President says NIE leak was political, denies Iraq has worsened terrorism  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush on Tuesday announced that he will declassify parts of the National Intelligence Estimate, which reportedly concluded that the war with Iraq has worsened terrorism.

President Bush Signs Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act  —  Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building  —  Fact Sheet: Achieving Greater Transparency and Accountability in Government  —  THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated — except for you all.  (Laughter.)  Welcome.

2001 memo to Rice contradicts statements about Clinton, Pakistan  —  A memo received by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shortly after becoming National Security Advisor in 2001 directly contradicts statements she made to reporters yesterday, RAW STORY has learned.

Why I'm mad: An open letter to David Broder from a fellow journalist  —  This is an open letter that I am sending today to columnist David Broder of the Washington Post, the so-called "dean of American journalism."  I am hoping that others will read it, because it touches on many of the important issues …

Lieberman presents proposals on continuing warfare in Iraq  —  EAST HAMPTON — U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman unleashed a new attack on Democratic rival Ned Lamont on Iraq Monday, and unveiled his plan for going forward with the war.  —  Lieberman charged that Lamont is proposing to give up on Iraq …

Rogue State  —  Lawbreaker and torturer — that's America, loud and proud.  —  "The United States is committed to the world-wide elimination of torture," George W. Bush explained in a June 2003 speech, "and we are leading this fight by example."  Oh, the irony!

The woman who defied the Taliban, and paid with her life  —  Women's rights campaigner in Afghanistan shot dead  —  One in two Afghan women a victim of violence  —  Suicide on the rise as Taliban's power increases  —  Safia Amajan promoted women's education and work …

Anxious Dems eye power of the purse on Iraq  —  Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) will chair the powerful Ways and Means Committee if Democrats win control of the House next year, but his main goal in 2007 does not fall within his panel's jurisdiction.  —  "I can't stop this war," …

White House said to bar hurricane report  —  WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has blocked release of a report that suggests global warming is contributing to the frequency and strength of hurricanes, the journal Nature reported Tuesday.  —  The possibility that warming conditions …

US loses top competitiveness spot  —  The US has lost its status as the world's most competitive economy, according to the World Economic Forum.  —  The US now ranks only sixth in the body's league table of global competitiveness, behind Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Singapore.