Al-Qaeda tells British cells to carry out wave of beheadings  —  ISLAMIC terror cells in Britain have been instructed to carry out a series of kidnappings and beheadings of the kind allegedly planned by the nine terrorist suspects arrested in Birmingham last week.

Democrats Split on How to End the War  —  Those Who Aren't In Congress Press Clinton and Obama  —  The war in Iraq is shaping the opening stages of the contest for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, just as it did in the 2004 campaign.  —  After 10 candidates' speeches over two days …

Kristol: Iraq Chaos Shows That Insurgents Are 'Worried,' Recent News Is 'Slightly Optimistic'  —  Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol said on Fox News this morning that the recent surge in Iraqi violence is a sign that the extremists are "worried."  Kristol said, "If I were a Sunni extremist and was worried …

Doubts Run Deep on Reforms Crucial to Bush's Iraq Strategy  —  Even Plan's Authors Say Political, Economic Changes May Fail  —  The success of the Bush administration's new Iraq strategy depends on a series of rapid and dramatic political and economic reforms that even the plan's authors have little confidence will work.

U.S. adjusting tactics in Iraq after copters downed  —  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military is adjusting its tactics in Iraq after four helicopters were shot down over the past two weeks, U.S. military spokesman Major General William Caldwell said on Sunday.

What's so hot about fickle science?  —  From the "Environmental News Network": "Science Is Solid on Climate Change, Congress Told."  "The science is solid," says Louise Frechette, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations.  —  "The science is solid," says Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The polar-bears-on-the-melting-ice- cap photo.  —  You've all seen it.  This photo atop all the articles about the new report on global warming.  —  (Go to the article to see the larger size.)  —  Here's my question.  How many people look at that picture and think the polar bears were living …

Op-Chart: 31 Days in Iraq  —  By ADRIANA LINS de ALBUQUERQUE and ALICIA CHENG  —  In January more than 1,900 people — soldiers, security officers and civilians — were killed in the insurgency in Iraq, up from 800 in January 2006.  Many corpses showed signs of torture …

In Washington, Contractors Take on Biggest Role Ever  —  In June, short of people to process cases of incompetence and fraud by federal contractors, officials at the General Services Administration responded with what has become the government's reflexive answer to almost every problem.

Vice President's Shadow Hangs Over Trial  —  Testimony Points Out Cheney's Role in Trying to Dampen Joseph Wilson's Criticism  —  Vice President Cheney's press officer, Cathie Martin, approached his chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, on Air Force Two on July 12, 2003 …