Senate Narrowly Rejects Detainee Bill Provision  —  The Senate today narrowly rejected a measure that would have allowed suspected terrorists to challenge their detention in federal court, as the body moved closer to passing a White House-backed bill to authorize special military tribunals …

House Report Details 485 Contacts Between Abramoff Team and White House Officials  —  Hundreds of contacts between top White House officials and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates "raise serious questions about the legality and actions" of those officials, according …

Sixteen-Year-Old Capitol Hill Page Concerned About E-mail Exchange with Congressman  —  Rhonda Schwartz and Maddy Sauer Report:  —  A 16-year-old male congressional page concerned about the appropriateness of an e-mail exchange with a congressman alerted Capitol Hill staffers to the communication.

Iraqi Journalists Add Laws to List of Dangers  —  BAGHDAD — Ahmed al-Karbouli, a reporter for Baghdadiya TV in the violent city of Ramadi, did his best to ignore the death threats, right up until six armed men drilled him with bullets after midday prayers.  —  He was the fourth journalist killed …

Bush Criticizes Democrats on Terror War  —  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - President Bush suggested Thursday that Democrats don't have the stomach to fight the war on terror, battling back in the election-season clamor over administration intelligence showing terrorism spreading.

Secure Fence Act to Pass Senate  —  In a post 9/11 world, border security is a matter of national security.  Securing our borders is not an insurmountable problem ... but it has been a problem that too many have been willing to ignore for too long.  —  While our borders are still inexcusably porous …

This Is What Waterboarding Looks Like  —  As Congress has debated legislation that would set up military tribunals and govern the questioning of suspected terrorists (whom the Bush administration would like to be able to detain indefinitely), at issue has been what interrogation techniques …

House approves warrantless wiretap law  —  WASHINGTON - The House approved a bill Thursday that would grant legal status to President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program with new restrictions.  Republicans called it a test before the election of whether Democrats want to fight or coddle terrorists.

For Kazakh Leader's Visit, U.S. Seeks a Balance  —  When Vice President Dick Cheney came to this oil-rich Central Asian nation this spring he expressed admiration for what he called its "political development."  Yet just a day before his visit began, the authoritarian government effectively shut …

MORE VOTERS BLAME BUSH FOR FAILURE TO CATCH BIN LADEN  —  NEW YORK — By an 11-point margin, voters would give the edge to Democrats over Republicans if the congressional election were held today, yet slightly more Americans think the country would be safer from terrorism if Republicans keep control of Congress.

Why I Should Run the U.N.  —  The United Nations selects its next secretary general this fall through a series of straw polls.  The third of these — the most decisive to date — will be held today.  In the vote, the 15 members of the Security Council "encourage," "discourage" or venture "no opinion" on each of the candidates.

Menendez Dumps Key Adviser Caught On Tape Seeking 'Favors'  —  U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez's closest political adviser was secretly recorded seven years ago boasting of political power and urging a Hudson county contractor to hire somone as a favor to Menendez, according to a transcript obtained by The Star-Ledger.