Oriana Fallaci, R.I.P., and the Religion of Perpetual Outrage  —  Deeply saddening news at the end of this 9/11 anniversary week.  The outspoken lioness Oriana Fallaci has died of cancer: … She refused to candycoat her criticisms of Islam.  She refused to submit to jihadi thugs.

Former Secretary of State Powell opposes interrogation plan  —  White House says Powell is confused  —  WASHINGTON - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, parting company with President Bush, came out against harsh interrogations of terror suspects even as the president lobbied personally for it on Capitol Hill Thursday.

Ohio Congressman Is Said to Agree to Plead Guilty  —  Representative Bob Ney, Republican of Ohio, has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges related to his dealings with the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff, lawyers and others with knowledge of the investigation said Thursday.

Italian Writer Oriana Fallaci Dies  —  ROME — Oriana Fallaci, the Italian writer and journalist best known for her abrasive interviews and provocative stances, has died, officials said Friday.  She was 76.  —  Fallaci, who had been diagnosed with cancer years ago, died overnight …

The Tehran Calculus  —  In his televised Sept. 11 address, President Bush said that we must not "leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons."  There's only one such current candidate: Iran.

Al-Qaida joins Algerians against France  —  PARIS - Al-Qaida has for the first time announced a union with an Algerian insurgent group that has designated France as an enemy, saying they will act together against French and American interests.  —  Current and former French officials specializing …

Ellsberg Calls on Insiders to Leak Details of Alleged War Plans  —  NEW YORK When Daniel Ellsberg, the defense analyst, leaked the Pentagon Papers to the press in 1971, it created one of the most significant newspaper stories — and battles — of the century.

Oil Prices  —  Two years ago -as oil prices began to rise- two friends of mine in the industry said to look for a dramatic climb in prices but "over the long term" (a decade? fifteen years?) look for oil to settle in a zone of $40 to $55 a barrel.  When oil reached $70 a barrel I thought about that "zone."

Attacks on Yemen oil plants kill 5  —  SAN`A, Yemen - Suicide bombers tried to strike two oil facilities in Yemen with explosives-packed cars, but authorities foiled the attacks and four bombers and a security guard were killed, the government said Friday.  —  The attempts came ahead …

Rightroots Push Continues  —  We're continuing our push for 100 contributions for each candidate in our Rightroots campaign, which has a slate of excellent candidates in competitive races for both the House and Senate in the upcoming midterm elections.  As of this post, we have raised …

US outraged as Pakistan frees Taliban fighters  —  Pakistan's credibility as a leading ally in the war on terrorism was called into question last night when it emerged that President Pervez Musharraf's government had authorised the release from jail of thousands of Taliban fighters caught fighting coalition forces in Afghanistan.