Bush: 'I'm the decision-maker' in Iraq troops  —  President challenges lawmakers to give 'surge' plan a chance to work  —  President Bush, right, meets with Defense chief Robert Gates, left, and Army Lt. General David Petraeus at the White House.  —  NBC VIDEO  —  Jan. 26: President Bush speaks to reporters on Friday.

Hagel Ponders White House Run As War Criticism Raises His Profile  —  His Republican colleagues regard him warily.  The White House barely speaks to him.  He is reviled by his party's conservative base.  —  Looks as though Sen. Chuck Hagel is on a roll.  —  Both parties have their Iraq war contrarians.

4 troops abducted, killed in Iraq attack  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - In perhaps the boldest and most sophisticated attack in four years of warfare, gunmen speaking English, wearing U.S. military uniforms and carrying American weapons abducted four U.S. soldiers last week at the provincial headquarters …

Canada compensates man U.S. deported to Syria … OTTAWA, Canada (AP) — Canada's prime minister apologized to Maher Arar on Friday and announced the government would compensate him C$10.5 million (US$8.9 million) for its role in his deportation from the U.S. to Syria, where he was tortured while held in prison for nearly a year.

Pelosi to meet with al-Maliki in quick visit to Iraq  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has traveled to Iraq for a quick fact-finding visit that will include a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.  —  The congressional delegation traveling with the Democratic speaker …

Back in the Saddle  —  You know things are going well on your blog when everyone is so busy they don't even have room for you to post.  Our site administrator RBG finally gave me the thumbs up to start blogging again today since things are thankfully a bit slower (emptywheel's fingers must …

Zogby Poll: Bush Job Approval: 32%  —  President's rating remains low, though his State of the Union speech received solid marks  —  The nation's opinion of the job President Bush is doing in office improved slightly following his nationally-televised State of the Union message to Congress …

Politico Mojo  —  FEBRUARY/MARCH ISSUE PREVIEW » Robert Allbritton hopes his ambitious new print and Internet ventures will lure political junkies and benefit from a fast-changing media landscape.  —  Kathy Kiely is a USA Today Washington correspondent.

Fox to air controversial excerpts from 'Path to 9/11'  —  It got them by taping a public talk by the docudrama's writer, who showed clips from a scene toned down after ex-officials' criticism.  —  NEW YORK — In a move that could rekindle a heated political debate, Fox News said Thursday …

Immigration Raid Draws Protest From Labor Officials  —  An immigration raid at a huge North Carolina pork-packing plant provoked protests yesterday from union officials, who said the company, Smithfield Foods, had collaborated with the authorities searching for illegal immigrants to discourage its workers from organizing.

Secrecy Is at Issue in Suits Opposing Spy Program  —  The Bush administration has employed extraordinary secrecy in defending the National Security Agency's highly classified domestic surveillance program from civil lawsuits.  Plaintiffs and judges' clerks cannot see its secret filings.

Energy Independence?  —  A Serious Plan Requires Taxes, ANWR and Nukes  —  Is there anything more depressing than yet another promise of energy independence in yet another State of the Union address?  By my count, 24 of the 34 State of the Union addresses since the oil embargo of 1973 have proposed solutions to our energy problem.