SHEEHAN, IRAQ WAR PROTESTERS BREAK UP HOUSE DEMOCRATS' PRESS CONFERENCE  —  Jan. 3: Peace activist Cindy Sheehan speaks on Capitol Hill.  —  WASHINGTON — Iraq war protesters broke up a press conference by House Democrats on Wednesday with chants to bring American troops home from Iraq.

But It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran!  —  Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, found himself under attack last month when he announced he'd take his oath of office on the Koran — especially from Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode, who called it a threat to American values.

White House Won't Condemn Saddam Taunts  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration sent conflicting signals Wednesday about the taunting and baiting that accompanied Saddam Hussein's execution, with the White House declining to join criticism of the procedure and the State Department and U.S. military raising questions about it.

In Meetings With Allies, Clinton Hones '08 Strategy  —  The topic was the Democratic sweep in New Hampshire in November, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton couldn't get enough of it.  —  Dining in Washington recently with three allies from New Hampshire, which has the first-in-the-nation primary …

Going to Iraq  —  My blogging has been lighter than usual the past few weeks due to family time, Fox News duties, holiday chaos, holiday illness—and, yes, planning for a trip to Iraq.  As you know, ex-CNN newsman Eason Jordan extended an invitation to me three weeks ago to go to Iraq …

Pat Robertson: God told me of 'mass killing' in 2007 … VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (AP) — Evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson said Tuesday that God has told him that a terrorist attack on the United States would cause a "mass killing" late in 2007.  —  "I'm not necessarily saying it's …

Administration Official: Troop Escalation 'More Of A Political Decision Than A Military One'  —  CNN reports "President Bush is expected to announce his new Iraq strategy in an address to the nation early next week."  According to the BBC, "The speech will reveal a plan to send more US troops to Iraq."

UPDATED: The long strange trip of "Mow Baker": From spokesman for anti-U.S. terrorists to our man in Saddam's death chamber  —  About three years, Newsweek magazine wrote a very insightful profile of Iraq's national security advisor, Mowaffak Al-Rubaie.  They called him "Iraq's Mr. Cellophane …

President Bush Meets with Cabinet  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.  We just finished our first Cabinet meeting of 2007.  I want to thank my Cabinet officers for joining me here.  We discussed our priorities for the next two years, and how we plan to achieve them.

Why Hawks Win  —  Why are hawks so influential?  The answer may lie deep in the human mind.  People have dozens of decision-making biases, and almost all favor conflict rather than concession.  A look at why the tough guys win more than they should.  —  National leaders get all sorts of advice in times of tension and conflict.

Iran's Secret Plan For Mayhem  —  WASHINGTON — Iran is supporting both Sunni and Shiite terrorists in the Iraqi civil war, according to secret Iranian documents captured by Americans in Iraq.  —  The news that American forces had captured Iranians in Iraq was widely reported last month …

An 'Honest,' 'Open' House, Where Cameras Can't Zoom Out  —  The House of Representatives is often called "the People's House."  So wouldn't it be nifty if the "people" could see what was going on in their own house?  —  But those watching on TV really can't.

Will Bill Keller End 'Public Editor' Slot at The Times?  —  Dan Okrent Protests; Faithful Barney Calame Sputters Weary Defense  —  The New York Times will soon decide whether it will do away with its public editor.  —  The two-year term of the current public editor, Byron (Barney) Calame, will conclude in May.

Al Qaeda TV  —  A new 24-hour insurgent station reveals al Qaeda's increasing sophistication, and our continuing confusion.  —  AL QAEDA AND its allies now have their own 24-hour television station.  Based at a secret studio in Syria, its signal is broadcast to the entire Arab world from a satellite owned by the Egyptian government.

New video shows 5 kidnapped in Iraq  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - Four Americans and an Austrian abducted in November in southern Iraq spoke briefly and appeared uninjured in a video believed to have been recorded nearly two weeks ago and delivered Wednesday to The Associated Press.

Fox News reporter says Bush admitted using cocaine, then retreats, citing, 'questions'  —  Print page sponsored by Velvet Revolution.  —  As political media buzzed about whether or not Senator Barack Obama's admission eleven years ago that he used cocaine as a teenager would hurt his political prospects …