House GOP: Don't Hurt Us — Please  —  Republicans aren't yet an official minority in the House, but they're already beginning a campaign to portray themselves as victims of a heartless Democratic majority.  —  In a "Dear Colleague" letter circulated to fellow Republicans …

Olbermann: Special Comment on "Sacrifice"  —  Keith Olbermann stepped up and slapped Bush's plan to use the word "sacrifice" as an excuse to send more troops to Iraq.  Bush needs a new catch phrase to try and deceive the nation with, but Republican talking points won't work on the people anymore.

Iraq Plans Inquiry Into Hussein Execution  —  With angry demonstrations spreading across Iraq's Sunni Arab heartland, the country's Shiite-led government said today that it had ordered an investigation into the disorderly scenes at the execution of Saddam Hussein, who was mocked and taunted …

CNN apologizes to Barack Obama  —  Wolf Blitzer apologized to Barack Obama for misspelling Osama's name on a graphic yesterday during a broadcast on The Situation Room.  —  Video-WMP Video-QT  —  A contact at CNN told me they were aware of the gaffe yesterday and this morning emailed me this transcript.

AP Again Challenged on Iraqi Source — Continues to Stand By Reporting  —  NEW YORK A long-running dispute between The Associated Press and critics over one of its Iraqi sources show no signs of abating, despite at least two lengthy rebuttals by the news organization.

Political Paper Stolen, Giuliani Camp Says  —  Advisers to former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said yesterday that someone infiltrated the Giuliani camp last fall and stole a document about his presidential prospects and political liabilities.  It was then leaked, they said, as a "dirty trick" …

GOT OPTIMISM?  —  THE WORLD'S LEADING THINKERS SEE GOOD NEWS AHEAD  —  While conventional wisdom tells us that things are bad and getting worse, scientists and the science-minded among us see good news in the coming years.  That's the bottom line of an outburst of high-powered optimism gathered …

Kenya arrests as many as 2 men with Canadian passports: reports  —  As many as two Somali Islamic fighters who claim to be Canadian were among 10 fighters arrested by Kenyan police, according to separate reports Tuesday.  —  The 10 were arrested on Monday at the Liboi border crossing in Kenya …

HILLARY PREDICTS: OBAMA CANDIDACY WILL DIMINISH  —  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton views Barack Obama as her biggest obstacle to nomination, the NEW YORK TIMES is planning to report, but she believes the threat of his candidacy will diminish — as voters learn how inexperienced he is in government and foreign affairs!

Shocked Italy seeks execution ban  —  ROME, Italy (Reuters) — Italy will campaign at the United Nations for a global ban on the death penalty, Prime Minister Romano Prodi said on Tuesday, after graphic images of Saddam Hussein's hanging shocked people around the world.

FBI: Workers saw prisoner abuse at Guantanamo … WASHINGTON (CNN) — The FBI on Tuesday released documents showing at least 26 of the agency's employees witnessed aggressive mistreatment and harsh interrogation techniques of prisoners by other government agencies or outside contractors at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

UN staff accused of raping children in Sudan  —  In pictures: The vulnerable children of Sudan  —  Members of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in southern Sudan are facing allegations of raping and abusing children as young as 12, The Daily Telegraph has learned.

What the Congress Can Do for America  —  Let them say of these next two years: We used our time well.  —  Tomorrow, members of the 110th Congress will take their oaths of office here in Washington.  I will have the privilege of working with them for the next two years—one quarter of my presidency …

Islamist Websites Monitor Project No. 41  —  GIMF Announces Imminent Release of New Software  —  On January 1, 2007 the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF) announced the imminent release of new computer software called "Mujahideen Secret."  According to the advertisement for the software …