The Operator  —  I was standing there having a casual conversation with King Juan Carlos, my occasional hunting partner, when we were joined by Blair and his charming, outspoken wife, Cherie, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi," Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee …

Science Panel Calls Global Warming 'Unequivocal'  —  In a grim and powerful assessment of the future of the planet, the leading international network of climate scientists has concluded for the first time that global warming is "unequivocal" and that human activity is the main driver …

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.

New McCain Team Made Attack Ads He Once Faulted  —  Senator John McCain, intent on succeeding where his freewheeling presidential campaign of 2000 failed, is assembling a team of political bruisers for 2008.  And it includes advisers who once sought to skewer him and whose work he has criticized as stepping over the line in the past.

Muslim unrest as police carry out new raids  —  Police raided three more addresses in Birmingham yesterday as they continued to question nine men over their involvement in the alleged plot to kidnap and behead a serving British Muslim soldier.  —  No further arrests were made but West Midlands Police …

Wilkes staves off auction as more ills swirl  —  With the threat of a federal indictment looming, Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes also is facing mounting personal and financial troubles.  —  In the past two months, Wilkes' wife has filed for divorce, his company, ADCS Inc. …

Iraq's Shadow Widens Sunni-Shiite Split in U.S.  —  DEARBORN, Mich. — Twice recently, vandals have shattered windows at three mosques and a dozen businesses popular among Shiite Muslims along Warren Avenue, the spine of the Arab community here.  —  Although the police have arrested no one …

At Democrats' Meeting, Bush Appeals for Cooperation  —  President Bush, forced by circumstance to reach out to some of his strongest adversaries, appealed directly to House Democrats on Saturday to work with him to reform the immigration system, limit the cost of Social Security …

Deadly Bird Flu Virus Found in Britain  —  LONDON — Officials confirmed Saturday that the H5N1 strain of bird flu had been found in turkeys on a commercial farm _ Britain's first mass outbreak of the disease that has ravaged Asia's poultry stocks and killed more than 160 people worldwide.

Top secret army cell breaks terrorists  —  Deep inside the heart of the "Green Zone", the heavily fortified administrative compound in Baghdad, lies one of the most carefully guarded secrets of the war in Iraq.  It is a cell from a small and anonymous British Army unit that goes …

At Least 130 Die as Blast Levels Baghdad Market  —  A mammoth truck bomb obliterated a popular central Baghdad market on Saturday, ripping through scores of shops and flattening apartment buildings, killing at least 130 people and wounding more than 300 in the worst of a series of horrific attacks against Shiites in recent weeks.

EDWARDS AND IRAN....Here is John Edwards two weeks ago, speaking about Iran to the Herzliya Conference in Israel: … Italics mine.  And I'm left wondering: I don't think the American people have any real problem with economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure against Iran.

How to become a leading Democrat's blogmaster  —  Amanda Marcotte: A bleepin' embarrassment  —  Last week, far left-wing blogger Amanda Marcotte began her stint as Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards' "blogmaster:" … The question is: How long will the Edwards campaign want the …