Person of the Year: You  —  Yes, you.  You control the Information Age.  Welcome to your world.  —  The "Great Man" theory of history is usually attributed to the Scottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle, who wrote that "the history of the world is but the biography of great men."

A Mideast Counteroffensive  —  IRANIAN President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presided over a convention of Holocaust deniers in Tehran this week, rousing them with yet another speech predicting the extinction of Israel.  In Lebanon, the pro-Western government of Fouad Siniora hung by a thread …

New manual at odds with key Iraq tactics  —  The counterinsurgency doctrine warns about practices still in use, such as big bases that may signal occupation.  —  WASHINGTON — The U.S. military's new counterinsurgency doctrine takes issue with some key strategies that American commanders …

'We're Going to Win'  —  The president finally has a plan for victory.  —  It turns out you only have to attend a White House Christmas party to find out where President Bush is headed on Iraq.  One guest who shook hands with Bush in the receiving line told him, "Don't let the bastards get you down."

Episcopalians Are Reaching Point of Revolt  —  For about 30 years, the Episcopal Church has been one big unhappy family.  Under one roof there were female bishops and male bishops who would not ordain women.  There were parishes that celebrated gay weddings and parishes that denounced them …

Get a Grip, Guys  —  Even after Stern finally caved on the new NBA basketball, when Nader chimed in on safety issues, the tone of their comments quickly went from playful to playground  —  It was a match made in heaven.  They are now the Sunshine Boys of sport.

Americans Open to New Kinds of Candidates  —  AMERICANS ASSERT their readiness for new kinds of presidential wannabes.  —  In new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, eight in 10 Americans would be "comfortable" or "enthusiastic" about an African-American or woman running for president.

Legal System in Iraq Staggers Beneath the Weight of War  —  In 2004, American troops detained Laith al-Ani, shown in a family photo.  He sent his family a letter, above, from his detention camp, but they say they do not know why he is still held.  More Photos >

Jews far more likely to be victims of faith hatred than Muslims  —  Jewish people are four times more likely to be attacked because of their religion than Muslims, according to figures compiled by the police.  —  One in 400 Jews compared to one in 1,700 Muslims are likely to be victims of "faith hate" attacks every year.

Ministers compared to Nazis over Islam stigma  —  A senior Muslim invoked Hitler's 1930s Nazi regime while attacking the Government over its treatment of British Muslims.  —  Muhammed Abdul Bari accused ministers of stigmatising Britain's Islamic community and fuelling xenophobia.

Things are coming to a head  —  Surging Troops?  —  If we add another 30,000 or so troops to Iraq, in a final effort to win the war, then we must change (widen) the rules of engagement.  Only that way can America ensure that it simply does not create more targets for the insurgents …

Up Escalator  —  Bill Richardson uses the "e" word and calls out St. John: … Yes, yes, yes.  If Bush does what he'd like to do, which is send in more troops, then this will no longer be Bush's war —  it's McCain's war too and he needs to have it strung around his neck like a neocon albatross.