250 Are Killed in Major Iraq Battle  —  At least 250 militants were killed and an American helicopter was shot down in violent clashes near the southern city of Najaf on Sunday, Iraqi officials said.  —  For 15 hours, Iraqi forces backed by American helicopters and tanks battled hundreds …

In Politics, the Camera Never Blinks (or Nods)  —  BEYOND its fulfillment of a constitutional requirement, the president's annual State of the Union address has come to provide much pomp.  It's a prime-time gala where Washington's best and brightest gather for an evening in the media spotlight …

Clinton: U.S. out of Iraq by January '09  —  DAVENPORT, Iowa - Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday that President Bush should withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq before he leaves office, asserting it would be "the height of irresponsibility" to pass the war along to the next commander in chief.

Hezbollah reveals picture of the Sadam member  —  Manar TV will be showing tomorrow another picture they 'took' revealing a Sadam member @ Nahr el Kalb.  Apparently they waited for things to calm down to reveal this important picture P  —  Check out how Manar Caught us in the act !

Giuliani plays it close to the vest  —  In New Hampshire, he lists reasons to vote for him for president — if he runs.  —  MANCHESTER, N.H. — Will he or won't he?  —  The Rudy Giuliani Mystery Theater played the Palace on Saturday, a brief engagement at the city's landmark performing arts center …

Iranian Reveals Plan to Expand Role in Iraq  —  Iran's ambassador to Baghdad outlined an ambitious plan on Sunday to greatly expand its economic and military ties with Iraq — including an Iranian national bank branch in the heart of the capital — just as the Bush administration has been warning …

Feeding Frenzy for a Big Story, Even if It's False  —  Jeffrey T. Kuhner, whose Web site published the first anonymous smear of the 2008 presidential race, is hardly the only editor who will not reveal his reporters' sources.  What sets him apart is that he will not even disclose the names of his reporters.

Paper Chase  —  Did investigators turn a blind eye to the seriousness of the Sandy Berger scandal?  —  Washington scandals are curious things.  Sometimes special prosecutors are appointed and the media provide saturation coverage of their doings.  An example would be the Valerie Plame episode …

The Man Without Doubt  —  In a rare print interview, Dick Cheney talks about Iraq, Iran, Chuck Hagel, his image as 'Darth Vader' and Bob Woodward.  —  Still Fighting: Cheney in his office, unbowed  —  A man with a reputation for secrecy and seclusion, Vice President Dick Cheney has spent the past few months out in public.

Anti-war protesters spray paint Capitol building  —  Anti-war protesters were allowed to spray paint on part of thewest front steps of the United States Capitol building after police wereordered to break their security line by their leadership, two sources toldThe Hill.

Sam Brownback, Joe Lieberman, Roundtable  —  CHRIS WALLACE, HOST: I'm Chris Wallace.  Clinton and Giuliani on the campaign trail, next on "Fox News Sunday".  —  The way forward in Iraq, as viewed by two of the most intriguing figures in American politics, Republican senator …

Politico: Niche Web Site Isn't Yet A Notch Above  —  For all the pregame hype about voice and attitude and peeling back the curtain of traditional journalism, the Politico debuted last week by relying on an old-fashioned concept: reporting.  —  The political-junkie Web site …

Young, British Muslims 'getting more radical'  —  A bleak picture of a generation of young British Muslims radicalised by anti-Western views and misplaced multicultural policies is shown in a survey published today.  —  The study found disturbing evidence of young Muslims adopting …

Was 9/11 really that bad?  —  The attacks were a horrible act of mass murder, but history says we're overreacting.  —  IMAGINE THAT on 9/11, six hours after the assault on the twin towers and the Pentagon, terrorists had carried out a second wave of attacks on the United States, taking an additional 3,000 lives.

Rev. Robert Drinan, Ex-Congressman, Dies at 86  —  The Rev. Robert F. Drinan, a Jesuit who served in Congress for 10 years until stepping down in response to a papal order, died Sunday.  He was 86 and lived here in housing for the Georgetown University Jesuit community.

POST D.C. BUREAU CHIEF DEBORAH ORIN-EILBECK DIES  —  Deborah Orin-Eilbeck, The Post's longtime D.C. bureau chief whose passion for politics and unrivaled integrity kept Washington on its toes, died yesterday after a battle with cancer.  —  "Laura and I were saddened to learn of the death of Deborah Orin-Eilbeck," President Bush said.