White House Gears Up to Sell Plan for Troop Increase in Iraq  —  The White House is planning an aggressive effort to sell Congress and the American public on President Bush's new strategy for Iraq, beginning with a prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday night, followed Thursday …

U.S. Strike in Somalia Targets Al-Qaeda Figure  —  A U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship attacked suspected al-Qaeda members in southern Somalia on Sunday, and U.S. sources said the operation may have hit a senior terrorist figure.  —  The strike took place near the Kenyan border, according to a senior officer at the Pentagon.

Gov. offers bold prescription  —  All Californians would be required to carry medical insurance.  —  SACRAMENTO — Calling for massive changes throughout a healthcare system he called "broken," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday proposed a $12-billion plan that would require all Californians …

Now that I have your attention  —  I love it!  First day of Swampitude and the left-wing blogosphere—which is overpopulated by illiberal leftists and reactionary progressives—is already attacking me: 24 mostly mingy comments about my Left Behind post, many of which seem to be steaming off …

THE MISSING PHOTOGRAPH....  Citizens for Reponsibility and Ethics In Washington (CREW) have released a never-publicized picture of President Bush with jailed Lobbyist Jack Abramoff. … More information about the White House attempts to cover up records of Abramoff's visits were uncovered by ABC News last Friday:

RED STAR OVER VENEZUELA  —  Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez has signalled his true intentions with more clarity than ever today, announcing that he would expropriate:  —  1. All the phone lines  —  2. All the electricity  —  As this happened, a provincial governor from Bolivar state …

Blair refuses to match US troop 'surge' in Iraq  —  Tony Blair will make clear this week that Britain is not going to send more troops to Iraq even if the US pushes ahead with a "surge" of 20,000 extra soldiers.  —  The Prime Minister will insist that the UK will stick to its own strategy …

ACLU sues state police  —  PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union yesterday filed a federal lawsuit against the state police, alleging racial profiling and violation of the constitutional rights of 14 Guatemalan nationals during a July traffic stop …

Tenet memoir under scrutiny  —  The CIA has submitted portions of a book manuscript by George J. Tenet to the White House for review amid speculation the former CIA director's memoirs will be critical of President Bush.  —  The book, "At the Center of the Storm," is still being analyzed by the CIA's Publications Review Board.

The Human Failure of the Afghanistan Mission  —  A recurring theme in the situation in Afghanistan is the desperate manpower situation: there are so few troops to do the job that European countries like Germany had been criticized (by me, but also policy makers) for not allowing their troops enough leeway in joining combat operations.

Michelle Malkin's credibility, R.I.P.  —  It's time for warbloggers to find a new conspiracy theory to promote because their most recent one, which involved accusing the Associated Press of manufacturing a source in Iraq and colluding with the insurgents, blew up in their faces.

Congress Is Expected to Revisit Sentencing Laws  —  Federal sentencing laws that require lengthy mandated prison terms for certain offenses are expected to come under fresh scrutiny as Democrats assume control of Congress.  —  Among those eagerly awaiting signs of change are federal judges …