Somali troops capture Islamic stronghold  —  KISMAYO, Somalia - Somali government troops backed by Ethiopian tanks and fighter jets captured the last major stronghold of a militant Islamic movement Monday, while hundreds of Islamic fighters — many of them Arabs and South Asians — fled the town.

Iraqis learn the art of legal "workarounds"  —  This depressing New York Times article by John Burns and Marc Santora details the frantic, reckless manner in which Saddam Hussein was shoved into the noose in clear violation of Iraqi law.  We can't even get a hanging right.

GOP Lawmakers Divided About 'Surge' in Troops  —  Republican lawmakers appear uneasy about — and in some cases outright dismissive of — the idea of sending many more troops to Iraq, as President Bush contemplates such a "surge" as part of his new strategy for stabilizing the country.

Universal Health Care Run by Psychotics  —  I'm glad there's widespread liberal discussion about the health care system and the need to fix it.  Paul Krugman made a forceful argument about it today in his Op-Ed, but it's really the same argument that heroic blogger nyceve makes on a regular basis …

Chief Justice Advocates Higher Pay for Judiciary  —  WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. made judicial pay the sole topic of his second annual report, issued on Sunday, declaring that the failure by Congress to raise federal judges' salaries in recent years has become a …

Rose Parade Features 'Star Wars' Tribute  —  Nature's grandeur was on full display at the 118th Rose Parade on Monday, featuring a bounty of floral creations that included a fire- breathing dragon protecting a castle, hummingbirds hovering over blossoms and a frog trying to lap up some water.

Iran can still be stopped  —  It is possible to prevent the political and security landslide.  Iran can still be stopped.  —  The government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is rapidly leading Israel to a political and security downfall while Iran is racing towards achieving a nuclear weapons capability.

Labelling cheese as junk food 'unfair'  —  New advertising rules that will officially label cheese as "junk food" were condemned yesterday by the dairy industry as unfair, misleading and counter-productive.  —  Under regulations coming into force this month, broadcasters will be banned …

MTP Transcript for Dec. 31  —  MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday: This is the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, where the remains of the 38th president of the United States lie in state.  What is Gerald Ford's legacy?  What is the story behind the story of his pardon of Richard Nixon?

Veil-wearing Muslim women are part of our fight - al-Qaeda chief  —  AL-QAEDA'S deputy leader said yesterday that any Muslim woman who wears the veil in Western countries is a supporter in what he described as a fight between Islam and "Zionist Crusaders".  —  Ayman al-Zawahri issued …

US 'licence to snoop' on British air travellers  —  Britons flying to America could have their credit card and email accounts inspected by the United States authorities following a deal struck by Brussels and Washington.  —  By using a credit card to book a flight, passengers face having …

The Point Of No Return  —  With all of the assaults on free political speech that have come as a result of the McCain-Feingold Act (or the BCRA), one has to wonder how much farther we can go before reversing the damage becomes impossible.  Mark Tapscott shows us just how far this law reaches …

From Father to Son, Last Words to Live By  —  He drew pictures of himself with angel wings.  He left a set of his dog tags on a nightstand in my Manhattan apartment.  He bought a tiny blue sweat suit for our baby to wear home from the hospital.  —  Then he began to write what would become …

AP poll: Americans optimistic for 2007  —  WASHINGTON - The news from Iraq and other national headlines may be grim, but in Greenville, N.C., John Given has a new baby and his first home, and life is good.  —  So, too, for Sandra Trowbridge in tiny Magnet Cove, Ark. The situation in Iraq makes …