A Spy Program in From the Cold  —  Of the many ways that President Bush has trampled civil liberties and the balance of powers since the 9/11 attacks, one of the most egregious was his decision to order wiretaps of Americans' international calls and e-mail without court approval.

Republicans Halt Ethics Legislation  —  Senate Republicans scuttled broad legislation last night to curtail lobbyists' influence and tighten congressional ethics rules, refusing to let the bill pass without a vote on an unrelated measure that would give President Bush virtual line-item-veto power.

Chinese Satellite Test Draws Sharp Protest From Other Nations  —  The Chinese military used a ground-based missile to hit and destroy one of its aging satellites orbiting more than 500 miles in space last week, an apparent test of anti-satellite technology that raised concerns about a possible arms race …

Exclusive: Pelosi Won't Block Iraq Funding to Stop Troop Surge  —  Tells ABC News' Diane Sawyer Bush "Has to Answer for This War"  —  There may be a growing battle between Congress and the president over the Iraq War strategy, but new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she won't block funding for additional troops.

McCain no longer rocks in Granite State  —  As Mitt, Hillary, Barack and a dozen others jump into the presidential stampede, something interesting is happening in New Hampshire.  —  For seven years, conventional wisdom has said that the state's pivotal independent voters would line …

Newspaper Columnist Art Buchwald Dies at 81  —  Art Buchwald, 81, the newspaper humor columnist for more than a half-century who found new comic material in the issues that come up at the end of life, died of kidney failure last night at his son's home in Washington, his family announced today.

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY TO ALLOW REBUTTAL AFTER CARTER SPEECH  —  WASHINGTON — Former President Jimmy Carter won't go unchallenged after his appearance next week at Brandeis University, where he is lecturing on his latest book about what he terms the Palestinian apartheid by Israel.

Mahdi Army expressing siege mentality  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - Mahdi Army fighters said Thursday they were under siege in their Sadr City stronghold as U.S. and Iraqi troops killed or seized key commanders in pinpoint nighttime raids.  Two commanders of the Shiite militia said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki …

Potomac High  —  The earnest straight-A student.  The mysterious newcomer.  The guys who love to hear themselves talk.  No, it's not the pep rally.  It's the Democratic primary.  —  Jan. 18, 2007 - You knew Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in high school.  At least I did.

Taking Power, Sharing Cereal  —  SOME of the most powerful Democrats in America are split over a most incendiary household issue: rodents.  —  "I once had to pick up a mouse by the tail that Durbin refused to pick up," complained Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, referring to his roommate Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois.

No Blank Check on Iran  —  The Iraq Study Group recommended that the Bush Administration engage Iran.  Instead, the Administration chose to threaten it.  —  In recent weeks President Bush attacked Iran in a speech announcing his escalation in Iraq, deployed a second naval battleship …

How the left led us into 9/11  —  The Clinton and Carter administrations made the U.S. look like a weak, attractive target for terrorists.  —  In considering a funding cutoff for U.S. troops in Iraq, the liberal leadership in Congress runs the risk of making the United States more vulnerable …

The Waiting Room, Fifth Cuppa  —  (Painting by Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night.)  —  Via a call from Digby, I can now officially report that Jane is out of surgery and her surgeon says that she is doing very well — she's strong, she's a fighter, and thus far, she's having no complications …

U.S. Launches Armed Force to Block Iranian Influence in Iraq  —  The U.S. military has launched a special operations task force to break up Iranian influence in Iraq, according to U.S. News sources.  The special operations mission, known as Task Force 16, was created late last year …

The Nonwar War Against Iran  —  While the Iraq debate was gripping Washington over the past few weeks, the Bush administration was also shifting its policy toward neighboring Iran — in a more confrontational direction.  —  U.S. officials, who asked not to be identified …

Retired Generals Criticize Bush's Plan for Iraq  —  A panel of retired generals told a United States Senate committee today that sending 21,500 additional troops to Iraq will do little to solve the underlying political problems in the country.  —  "Too little and too late," …

FOX NEWS POLL: MOST THINK TROOP SURGE IS BUSH'S LAST CHANCE IN IRAQ  —  NEW YORK — A majority of Americans consider President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq his last chance for victory there, according to a new FOX News poll.  —  Overall, the president's plan receives only minority support …