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 …

Analysis: Ballots favored Dems  —  Sarasota's 'undervotes' were examined in 5 state races.  —  The group of nearly 18,000 voters that registered no choice in Sarasota's disputed congressional election solidly backed Democratic candidates in all five of Florida's statewide races, an Orlando Sentinel analysis of ballot data shows.

6 Imams Removed From Flight for Behavior Deemed Suspicious  —  Six Muslim religious leaders were taken off a US Airways flight in Minneapolis on Monday evening and detained for several hours after some passengers and crew members complained of behavior they deemed suspicious, including prayers at the gate.

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 …

HHS Nominee Has Prescribed Birth Control  —  Spokeswoman Stresses Keroack's Private Practice Over Role in Christian Group  —  Despite his work for a Christian pregnancy counseling group that opposes contraception, the physician who yesterday began overseeing federal family-planning programs …

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."

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.

U.S. to implement passport requirement  —  WASHINGTON - The Homeland Security Department will require virtually all air travelers entering the United States after Jan. 23 to show passports — even U.S. citizens.  —  Until now, U.S. citizens, travelers from Canada and Bermuda …

Pelosi readying a pre-emptive House agenda  —  She's not going to let State of the Union overshadow the state of the nation  —  (11-22) 04:00 PST Washington — House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi made clear Tuesday she's not willing to cede the public spotlight to President Bush in the weeks before his State of the Union speech.

Here We Go Again  —  Police in Altanta have apparently shot and killed a 92-year-old woman Tuesday night during a drug raid.  Details are sketchy, but unless a nonagenerian was pushing dope and using lethal force to protect her supply, the most likely explanation here is that someone sent …

A Parting Shot From George Allen  —  As a last little gift to America, Senator George Allen, who was narrowly defeated by James Webb this month, has introduced what may be his final piece of legislation: a bill that would allow the carrying of concealed weapons in national parks.

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.

Reno Joins Criticism of Anti-Terror Strategy  —  Former Prosecutors Urge Court to Act Against Indefinite Detention of Suspects  —  Former attorney general Janet Reno has taken the unusual step of openly criticizing the Bush administration's anti-terrorism strategy — joining seven …

Elder Bush takes on son's Arab critics  —  ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Former President George H.W. Bush took on Arab critics of his son Tuesday during a testy exchange at a leadership conference in the capital of this U.S. ally.  —  "My son is an honest man," Bush told members …

Spoils of Prime Office Space Go to Democrats  —  Forget those pesky leadership fights.  The folks who run Congress are now getting down to what really matters on Capitol Hill: dividing up the office space.  —  In something of a break with recent tradition, the incoming Democratic speaker …

New in Gaza: Priest, nun human shields  —  Priest, nun from Michigan join dozens of Palestinians gathered at Gaza houses in effort to prevent bombing, say 'If Israel claims family member involved in violence, arrest them, don't' destroy home populated by entire family'