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 …

Obama Smeared As Former 'Madrassa' Student, Possible Covert Muslim Extremist  —  This morning, Fox News featured a segment highlighting a right-wing report that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) attended an Islamic "madrassa" school as a 6-year-old child.  —  Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy pointed …

Gonzales: 'There Is No Express Grant of Habeas Corpus In The Constitution'  —  Yesterday, during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales claimed there is no express right to habeas corpus in the U.S. Constitution.  Gonzales was debating Sen. Arlen Specter …

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 …

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.

First Twin Jenna Shops a Book  —  You can soon add the title of author to first daughter Jenna Bush's résumé.  —  Whispers learns that the 25-year-old blond twin of Barbara Bush is shopping a book proposal to major publishers in New York City.

THE GLENN AND HELEN SHOW: GORDON CROVITZ ON THE WSJ, OLD AND NEW MEDIA, AND BLOGGING AS ART FORM  —  People in the newspaper business seem awfully gloomy about the future right now, and with reason.  But there's one bright spot: Wall Street Journal publisher Gordon Crovitz, who describes himself as …

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 …

Dems Seek to Bar U.S. Attacks on Iran  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic leaders in Congress lobbed a warning shot Friday at the White House not to launch an attack against Iran without first seeking approval from lawmakers.  —  "The president does not have the authority to launch military action …

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.

Art Buchwald's Moveable Feast  —  From Paris to D.C., He Lived by His Wit  —  They say Art Buchwald is dead, but I have my doubts.  —  The last time Art was dying, months and months ago, he turned the hospice common room into a cavalcade of stars, from Ethel Kennedy to Donald Rumsfeld.

Rice Highlights Opportunities After Setbacks On Mideast Trip  —  As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew to Europe on Wednesday after four days of talks in the Middle East, her Boeing 757 jet passed high over Baghdad.  On a cloudless day at 37,000 feet, the city seemed sparkling and calm …

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REVEALS NORTH KOREA'S MISUSE OF U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FUNDS AND OPERATIONS  —  NEW YORK — Has North Korean leader Kim Jong Il subverted the United Nations Development Program, the $4 billion agency that is the U.N.'s main development arm, and possibly stolen tens …

The Blitzing of Haret Hreik  —  HARET HREIK, LEBANON - I have been to Haret Hreik, Hezbollah's dahiyeh and de-facto "capital" south of Beirut, many times.  But I didn't expect to see it on my most recent trip.  Every Lebanese person I know warned me to stay out of there.

Ordeal by Appliance: Weekend Home Tales  —  FOR some people, the most elusive aspect of owning a vacation home that sits beyond big-city borders isn't finding the time to enjoy it.  It's finding someone to service the deluxe appliances inside.  —  "We called Viking over the holidays every year …

How Many?  289 Out at Time Inc.  —  Bureaus Closed in D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles  —  NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Today's job eliminations at Time Inc. totaled 289 mostly editorial posts after all was said and done, including layoffs at crown jewel People, flagship Time and other magazines from Entertainment Weekly to Sports Illustrated.

'My Fellow Americans . . .'  —  Thoughts in advance of the State of the Union.  —  The president's State of the Union Address is Tuesday night, and right now his speechwriters are likely still caught in staffing hell, receiving last-minute suggested changes from agencies and offices throughout the government.

Putting the Brakes on Light Speed  —  Researchers Slow Waves While Maintaining Their Ability to Carry Information  —  Scientists said yesterday that they had achieved a long-sought goal of slowing waves of light to a relatively leisurely pace and using those harnessed pulses to store an image.