A Plausible Plan B  —  If we were allied with an Iraqi government that, however weak, was truly national — cross-confessional and dedicated to fighting a two-front war against Baathist insurgents and Shiite militias — a surge of American troops, together with a change of counterinsurgency strategy …

Flexing Muscle, China Destroys Satellite in Test  —  China successfully carried out its first test of an antisatellite weapon last week, signaling its resolve to play a major role in military space activities and bringing expressions of concern from Washington and other capitals, the Bush administration said yesterday.

WHCA Chief Says He Did Not Tell Comedian to Back Off Bush and Iraq  —  NEW YORK Earlier this week word emerged that impersonator Rich Little would be the star performer at this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington in April.  Organizers admitted they wanted a somewhat more …

Senate Passes Ethics Package  —  Parties Reach Hard-Fought Deal On Lobbying and Other Reforms  —  Senate Democrats and Republicans broke a difficult stalemate last night and approved 96 to 2 expansive legislation to curtail the influence of lobbyists, tighten congressional ethics rules …

Abdullah to Haaretz: Jordan will develop nuclear power  —  Jordan aspires to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes and believes that unless all sides move quickly toward a peace settlement in the region, the recent confrontation in Lebanon is only a hint of disasters to come.

Reuters Investigation Leads To Dismissal Of Editor  —  Reuters fired a top photo editor for the Middle East during an internal investigation of two doctored photos from the Israel-Lebanon war that were published last summer.  —  The editor was the second casualty of the photo manipulation …

Former Rep. Ney Sentenced to 30 Months  —  Former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, the only member of Congress to face criminal prosecution in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal, was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison.  —  Ney, 52, pleaded guilty on Oct. 13, 2006, to making false statements and conspiracy to commit fraud.

The Most Depressing Poll Ever  —  In the latest Fox News poll, just out today, the pollsters asked the following question: … Here are the results: … Friends, I'll allow you a minute to wrap your minds around this, for we are truly through the looking class.

Between friends, Emanuel looking for neutral corner  —  WASHINGTON — Of all the positions he has assumed in political wars, one rarely associated with the combative Rahm Emanuel is this: fetal.  —  Yet that is where he finds himself when it comes to his preferred candidate in the 2008 presidential race.

House Repeals Tax Break for Big Oil  —  Pelosi Plan for New Panel Sparks Criticism  —  House Democrats capped their "100 hours" agenda with the passage of an energy bill yesterday, the sixth piece of legislation approved in two weeks, and Democratic leaders said the package marked "a beginning …

The Purge  —  Following up yesterday's post on replacing U.S. attorneys — Paul Krugman writes in today's New York Times, … As I wrote yesterday, U.S. attorneys usually are appointed at the beginning of a president's term and serve for that term. it is not normal to replace U.S. attorneys …

America Strikes Back  —  Dick Cheney has been waging a quiet war against the United States of America for quite some time now.  For several decades, although he moved in and out of positions of power, he could never really make a dent in the constitutional checks and balances inherent in our government.

Road Home seldom leading out of state  —  Most plan to use grants to rebuild, not to relocate  —  Unlike most Arabi homeowners displaced by the 2005 hurricanes, John and Diane Johnson don't face the stress of rebuilding their destroyed property during an interminable wait for state aid.

Ministers launch petition to stop Bush library  —  DALLAS, Texas (AP) — A group of Methodist ministers from across the nation launched an online petition drive Thursday urging Southern Methodist University to stop trying to land George W. Bush's presidential library.

Gonzales Questions Habeas Corpus  —  In one of the most chilling public statements ever made by a U.S. Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales questioned whether the U.S. Constitution grants habeas corpus rights of a fair trial to every American.  —  Responding to questions from Sen. Arlen Specter …

GSA Chief Scrutinized For Deal With Friend  —  The chief of the U.S. General Services Administration attempted to give a no-bid contract to a company founded and operated by a longtime friend, sidestepping federal laws and regulations, according to interviews and documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Rebuke in Iran to Its President on Nuclear Role  —  Iran's outspoken president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, appears to be under pressure from the highest authorities in Iran to end his involvement in its nuclear program, a sign that his political capital is declining as his country comes under increasing international pressure.