Intelligence Report Stirs Debate on Terror Fight  —  An intelligence assessment that the war in Iraq increased Islamic radicalism, worsening the terror threat, set off a sharp debate today among American political officials over credit and blame for the war and the broader fight against terrorism.

Teammates: Allen used "N-word" in college  —  WASHINGTON — Three former college football teammates of Sen. George Allen say that the Virginia Republican repeatedly used an inflammatory racial epithet and demonstrated racist attitudes toward blacks during the early 1970s.

Bush dismisses bloodshed in Iraq as 'just a comma'  —  Steve finds this piece of revealing data..  —  Video-WMP Video-QT … This is an appalling statement to make.  With a civili war full of Iraqi bloodshed and over 20,000 of our men and women killed or wounded since the war started-one would think this might matter.

Hurricane Chávez  —  HUGO CHAVEZ got the attention that he craves by comparing President Bush to Satan last week.  But the Venezuelan leader's absurd talk may be less threatening than his equally absurd incompetence.  Since Mr. Chávez took power seven years ago …

U.S. Senate candidates trade jabs  —  BUTTE — The audience was better behaved, but the candidates mixed it up more in the second fall debate between Republican U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns and his Democratic challenger, state Senate President Jon Tester.  —  "He wants to weaken our families …

9/11 Commission Members Should Review and Report on Controversial Intel Estimate  —  The "New York Times" report on the the most recent National Intelligence Estimate, completed in April, is quickly fueling another ugly political argument over the value and accuracy of the intelligence …

Who knows?  There might even be an improving moral to the story  —  Maybe it's already been done but, if not, someone could do a good 'how Hitler conquered Europe' skit based on the idea that at every stage he is able to advance, invisible, like a ghost, because someone points out that to take note …

Photo series: The Arizona 9/11 Memorial  —  A million thanks to AZ Patriot, who did yeoman's work for us today by heading over there and snapping these pics.  I think this is the whole series but I'm not sure; he hasn't responded to my e-mail yet.  —  Here they are, in sequence.

Rare Woodpecker Sends a Town Running for Its Chain Saws  —  Over the past six months, landowners here have been clear-cutting thousands of trees to keep them from becoming homes for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.  —  The chain saws started in February, when the federal Fish …

Why Retired Military Brass Don't Want Torture  —  Firsthand combat experiences compel old guard to attack Bush's 'alternative interrogation.'  —  FOR ONE 83-year-old veteran of World War II, it was the searing memory of a Japanese prisoner who helped turn the tide on Iwo Jima.