Assassins and Diplomacy  —  Another murder in Beirut for Jim Baker to contemplate.  —  Former Secretary of State James Baker has been saying that, when it comes to diplomacy, you don't "restrict your conversations to your friends"—shorthand for the view that the U.S. should engage Syria …

U.N.: Iraqi civilian deaths at new high  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - The United Nations said Wednesday that 3,709 Iraqi civilians were killed in October, the highest monthly toll since the March 2003 U.S. invasion and another sign of the severity of Iraq's sectarian bloodbath.

Putting Homeland Security First  —  "I never felt bad in my life like that.  I never.  Six imams.  Six leaders in this country.  Six scholars in handcuffs.  It's terrible."  —  So spoke Imam Omar Shahin, director of the Islamic Center of Tucson, after he and five other imams were removed …

An Ideologue for Hire Gets New Alliance  —  Senator Joseph I. Lieberman announced Tuesday that he had hired a new spokesman, which is not in itself that noteworthy, except that the said spokesman, Marshall Wittmann, is one of the great career vagabonds, ideological contortionists …

Video: U.S. Secretary of Education loses big on Celebrity Jeopardy  —  What's more embarrassing than being Secretary of Education and having your ass handed to you on Celebrity Jeopardy?  Being Secretary of Education and having your ass handed to you on Celebrity Jeopardy by Lenny from "Laverne & Shirley."

Democratic Leaders Reject Idea of Draft  —  Pelosi and Others Predict Cool Reception in Congress for Any Conscription Bill  —  The new Democratic-controlled Congress will not seriously consider reinstating the draft, even if concerns about the military's strength and resiliency grow, party leaders said yesterday.

Pass a Drumstick, and an Olive Branch  —  COOKS can control the Thanksgiving menu, but when the dishes leave the kitchen, things can unravel fast.  —  Family grudges buried by time and distance resurface.  New girlfriends meet ex-husbands.  Prius drivers make small talk with S.U.V. owners.

Hardball: Michael Richards  —  Welcome back to Hardball, I'm Chris Matthews.  Where do we draw the line between free speech and offensive speech?  Joining me via satellite is Michael Richards, who played Kramer on the old Seinfeld show.  Mr. Richards, welcome to the show.  —  Thanks for having me, Chris.

Elderly Woman Killed; 3 APD Officers Wounded  —  ATLANTA — Three Atlanta police officers were shot and wounded and an elderly woman killed at a house in northwest Atlanta Tuesday night.  —  The woman, who relatives say was 92-years-old, opened fire on the officers from the narcotics division …

First Daughter Barbara Robbed in Argentina  —  From Our Sources:  —  First Daughter Barbara Bush had her purse and cell phone stolen as she had dinner in a restaurant in Buenos Aires, Argentina, even though she was being guarded by a detail of Secret Service agents, according to law enforcement reports made available to ABC News.

Some Curbs on Sex Offenders Called Ineffective, Inhumane  —  As convicted sex offenders go, they seem to pose little danger.  —  One is 100 years old.  Another can barely walk and is in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease.  Another is dying of heart disease in a nursing home.