At Hearing, Gates Says U.S. Not Winning War in Iraq  —  President Bush's nominee to be Secretary of Defense said today that the United States is not winning the war in Iraq, and that an American failure there could help to ignite "a regional conflagration" in the Middle East.

'We Can't Afford to Leave'  —  As the debate over Iraq intensifies, leading Democrat Silvestre Reyes is calling for the deployment of more U.S. troops.  —  Dec. 5.  2006 - In a surprise twist in the debate over Iraq, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, the soon-to-be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee …

Praising son Jeb, former President Bush breaks down  —  TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) — Former President George H.W. Bush broke down in tears as he cited his son, Gov. Jeb Bush, as an example of leadership.  —  Bush was addressing lawmakers, his son's top administrators, and state workers gathered …

Flatulence, not turbulence forces plane landing in Nashville  —  Flatulence brought 99 passengers on an American Airlines flight to an unscheduled visit to Nashville early Monday morning.  —  American Flight 1053, from Washington Reagan National Airport and bound for Dallas/Fort Worth …

Questioning a NYTimes reporter; challenging CBS News & ASNE  —  The Associated Press controversy over its six burning Sunnis story is not just about AP.  It's a burning credibility crisis that stretches from Pallywood to the Fauxtography scandal and beyond.

2008: If Obama runs, he wins  —  Standard caveats aside (it's early, we don't have a set field, blah blah blah), it's hard to see how Barack Obama loses the nomination barring scandal or the mother-of-all gaffes.  —  I've been working up a few scenarios given the primary calendar …

Hardliners turn on Ahmadinejad for watching women dancers  —  President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, who flaunts his ideological fervour, has been accused of undermining Iran's Islamic revolution after television footage appeared to show him watching a female song and dance show.

The 1st Amendment Is Not a Suicide Pact: Blocking the Speech That Calls for Our Death  —  I must have hit a nerve.  —  In New Hampshire last week, at a dinner hosted by the Loeb School honoring our 1st-Amendment rights, I called for a serious debate about the 1st Amendment and how terrorists …

American Among Terror Plotters in Egypt  —  *Bumped* because I don't think this is getting enough press.  An American.  Arrested in Egypt.  Part of an international cell of jihadis.  For, at the very least, encouraging people to go to Iraq and fight Americans.  That.  Is.  TREASON.

Veiled woman to give C4's speech  —  A veiled Muslim woman will deliver this year's alternative Christmas speech on Channel 4, the broadcaster has said.  —  Khadija, a Zimbabwean-born British citizen who has been wearing the full veil - or niqab - for 10 years, has been given the slot.

NASA Plans Permanent Moon Base  —  NASA announced plans on Monday for a permanent base on the Moon, to be started soon after astronauts return there around 2020.  —  The agency's deputy administrator, Shana Dale, said the United States would develop rockets and spacecraft to get people to the Moon and establish a rudimentary base.

SOLVING THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS....I've been waiting impatiently for Instapundit's promised "symposium" on Iraq, an ambitious attempt to see if the blogosphere can come up with better ideas than all those tired mainstream analysts.  As it turns out, response was so overwhelming that we'll be getting multiple installments.

"Don't Know" Leads for President in 2008  —  Clinton, McCain, Obama, and Giuliani mentioned most frequently  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Many Americans cannot spontaneously think of the name of a person they would like to see elected president in 2008.  While this lack of firm conviction …

Press Briefing by Tony Snow  —  White House Conference Center Briefing Room  —  MR. SNOW: Welcome.  I have been unable to get you all the details you wanted on the lunch with Secretary Baker.  It started at 11:30 a.m., not at 12:00 p.m. The President went straight from a policy time into the lunch.

The 2006 Weblog Awards Finalists Announced  —  Below are the finalists in The 2006 Weblog Awards, presented in both category and alphabetical order.  Finalist badges are available now and voting is scheduled to begin Thursday.  —  Cateogory Listing of The 2006 Weblog Awards Finalists:  —  Best Blog