popular Mechanics, the magazine I edit, hit newsstands with a story debunking 9/11 conspiracy theories.

President Bush's Reality  —  Last night, President Bush once again urged Americans to take terrorism seriously — a warning that hardly seems necessary.  One aspect of that terrible day five years ago that seems immune to politicization or trivialization is the dread of another attack.

Bill Clinton Meets Bloggers  —  Why would I fly to New York for a day?  Because former President Bill Clinton invited a group of progressive, Democrat bloggers in for a 2 hour roundtable meeting at his Harlem office.  It was awesome.  More later, including a list of all the bloggers there …

Video: Commanders privately express needing 3X more troops  —  U.S. Commanders in Iraq have privately expressed the need for an increase of three times the number of troops currently serving in Iraq, reports Michael Ware of CNN.  Officially, the military continues to say that …

'Blogosphere' spurs government oversight  —  WASHINGTON — When watchdog groups that monitor federal spending wanted more information on 1,800 "pork barrel" projects buried in a House appropriations bill, they listed them on the Internet and asked readers to dig deeper.  Within days, details began pouring in.

Al Qaeda Will Nuke US in Late September  —  A Pakistani journalist says that his sources in al Qaeda and the Taliban are claiming that nuclear material has already been smuggled across the Mexican border into the U.S. and that an operation bigger than 9/11 will be carried out during Ramadan—which begins later this month.

Mary Katharine Ham: Rosie O'Moral Equivalence (Update: It's Equivalence Tuesday on Today!) … Update: I gots video of the political genius herself.  I love how she acts like Elisabeth Hasselbeck is the dumb one, when she's spouting this crap: "Afghanistan never threatened to kill us...We will never bring peace at the hands of war."

Average gas price falls 11 cents a gallon in a week  —  Gasoline prices continue to tumble, almost free-falling toward levels not seen in five months.  —  The nationwide average for regular was $2.618 a gallon, the Energy Information Administration reported Monday.  That was 10.9 cents lower than a week earlier.