20 U.S. service members killed in Iraq  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - At least 20 American service personnel were killed in military operations Saturday in one of the deadliest days for U.S. forces since the Iraq war began, and authorities also announced two U.S. combat deaths from the previous day.

LURID AP REPORT ON IRAQ OUTRAGE DOESN'T CHECK OUT  —  WELL, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior says disputed Associated Press source Jamil Hussein does exist.  But at least one story he told the AP just doesn't check out: The Sunni mosques that as Hussein claimed and AP reported as "destroyed …

Youth arrested in Turkish journalist's killing … ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) — Police have arrested a suspect in the shooting death of outspoken Turkish journalist Hrant Dink after a 32-hour search, authorities said Sunday.  —  Police have identified him as Ogun Samast.

Insurance that lets you decide your own rates  —  The governor's healthcare plan puts a premium on personal responsibility.  —  Should smokers, brie eaters and bungee jumpers bear the higher health insurance costs they inflict on others through their risky behavior?

Colombian Government Is Ensnared in a Paramilitary Scandal  —  The government of President Álvaro Uribe, the largest recipient of American aid outside the Middle East, has found itself ensnared in a widening scandal as revelations surface of a secret alliance between some of the president's …

EXCLUSIVE: Richardson Enters 2008 Presidential Race  —  New Mexico Governor Would Be Nation's First Hispanic President  —  The field for the Democratic presidential nomination got still more crowded this morning, with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announcing he will take the first step …

Sunday Roundup  —  The last week has featured several extraordinary articles from the mainstream media.  In addition to the must-read Charlotte Allen article in Weekly Standard (highlighted yesterday by Liestoppers), begin with a two-part commentary from John Podhoretz in the New York Post, "Senseless" and "Orwell University."

Bush to Urge New Tax Plan for Health Care Coverage  —  President Bush intends to use his State of the Union address Tuesday to tackle the rising cost of health care with a one-two punch: tax breaks to help low-income people buy health insurance and tax increases for some workers whose health …

Nearly 40 illegal immigrants arrested at military bases  —  ATLANTA: Nearly 40 illegal immigrants hired by contractors working on three military bases in Georgia, Virginia and Nevada were arrested over the last three days by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the agency said Friday.

Hands up if you've lost the plot  —  First, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad alienated the rest of the world with his religious extremism, nuclear ambitions and global grandstanding.  Now, due to domestic failures and economic incompetence, he is doing the same to ordinary Iranians  —  Imagine you are the president of Iran.

Hillary runs for the White House as 'new Thatcher'  —  HILLARY CLINTON is to be presented as America's Margaret Thatcher as she tries to become the first woman to win the White House.  As she entered the 2008 presidential race yesterday, a senior adviser said that her campaign would emphasise security …

Banned Station Broadcasts Voice of Rebels in Iraq  —  The video starts with a young American soldier patrolling an Iraqi street.  His head is obscured by leaves, so a red target is digitally inserted to draw the viewer's eye.  A split second later, the soldier collapses, shot.

The Left's War On Free Speech  —  I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at this below from Mike Stark, it probably isn't the first time he's issued a threat upon which he doesn't have a prayer of delivering. … Hopefully I'll have a few minutes tomorrow courtesy of CNN's Reliable Sources …

Clinton Leads '08 Dems; No Bounce for Obama  —  Early Frontrunner Status Traditionally Based Upon Name Recognition — But Name Recognition Could Be Important  —  Hillary Clinton's confirmation of her presidential aspirations comes with a bonus: early frontrunner status in the race for her party's nomination.

Waiting Room — Saturday Edition  —  (Screen grab from Breakfast At Tiffany's.)  —  Just spoke to folks at the hospital.  Jane is doing well, and was getting ready to take a nap.  Howie and Matt Stoller are apparently going to visit this afternoon, and I hope to get a first hand report from them at some point.

At Border, Signs of Pakistani Role in Taliban Surge  —  QUETTA, Pakistan — The most explosive question about the Taliban resurgence here along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is this: Have Pakistani intelligence agencies been promoting the Islamic insurgency?