Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Hurting U.S. Terror Fight  —  The war in Iraq has become a primary recruitment vehicle for violent Islamic extremists, motivating a new generation of potential terrorists around the world whose numbers may be increasing faster than the United States and its allies …

Sunday Talking Head Thread  —  Here's the lineup for the Sunday Talking Head shows.  Read it and weep:  —  ABC's "This Week" — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.; New Jersey Senate candidates Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Republican Tom Kean Jr.  —  CBS's "Face the Nation" — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

In Memory of Sgt. Paul R. Smith  —  A group of us here at the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers read a story about the failure of recogniton of one of our finest and decided then to set aside a day—the day of his birth—to salute him in memory of his courageous service under fire.

Police to brief Muslims before terror raids  —  POLICE have agreed to consult a panel of Muslim leaders before mounting counter-terrorist raids or arrests.  Members of the panel will offer their assessment of whether information police have on a suspect is too flimsy and will also consider …

Dozens die in Baghdad blast  —  At least 34 people have been killed by a bomb in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.  —  A further 36 people were injured in Saturday's explosion which happened near a petrol station in the predominantly Shia area of the Iraqi capital.

Outrage over Arizona 9/11 memorial ready to go nuclear?  —  There's something about it on Drudge as I write this.  Red-fonted.  With a photo.  —  Getting the photo accompaniment on DR is like getting a guest shot on Ed Sullivan during his heyday.  You've made it.  You've arrived.

Taking Aim  —  Since the president's re-election, loathers of George W. Bush have had no shortage of cudgels with which to club him: a distressingly belated response to Hurricane Katrina; an experiment in warrantless wiretapping; a modest parade of indictments; a nation-building project …

The Tide's In for Independents  —  The independence being demonstrated all over the political spectrum these days — by Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman and Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee, both in tough reelection battles, and by Republican Sens. John McCain and John Warner — has its roots in American history.

Secrets of 'South Park'  —  Cartoon Co-Creators on Tom Cruise, Mohammed and the Time They Came Close to Packing It in  —  Comedy Central's vulgar, profane, hilarious animated hit "South Park" begins its 10th season on Oct. 4 in an uncertain place.  —  In the past year, the show and its creators …

A coup, a riot, a UN rant-fest, and the world just stifles a yawn  —  I was wondering why the antics of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly seemed so familiar last week.  Then I realised.  It was just like a university faculty meeting.  Extravagant, long-winded denunciations …

Torture as Investigation  —  Vladimir Bukovsky: … It goes on, including tales of Bukovsky's own experiences as a victim of Soviet torture and deserves to be read in its entirety.  But this here is essentially the key point at hand.  While you can obviously imagine or gerrymander …

Late Nite FDL: We Keep Going  —  I saw this movie last night.  It was a rip!  —  I like screwball comedy when the actors don't play it or mug overtly for laughs.  The actors here, including Greg Kinnear, Steve Carrell, Abigail Breslin and Alan Arkin all play their characters pretty straight …

Are We Really So Fearful?  —  DURHAM, N.C.  —  It still haunts me, the first time — it was in Chile, in October of 1973 — that I met someone who had been tortured.  To save my life, I had sought refuge in the Argentine Embassy some weeks after the coup that had toppled …

Case concedes U.S. Senate race  —  Ed Case has telephoned U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and conceded the U.S. Senate Democratic primary, then told supporters he will do everything he can to help Akaka and Hawai'i's Democratic Congressional delegation.  —  At about 11:50 p.m. …

The War of the Hacks  —  It's amazing what a few days away from this politics-obsessed town can do for one's perspective.  Seen from afar, the congressional debate over the war and terrorism comes across as a Washington event designed to show that Democrats are wimps on national security …

3,000 Demonstrate in Tikrit for Saddam Return  —  Muqtada: US DoD has File on Shiite Messiah  —  The Associated Press reports Friday's major events in Iraq: … In the mixed Hurriyah district of Baghdad, guerrillas attacked Sunni Arab homes and mosques.  The guerrillas shot down 4 persons.