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.

U.S. toll in Iraq surpasses that of 9/11  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - At least 36 Iraqis died Tuesday in bombings, officials said, including a coordinated strike that killed 25 in western Baghdad.  Separately, the deaths of six U.S. soldiers pushed the American toll beyond the number of victims in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

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.

Next: Bread and Circuses  —  Investigations have revealed the Bush Administration wasted more than $2 billion of the money allocated for Katrina, the Associated Press reports today.  Much of this waste is the result of lucrative contracts awarded with little or no competition.  Hope Yen of the AP writes,

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 …

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 …

Democrats Pledge to Restrain Spending  —  Critics Say Party's Goals Are Too Lofty  —  Determined to banish their old tax-and-spend image, Democrats want to shrink the federal deficit, preserve tax cuts for the middle class and challenge the president to raise money for the Iraq war when they take control of Congress next week.

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 …

A Correction About Jamil Hussein!  —  Unfortunately, the correction in question is not from the AP, but it's a good one nonetheless.  On Dec. 19th, Media Matters cranky-pants Eric Boehlert misquoted me and changed the meaning of what I said.  He also wrote about the "deafening silence" …

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.

The Kwanzaa Fraud  —  Ah...the holidays.  Great time of the year isn't it?  —  But about this time of the year, every year, I glance at a calender and see that the official start of Kwanzaa is starting tomorrow and I have to shake my head.  Why?  Well because Kwanzaa is a fraud …

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 …