NIE: The Surge Can't Work  —  Wow, this is grim.  According to the just-released Key Judgments of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq, political reconciliation is likely a bridge too far over the next year and a half.  —  The Sunnis remain "unwilling to accept minority status" …

On paper, Rudy's unsure  —  Giuliani's government filings don't lend hints to his presidential run - he hasn't submitted a declaration form or checked the Republican box  —  WASHINGTON - Republicans looking at Rudolph Giuliani's campaign for president always ask two questions - is he really running, and is he a "real Republican?"

Climate Panel Issues Urgent Warning to Curb Gases  —  The world is already committed to centuries of warming, shifting weather patterns and rising seas from the atmospheric buildup of gases that trap heat, but the warming can be substantially blunted by prompt action, an international network of climate experts said today.

Majority in Senate support 'stay the course' resolution  —  A bipartisan majority in the Senate yesterday united behind a firm "stay the course" resolution on the war in Iraq, despite searing public criticism from both sides in Congress over President Bush's handling of the war.

Fatah and Hamas agree in principle to revive truce  —  Hamas and Fatah officials said Friday afternoon that they had agreed in  —  principle to a new cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, but needed more meetings to work out the details of a pullback of forces.  —  15 Palestinians …

The Hands of God  —  A Village, North of Mosul: Friday 26 January 07  —  He was dressed as a woman as he walked down the alley toward the mosque full of worshippers.  It was Friday, just before Ashura, and the air was chilled.  —  The bomb strapped to his body was studded with ball-bearings …

Bush administration seeks $245B for wars  —  WASHINGTON - The Bush administration will ask for another $100 billion for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year and seek $145 billion for 2008, a senior administration official said Friday.

Agent: Libby may have talked of outing operative with Cheney  —  WASHINGTON — Former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby acknowledged he may have discussed with Vice President Dick Cheney whether to tell reporters that a prominent war critic's wife worked at the CIA, an FBI agent testified yesterday.

Mohammed Cartoon updates  —  The lying, jihadist Danish imam who helped instigate the Mohammed cartoon riots by touring  —  the Middle East with bogus pictures it attributed the Jyllands-Post has died (hat tip: Sugiero).  —  Abu Laban had cancer: … "Was thrust?"  Actually, he thrust himself.

Gays Should Be Allowed to Serve Openly in Military, Poll Finds  —  A new poll from Harris Interactive found that 55% of Americans think gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military.  —  By comparison, 19% of the 2,337 Americans polled said gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve …

Who's to Blame for The Killing  —  This week the internecine warfare in Iraq, already bewildering — Sunni vs. Shiite, Kurd vs. Arab, jihadist vs. infidel, with various Iranians, Syrians and assorted freelancers thrown into the maelstrom — went bizarre.  In one of the biggest battles of the war …

ISRAEL FANS GROAN OVER HILL SPEECH  —  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton drew grumbles at a pro-Israel dinner in Times Square last night when she encouraged "engaging" with Iran before taking stronger action to keep it nuke-free.  —  Clinton said she wasn't sure "anything positive would come out of it" …

The Edwards-Marcotte Fiasco  —  An astute observer of this case recommends analyzing events through the prism of what he's termed the "courage-meter."  People in positions of authority have displayed little or no courage to do the right thing throughout this affair.

Molly Ivins Shook the Walls With Her Clarion Call  —  The walls have not come down, but they have been given a serious shaking.  —  That Jericho voice is stilled now.  —  Molly Ivins has been quieted.  —  The writer and journalist, dearly loved and admired by many, hated and feared by many …