Islamic forces on the retreat in Somalia  —  MOGADISHU, Somalia - Islamic fighters were in a tactical retreat Tuesday, a senior Islamic leader said, as government and Ethiopian troops advanced on three fronts in a decisive turn around in the battle for control of Somalia.

Courts Side With NSA On Wiretaps  —  Defense lawyers who had hoped that the public disclosure a year ago of the National Security Agency's wiretapping program would yield information favorable to their clients are being rebuffed by the federal judiciary, which in a series of unusually consistent rulings …

A Delusional System of Justice  —  Since this is my last column of 2006, tradition and custom obligate me to choose a person of the year.  This practice was started by the late Henry Luce, who realized that choosing a man of the year would call as much attention to his Time magazine as it would to the person himself.

Iran Is Defiant, Vowing to U.N. It Will Continue Nuclear Efforts  —  Iran on Sunday reacted defiantly to the United Nations Security Council resolution imposing sanctions because of the country's nuclear program.  Iranian officials vowed to continue efforts to enrich uranium and warned …

Justice Dept. Database Stirs Privacy Fears  —  Size and Scope of the Interagency Investigative Tool Worry Civil Libertarians  —  The Justice Department is building a massive database that allows state and local police officers around the country to search millions of case files from the FBI …

Veil liberates me, says alternative Christmas message woman  —  A veil-wearing Muslim convert today claimed the way she chooses to dress makes her feel "liberated" as she delivered an alternative Christmas message.  —  Khadija, the great-granddaughter of a suffragette …

U.S. arrest of Iranians reportedly upsets Iraqi president … BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Iraqi and Iranian authorities slammed the United States on Monday for having arrested several Iranians who were visiting Iraq.  —  A U.S. official said the Iranians were suspected of involvement in attacks against Iraqi security forces.

Qassam hits strategic facility in Ashkelon  —  Agreed upon truce breached once again as Palestinians in northern Gaza fire three rockets toward Negev area; one strikes strategic facility in Ashkelon, damage done to structures  —  Latest Update:  —  Palestinian gunmen launched Monday …

It's dog eat dog in the year of hyperbole  —  The good news is the Year of the Dog is almost over with the Year of the Pig to follow.  The bad news is that it has been a dog of a year for hyperbole as well-educated Australians compete with one another for who can be tops with failed prophesy and false comment.

Interior, Pentagon Faulted In Audits  —  Effort to Speed Defense Contracts Wasted Millions  —  The Defense Department paid two procurement operations at the Department of the Interior to arrange for Pentagon purchases totaling $1.7 billion that resulted in excessive fees and tens of millions of dollars in waste, documents show.