Powell endorses efforts to block Bush's terrorist plan  —  WASHINGTON - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday endorsed efforts by three Republican senators to block President Bush's plan to authorize harsh interrogations of terror suspects.  —  The latest sign of GOP division …

Inside the Oval Office  —  President Bush gives journalists a "heads up" about the mid-term elections, among other things.  —  WE NOW KNOW WHY the Bush administration hasn't made the capture of Osama bin Laden a paramount goal of the war on terror.  Emphasis on bin Laden doesn't fit …

Iraqi Official Testifies to Links Between Saddam and Al Qaeda  —  WASHINGTON — A deputy prime minister of Iraq yesterday offered a sharp contradiction of the conventional wisdom here that Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Al Qaeda had no connection before the 2003 war, flatly contradicting a recent report …

Democrats Hold Solid Lead; Strong Anti-Incumbent, Anti-Bush Mood  —  Terrorism Focus Increases, But No GOP Boost  —  Summary of Findings  —  As the congressional midterm campaign begins in earnest, the mood of the electorate is sharply drawn.  Voters are disappointed with Congress and disapproving of President Bush.

Blair attacks Europe's "mad anti-Americans"  —  LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair launched a withering attack on Thursday on what he called "mad anti-Americanism" among European politicians.  —  Blair, U.S. President George W. Bush's closest ally in the so-called war on terror …

Muslim Leaders Assail Pope's Speech on Islam  —  As Pope Benedict XVI arrived back home from Germany, Muslim leaders strongly criticized a speech he gave on his trip that used unflattering language about Islam.  —  Some of the strongest words came from Turkey, possibly putting in jeopardy Benedict's scheduled visit there in November.

Frist Targets Internet Gambling  —  WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is trying use a bill authorizing U.S. military operations, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, to prohibit people from using credit cards to settle Internet gambling debts.  —  Frist, R-Tenn. …

Santorum ad accusing Casey of corruption features dead man, pols linked to Santorum himself  —  GOP Pa. Sen. Rick Santorum's flagging re-election campaign has launched a new TV attack ad that can only be described as absurdist theatre, if not out-and-out absurd.

U.N. Inspectors Dispute Iran Report By House Panel  —  U.N. inspectors investigating Iran's nuclear program angrily complained to the Bush administration and to a Republican congressman yesterday about a recent House committee report on Iran's capabilities, calling parts of the document …

Lebanon - a reassessment  —  Anyone following the war in Lebanon in the Israeli media could not but come away engulfed in deep depression.  Israelis and their media tend to focus obsessively on themselves, their own losses and failings, remaining largely oblivious to what is happening on the other side of the divide.

Sen. Reid: The Specter bill will NOT be enacted.  Period.  —  (updated below)  —  Sen. Harry Reid participated in a conference call with a dozen or so bloggers this afternoon.  For the first question, I asked him about the Specter bill — specifically, what the Democrats' strategy …

Help Wanted  —  Five years after it spawned 9/11, Afghanistan is no longer under the control of the medieval Taliban and its al Qaeda partners.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that five years after 9/11, it doesn't appear that Afghanistan is under anyone's control.

AL-DURA: THE TRIAL (PART ONE)  —  Starting September 14, three Frenchmen go on trial in Paris for questioning the veracity of the 2000 videotape of the putative murder of Palestinian child Mohammed Al-Dura by Israeli soldiers.  This tape - promulgated by the French state-run channel France 2 …

Hezbollah war crimes: Amnesty International cries  —  Heads up!  —  Amnesty International has introduced a comprehensive report accusing a terrorist group of war crimes.In utter defiance of the predominant American left, European and United Nations view that Israel engaged in gross war crimes …

Meet the Next President: Kerry's Second Shot  —  KEENE, N.H. - Moments before Sen. John Kerry shows up to campaign for a local politician at a backyard rally here, voter Sue Borden wrinkles her nose at the mention of the man who lost to President Bush.  —  "You get one chance," the Democrat tells a reporter.

Analyst predicts plunge in gas prices  —  WASHINGTON — The recent sharp drop in the global price of crude oil could mark the start of a massive sell-off that returns gasoline prices to lows not seen since the late 1990s — perhaps as low as $1.15 a gallon.  —  "All the hurricane flags are flying" …