U.S. and Iraqis Are Wrangling Over War Plans  —  Just days after President Bush unveiled a new war plan calling for more than 20,000 additional American troops in Iraq, the heart of the effort — a major push to secure the capital — faces some of its fiercest resistance from the very people …

Video: UPI's Pentagon reporter says media is ignoring consequences of withdrawal  —  You've read the Instapost, now watch the video.  Takeaway: "[I]f as a reporter you do ask the national security question, all of a sudden you're carrying Bush's water."  —  Exit question: Is Bush about to repeat …

Bloggers Take on Talk Radio Hosts  —  A San Francisco talk radio station pre-empted three hours of programming on Friday in response to a campaign by bloggers who have recorded extreme comments by several hosts and passed on digital copies to advertisers.  —  The lead blogger …

IS FOX SET TO BLOW THE NUKES ON '24'?  —  As Washington continues to raise concerns about terror threats on The Homeland — a recent CIA report outlined a scenerio of possible "series of explosions using 'low charge' nuclear weapons" — Hollywood and FOX-TV are set to up the ante with the new season of 24!

Saddam half brother, ex-official hanged  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's half brother and the former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court were both hanged before dawn Monday, Prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon said, two weeks and two days after the former Iraqi dictator was executed in a chaotic scene that has drawn worldwide criticism.

Two Alliances  —  President Bush has managed to divide and conquer the Middle East.  —  It was the hugely ambitious project of the Bush administration to transform the entire Middle East by remaking Iraq into an irresistible model of prosperous democracy.  Having failed in that worthy purpose …

Administration leaving out important details on Iraq  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush and his aides, explaining their reasons for sending more American troops to Iraq, are offering an incomplete, oversimplified and possibly untrue version of events there that raises new questions about the accuracy …

Economists upgrade US outlook after surprisingly strong data  —  Economists are hastily upgrading their forecasts for the US economy after a series of surprisingly strong reports suggesting the so-called "soft landing" may be over and growth is accelerating.

Lt. Col. Steven Duke says the Mahdi Army is 'sitting on the 50-yard line, eating popcorn, watching us do their work for them.'  —  Everyone seems quite certain that George W. Bush's new plan for Iraq is bound to fail.  But I'm not so sure.  At a military level, the strategy could well produce some successes.

What if U.S. just pulled out of Iraq?  —  Conflict might erupt into more than just a civil war between Iraqis  —  The situation in Iraq has deteriorated to the point that no choice the president could make is an obviously good one.  —  Our nation knows it.

UK preacher in secret web call for jihad  —  ONE of Britain's most vocal, extremist preachers has been using a false name on a secret website to incite Muslim followers to go on jihad, or holy war, in Somalia.  —  Anjem Choudary, former spokesman of the banned group Al-Muhajiroun …

CNN RELIABLE SOURCES  —  Bush's Plan to Send More Troops Into Iraq Draws Negative Reaction; Is Democrats' Congressional Agenda Undercovered?  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  HOWARD KURTZ, HOST (voice over): Surging criticism.