U.S. death toll in Iraq reaches 3,000  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - The death of a Texas soldier, announced Sunday by the Pentagon, raised the number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq to at least 3,000 since the war began, according to an Associated Press count.  —  The grim milestone was crossed …

Islamists, Cornered in Somalia, Lose Local Support  —  As fighting began to flare up today around Kismayo, the final redoubt for Somalia's diminished Islamic movement, elders within the city demanded that the Islamists leave.  —  Mohammed Arab, a leader of the Ogaden sub-clan …

Bush Has Quietly Tripled Aid to Africa  —  Increase in Funding to Impoverished Continent Is Viewed as Altruistic or Pragmatic  —  President Bush's legacy is sure to be defined by his wielding of U.S. military power in Afghanistan and Iraq, but there is another, much softer and less-noticed effort …

Poll: Americans see gloom, doom in 2007  —  WASHINGTON - Another terrorist attack, a warmer planet, death and destruction from a natural disaster.  These are among Americans' grim predictions for the United States in 2007.  —  Only a minority of people think the U.S. will go to war with Iran …

Palestinians Mourn Dead Tyrant  —  The wires services' Arab propagandists are working overtime to let us know that the Palestinian death cult society is distraught about the execution of the monster Saddam Hussein.

Romney connecting quickly with bloggers  —  Taps into the Web for early support  —  Bill Hobbs of Tennessee is among the bloggers that Mitt Romney has been courting.  (Alan Poizner/ Getty Images/ For the Boston Globe)  —  Over cold cuts, cookies, and soft drinks, Governor Mitt Romney …

This Clinton machine is a tighter ship  —  The New York senator has a seasoned political team that is ready to act — if she decides to run for president.  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has spent much of the last month behind closed doors, putting the final touches on a presidential campaign-in-waiting.

President's Radio Address  —  Remembering President Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006)  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  This week, as Americans prepare to welcome a new year, we do so with heavy hearts and fond memories of our 38th President, Gerald R. Ford.  We mourn the passing of a courageous leader …

Wilson Opposes Troop Increase  —  WASHINGTON— Rep. Heather Wilson— initially a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq— said Saturday she opposes sending additional U.S. troops to the violence-torn nation and that the situation in Baghdad is "not improving."

Hundreds of Turks injured in Muslim animal sacrifice  —  Hundreds of Turks spent the first day of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha holiday in emergency wards today after stabbing themselves or suffering other injuries while sacrificing startled and agitated animals.

China chokes on a coal-fired boom  —  Toxic cloud of progress can be seen from space  —  A GREAT coal rush is under way across China on a scale not seen anywhere since the 19th century.  —  Its consequences have been detected half a world away in toxic clouds so big that they can seen from space …

Senators should have shown them the money  —  Entering the post-primary presidential campaign of 2004, political strategists, commentators and journalists believed that if any single state would represent the difference between victory and defeat in the general election, Ohio would be that state.

Robert Fisk: He takes his secrets to the grave.  Our complicity dies with him  —  How the West armed Saddam, fed him intelligence on his 'enemies', equipped him for atrocities - and then made sure he wouldn't squeal  —  We've shut him up.  The moment Saddam's hooded executioner pulled …

Mosque plans trigger neighbor's pig races … KATY, Texas (AP) — A man unhappy with an Islamic association's plans to build a mosque next to his property has staged pig races as a protest during afternoon prayers.  —  Craig Baker, 46, sold merchandise and grilled sausages Friday for about 100 people who showed up in heavy rain.

Prosecutorial Indiscretion  —  "THE PROSECUTOR has more control over life, liberty and reputation than any other person in America.  His discretion is tremendous.  He can have citizens investigated, and, if he is that kind of person, he can have this done to the tune of public statements and veiled or unveiled intimations."