Libby Live: Ari Fleischer One  —  Hey, look at the exploding pig in the poke cartoon graphic I found!  Or perhaps "pig in the poke to stay out of the pokey"?  —  If you don't know the reference, Patrick Fitzgerald described the process of offering Ari Fleischer immunity "buying a pig in a poke."

Iraqi Army battles Shia cult, Sunni insurgents in Najaf  —  Iraqi soldiers take positions outside Najaf.  (AP Photo).  Click photo to view.  —  Iraqi led operation results in over 300 deaths of enemy fighters  —  Iraqi security forces, backed by American tanks and air support …

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.

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 …

Clinton's Presidential Posturing  —  When Lt. Gen. David Petraeus went before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week in open session, its members understandably had many questions for the new commander of American forces in Iraq.  —  They knew of his reputation as a battlefield leader …

HILL'S 'EVIL' JOKE ON HUBBY BUBBA  —  DAVENPORT, Iowa - Hillary Rodham Clinton left caucus-goers here yesterday believing that Bubba had given her a baptism by fire in how to deal with "evil and bad men."  —  Clinton's quip, made during a morning rally with about 500 Iowans …

What She Meant  —  Hillary's odd, non-verbal joke that's getting all the attention today was a revealing moment.  —  But it wasn't revealing because she was suggesting her husband is "evil and bad."  —  It was revealing because — asked about dealing with evil men like Osama bin Laden …

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 …

Women Feeling Freer to Suggest 'Vote for Mom'  —  Some women were struck by the politics of maternity practiced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in recent weeks, the imagery and stagecraft that highlighted their roles as mothers and/or grandmothers.

Baghdad Is Key  —  The Baker-Hamilton report explained that failure in Iraq could have severe consequences for our national interests in a critical region and for our national security here at home.  In my many conversations with members of Congress and foreign policy experts, few have disagreed.

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 …

Migrants Stream Into South Mexico  —  TAPACHULA, Mexico — Four Salvadoran men in jeans and T-shirts trudged along the railroad tracks under a hot sun, their steps carrying them steadily toward a fuzzy but seductive dream.  —  They had been in Mexico for only a few hours and already federal police officers …

EXCLUSIVE: AIR AMERICA RESCUED  —  Air America Radio, in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since October, will be rescued at the 11th hour by Manhattan real estate developer Stephen L. Green.  —  Al Franken, the best-known host of the liberal network, will announce his expected departure …

CONFLICT IN IRAQ  —  Pelosi's trip: She believes more strongly that withdrawal will help region, says troops deserve better policies than president's  —  (01-29) 04:00 PST Washington — Three days in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan have made House Speaker Nancy Pelosi even more certain …

Iran's Role in Iraq Will Be Exposed  —  WASHINGTON — New evidence of Iran's role in Iraq will be made in Baghdad by the chief spokesman for the multinational forces in Iraq, Major General William Caldwell.  The Directorate of National Intelligence worked over the weekend to clear new intelligence …

Europeans still take a dim view of the euro  —  An overwhelming majority of citizens in the big eurozone countries believe the euro has damaged their national economies, highlighting the popular scepticism that still surrounds Europe's eight-year-old monetary union.

Spotting Freelancer Conflicts: A Solution With Problems  —  THE ability of The New York Times to maintain its ethical standards among its far-flung outside contributors continues to be a major concern of mine.  As these freelancers fill column after column at a lower cost than full-time reporters …

Bush on the Couch  —  Analyzing the president.  —  Photo-illustration by Michael Elins  —  The Man With No Shadow  —  By Robert Stone, author of Prime Green: Remembering the Sixties  —  I  —  think Bush has come to believe he's on a lonely, noble mission—doing the right thing …