USA more pessimistic on Iraq war  —  WASHINGTON — As President Bush weighs changing course in Iraq, Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the war and want most U.S. troops withdrawn within a year, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday says.

Iran president says Israel's days are numbered  —  TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday told delegates at an international conference questioning the Holocaust that Israel's days were numbered.  —  Ahmadinejad, who has sparked international outcry by referring …

A devil food is turning our kids into homosexuals  —  There's a slow poison out there that's severely damaging our children and threatening to tear apart our culture.  The ironic part is, it's a "health food," one of our most popular.  —  Now, I'm a health-food guy, a fanatic …

A Dictator's Double Standard  —  Augusto Pinochet tortured and murdered.  His legacy is Latin America's most successful country.  —  AUGUSTO PINOCHET, who died Sunday at the age of 91, has been vilified for three decades in and outside of Chile, the South American country he ruled for 17 years.

Dems keep Jefferson off Ways and Means  —  WASHINGTON - House Democrats, insistent that they will hold lawmakers to higher standards, decided Tuesday that Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) will not return to an influential committee until a federal corruption investigation involving him is completed.

Christmas trees are going back up at Sea-Tac airport  —  The holiday trees that went away in the middle of the night are back.  —  Tonight, Port of Seattle staff began putting up the trees they had taken down Friday night after a local rabbi requested that a Hanukkah menorah also be displayed.

Saudi Ambassador Abruptly Resigns, Leaves Washington  —  Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, flew out of Washington yesterday after informing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and his staff that he would be leaving the post after only 15 months on the job …

An Exclusive Mini-Interview With Tom DeLay  —  Yesterday, I got together with former Majority Leader Tom DeLay for a short interview.  What follows, is an edited transcript of our discussion.  —  To begin with, let me ask you a question that just about everyone in politics has been asked …

STUDENTS 'LOVE' COP KILLER HONORED AT NEW YORK COLLEGE  —  NEW YORK — New York City college students who share a community room named for an escaped cop killer called the fugitive their hero Tuesday as the school's officials demanded the removal of the honor.

A Battle Hillary Clinton Should Relish  —  Hillary Rodham Clinton faces a maddening challenge.  Many of the people who like and admire her, who believe she has good values and would make an excellent president, are not sure they are for her because they don't think she can win.

THE SITUATION ROOM  —  President Bush Stops At State Department To Show He's Listening To New Ideas About Iraq; Rumors Say There May Be Some Effort To Get Rid Of Nouri Al-Maliki; Space Shuttle Discovery Docking With International Space Station In Series Of Dangerous Maneuvers …

Small nuclear war could lead to cooldown  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Some of the scientists who first advanced the controversial "nuclear winter" theory more than two decades ago have come up with another bleak forecast: Even a regional nuclear war would devastate the environment.

Intelligence panel's 'Phase Two' to be completed next year: Rockefeller  —  The three unreleased sections of the Senate Intelligence Committee's controversial "Phase Two" report on the Bush administration's use of prewar intelligence are headed for circulation next year, incoming Chairman Jay Rockefeller …

Gore chases Oscar nod, possible 2008 bid  —  NEW YORK - Al Gore is waging a fierce campaign for recognition and an Oscar statuette for his global warming documentary, while reviving talk that he's pursuing a bigger prize: the presidency.  —  His recent itinerary has been the ultimate in high profile.

Dems to Wipe Out Pet Projects in Bills  —  Democrats tidying up a cluster of unfinished spending bills dumped on them by departing Republican leaders in Congress will start by removing billions of dollars in lawmakers' pet projects next month.  —  The move, orchestrated by the incoming chairmen …

Business lobbyists flock to Centrist Democrats  —  One of the earliest signs that life for Democrats would be different in the majority came at a post-election event sponsored by the New Democrat Coalition, the pro-business group of centrist Democrats.  —  Previous affairs drew at most 20 lobbyists …

Israel Nuke Comment Sparks Controversy  —  JERUSALEM (AP) - A slip of the tongue by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about Israel's nuclear policy ballooned into a domestic crisis Tuesday for the Israeli leader, who came under criticism from across the political spectrum.

The value of a pro-war blogger's reports from Iraq  —  Bill Roggio's accounts bring home a feel for what US troops are facing in Iraq.  —  WASHINGTON - In recent months, the gruesome images and stories emanating from Iraq have hardened the public's perception about the conflict there.

$20bn gas project seized by Russia  —  Shell is being forced by the Russian government to hand over its controlling stake in the world's biggest liquefied gas project, provoking fresh fears about the Kremlin's willingness to use the country's growing strength in natural resources as a political weapon.