Rushdie, Hirsi Ali, the Pope — Who's Next?  —  The pope has apologized for the outrage amongst Muslims sparked by his recent comments.  But the episode proves once again that criticizing Islam is dangerous.  —  Twenty years ago in the German city of Bremen, Dutch comedian Rudi Carrell's life depended on police protection.

Canadian Was Falsely Accused, Panel Says  —  After Tip From Ally, U.S. Sent Muslim to Syria for Questioning  —  Canadian intelligence officials passed false warnings and bad information to American agents about a Muslim Canadian citizen, after which U.S. authorities secretly whisked him to Syria …

McCain's Stand On Detainees May Pose Risk For 2008 Bid  —  Opposition to Bush Could Alienate Republican Base  —  Sen. John McCain's bid to position himself as the natural heir to President Bush as a wartime commander in chief and to court conservative leaders in advance …

Papal Bull  —  JOSEPH RATZINGER'S LATEST OFFENSE.  —  There are many popes within Christianity—the Coptic Church has one, and the Eastern Orthodox Church also boasts a patriarch or holy father—but we have acquired the habit of using the term to describe only the bishop of Rome …

Revealed: the tough interrogation techniques the CIA wants to use  —  Ed Pilkington in New York and Clare Dyer  —  Details emerged yesterday about the seven interrogation techniques the CIA is seeking to be allowed to apply to terror suspects.  Newsweek magazine reported that a New York lawyer …

Poll finds rebound in Bush approval  —  WASHINGTON — Amid falling gas prices and a two-week drive to highlight his administration's efforts to fight terrorism, President Bush's approval rating has risen to 44% in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.  That's his highest rating in a year.

Olbermann: "The President of the United States owes this country an apology"  —  Keith Olbermann delivered another stunning special comment tonight, this time attacking Bush's Rose Garden press conference from last Friday.  —  Olbermann: Finally tonight, a Special Comment about the Rose Garden news conference last Friday.

Enough Apologies  —  Already, angry Palestinian militants have assaulted seven West Bank and Gaza churches, destroying two of them.  In Somalia, gunmen shot dead an elderly Italian nun.  Radical clerics from Qatar to Qom have called, variously, for a "day of anger" or for worshipers to "hunt down" the pope and his followers.

Budapest clashes as protest grows  —  Police in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, have used tear gas and water cannon against protesters who threw bottles and stones and set cars alight.  —  Thousands of demonstrators had gathered in the city, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.

Americans Deserve Secure Borders  —  Bringing the "Secure Fence Act of 2006" to the Floor  —  A nation that can't secure its borders can't secure its destiny or administer its laws.  And the reality is that America's borders today are inexcusably porous.  —  One of the most important …