The Rush to Hang Saddam Hussein  —  The important question was never really about whether Saddam Hussein was guilty of crimes against humanity.  The public record is bulging with the lengthy litany of his vile and unforgivable atrocities: genocidal assaults against the Kurds …

Why We Need More Troops in Iraq  —  I've just spent 10 days traveling in the Middle East and speaking to leaders there, all of which has made one thing clearer to me than ever: While we are naturally focused on Iraq, a larger war is emerging.  On one side are extremists and terrorists led …

Marines deny airstrikes used against insurgents in Ramadi  —  BAGHDAD — A large-scale U.S. military operation in Ramadi last month did not target suspected insurgents with airstrikes, U.S. military officials said.  —  Witness statements reported by The Times on Nov. 15 indicated …

Grande "Conservative" Blogress Diva Ann Althouse Among the "True Believers" —What Really Happened?  —  I've been following with amazement and dismay the odd postings of Grande Conservative Blogress Diva Ann Althouse about Liberty Fund Conference that we both attended earlier this month.

THE SITUATION ROOM  —  Saddam Hussein's Final Hours; James Brown's Life Celebrated at the Apollo  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Christine.  And to our viewers …

End of Another Year...  You know your country is in trouble when:  —  The UN has to open a special branch just to keep track of the chaos and bloodshed, UNAMI.  —  Abovementioned branch cannot be run from your country.  —  The politicians who worked to put your country in this sorry state …

Edwards Opens Presidential Campaign  —  Framed by two ruined houses and a dead tree, John Edwards inaugurated his 2008 presidential campaign here on Thursday with an appeal to citizens to take on challenges like the one represented by this still-devastated city.

Nifong In Trouble  —  Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong faces charges of ethical violations at the North Carolina Bar Association due to his inflammatory and misleading comments to the press during the rape investigation of three Duke lacrosse team members.

Sen. Johnson Improves, Is Expected to Miss Start of Congress  —  Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) turned 60 yesterday, two weeks after emergency surgery to repair a brain hemorrhage that has left him in critical condition.  —  Julianne Fisher, a spokeswoman for the senator, said Johnson …

Ford, Nixon Sustained Friendship for Decades  —  Months before Richard M. Nixon set a relatively unknown Michigan congressman named Gerald R. Ford on the path to the White House, Nixon turned to Ford, who called himself the embattled president's "only real friend," to get him out of trouble.

Ken plans Trafalgar Square street party to celebrate 50 years of Castro  —  Ken Livingstone is planning a "massive festival" across London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro's Cuban revolution.  —  The event, to be staged in 2009, will involve street parties …

AP Poll: Bush Both a Villain and a Hero  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Bad guy of 2006: President Bush.  Good guy of 2006: President Bush.  When people were asked in an AP-AOL News poll to name the villains and heroes of the year, Bush topped both lists, in a sign of these polarized times.