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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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."

For Guantánamo Review Boards, Limits Abound  —  GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba — At one end of a converted trailer in the American military detention center here, a graying Pakistani businessman sat shackled before a review board of uniformed officers, pleading for his freedom.

Conyers accepts responsibility for possible ethics violations  —  Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) has "accepted responsibility" for possibly violating House rules by requiring his official staff to perform campaign-related work, according to a statement quietly released by the House ethics committee late Friday evening.

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 …

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."

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.

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 …