Zilmer: U.S. 'stifling' Iraq insurgency  —  WASHINGTON - A senior American commander in Iraq said Tuesday that U.S.-led military operations are "stifling" the insurgency in western Anbar province but are not strong enough to defeat it.  —  Marine Maj. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer told reporters …

Moderate GOP Senator Beats Conservative Challenger in R.I.  —  Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, a moderate who has frequently clashed with the Bush administration, beat back a strong conservative challenger Tuesday night in the GOP primary in Rhode Island.  —  The victory came amid heavy turnout …

Rival admits leaking Schwarzenegger tape  —  SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The campaign of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Democratic rival acknowledged Tuesday that it downloaded — and leaked to the media — a recording of a private meeting in which the governor described a Hispanic legislator as having a "very hot" personality.

The Cold Shoulder  —  Welcome Instapundit readers!  For more on my recent history with Code Pink at Walter Reed, including interviews with founders Gael Murphy and Medea Benjamin, start here.  —  ...And while you're here, please check out our book, "The Blog of War," now on sale at Amazon.

TALIBAN GETS BURY LUCKY  —  FURY AS NICEY-NICE BRASS CALL OFF  —  STRIKE ON FUNERAL  —  Taliban terror leaders who had gathered for a funeral - and were secretly being watched by an eye-in-the-sky American drone - dodged assassination because U.S. rules of engagement bar attacks in cemeteries, according to a shocking report.

Bush Tells Group He Sees a 'Third Awakening'  —  President Bush said yesterday that he senses a "Third Awakening" of religious devotion in the United States that has coincided with the nation's struggle with international terrorists, a war that he depicted as "a confrontation between good and evil."

Cardin Far Ahead in Senate Primary; Leggett Has Big Lead in Montgomery  —  Attorney General Nod to Gansler; Mishaps at Polls Slow the Returns  —  Maryland's Democratic primary voters gave Baltimore Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin a commanding lead over former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume last night …

Democrats Call NSA's Input To Senate Panel Inappropriate  —  Democrats on the Senate intelligence committee are complaining that the National Security Agency has played politics in support of the secret program to intercept phone calls between alleged terrorists in the United States and abroad.

Reborn  —  We have always been told there is no recovery from persistent vegetative state - doctors can only make a sufferer's last days as painless as possible.  But is that really the truth?  Across three continents, severely brain-damaged patients are awake and talking after taking ... a sleeping pill.

Bush to hold talks on Ali G creator after diplomatic row  —  US President George Bush is to host White House talks on British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.  —  Cohen, 35, creator of Ali G, has infuriated the Kazakhstan government with his portrayal of Borat, a bumbling Kazakh TV presenter.

Jersey Turns, Dems Panic; Torricelli, Anyone?  —  A powerful clue that U.S. Senator Robert Menendez might ultimately be forced to withdraw from his bid for a full term in New Jersey emerged last Friday, when he addressed the question head-on just hours after the world learned that he is the subject of a federal criminal investigation.

In Fifth District DFL race, Ellison outran opponents  —  The party's endorsed candidate captured 41 percent of the votes in the DFL primany.  Sabo's choice, Mike Erlandson, finished second.  —  State Rep. Keith Ellison overcame setbacks and questions about his past to win the DFL nomination …

How to Win by Losing  —  CONSERVATIVES are dreading the November elections.  The Republican capture of the House of Representatives in 1994 was one of modern conservatism's signal political accomplishments.  Now the Democrats are poised to take back the House.

Name the Earmarkers  —  REDSTATE WELCOMES THE MAJORITY LEADER … Last January, I warned of the need for action in Congress to combat the growing perception among Americans that their government is for sale.  I singled out the ancient congressional practice of "earmarking," …