France Looks Into bin Laden Death Report  —  PARIS (AP) - The French defense ministry on Saturday called for an internal investigation of the leak of an intelligence document that raises the possibility that Osama bin Laden may have died of typhoid in Pakistan a month ago but said the report of the death remained unverified.

Amnesty International 'Deeply Disturbed' by New Detainee Legislation  —  Contact: Sharon Singh of Amnesty International USA, 202-544-0200 ext. 289  —  WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ — Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA's executive director, issued the following statement in response …

Big News: bin Laden dead; Bigger News: Ansar al Sunnah Head Captured!  —  Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta today!  First, bin Laden is reportedly dead.  Or dying.  Or whatever.  In any event, I don't believe it.  But it's the kind of rumor I dig.  Thanks to everyone that e-mailed it.

Sure Beats Getting Dan Rather Fired, Huh  —  I stole the title of this entry from Gene Healy, in conversation this evening.  It looks very likely that Radley Balko has saved Cory Maye's life.  I put it that way on purpose.  In fact, it has taken dogged, pro bono legal work by Covington and Burling …

Former Washington Post senior political reporter, Thomas Edsall, with an extremely candid look at mainstream media  —  The Hugh Hewitt Show  —  HH: Welcome to the program now Thomas Edsall, whose new book, Building Red America, has turned a lot of heads.  He's got an article in the New Republic this week.

Abbas says unity effort 'back to zero'  —  CAIRO, Egypt - Efforts to form a Palestinian government acceptable to the West have gone "back to zero," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday, a day after Hamas said a coalition government that recognizes Israel is unacceptable.

'Democrats Offer a New Direction'  —  We need a Democratic Congress to fight the war on terror — and to end the war on America's families.  Republican policies of the last five years have damaged our economy and failed Americans.  Democrats believe strengthening the middle class is essential …

Democrats accuse Steele of 'political identity theft'  —  No, Maryland voters, the printer did not make an error.  Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele's new campaign signs seem to identify him as a Democrat.  —  A "Steele Democrat," they read.  —  The bright blue placards and bumper stickers …

Afghan Girls, Back in the Shadows  —  Home Classes Proliferate as Anti-Government Insurgents Step Up Attacks on Schools  —  SHEIKHABAD, Afghanistan — In a small, sunlit parlor last week, 20 little girls seated on rush mats sketched a flower drawn on the blackboard.

Lebanon's president castigates UN  —  Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud has lambasted the UN for failing to stop "barbarous aggression" by Israel in the recent conflict.  —  Mr Lahoud criticised the UN for allowing itself to be "subjected to the vagaries of a few world powers".

FORGETTING AMERICAN HISTORY:  —  In his post several days ago, Casey Blake alludes to a disturbing trend in European intellectual circles—the tendency to "read back from the present moment to a sweeping condemnation of American history as a whole."  European attitudes toward America …