7 GOP Senators Back War Debate  —  Lawmakers Had Blocked Action on Troop Resolution  —  Senate Republicans who earlier this week helped block deliberations on a resolution opposing President Bush's new troop deployments in Iraq changed course yesterday and vowed to use every tactic at their disposal to ensure a full and open debate.

Russert Says He Didn't Tell Libby About CIA Officer  —  Journalist Says He Learned Plame's Role After Leak  —  Tim Russert, the Washington bureau chief for NBC News, yesterday swiftly and firmly rejected I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's assertion that the journalist revealed the identity …

Pentagon limits Pelosi jet size  —  The Department of Defense yesterday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that puts limits on the size of the plane she may use to travel across the country and restricts the guests she can bring, The Washington Times has learned.

Mormon Candidate Braces for Religion as Issue  —  As he begins campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, is facing a threshold issue: Will his religion — he is a Mormon — be a big obstacle to winning the White House?

Copter Crashes Suggest Change in Iraqi Tactics  —  With two more helicopter crashes near Baghdad, including a Marine transport crash on Wednesday that killed seven people, the number of helicopters that have gone down in Iraq over the past three weeks rose to six.

Charged Astronaut Returns to Texas  —  HOUSTON (AP) - Hiding her face from the cameras, astronaut Lisa Nowak returned to Texas on Wednesday, a day after being charged in Florida with trying to murder the woman she believed was her romantic rival for a space shuttle pilot's affections.

2008 Field Sprouts Rootless Candidates  —  The 2008 presidential campaign has already produced the next generation of American politicians.  They don't have local accents.  That's because they don't have local roots.  Nor do they boast legions of home-state friends, teachers and mentors …

Professor outrages Jews with book claim  —  A Jewish academic has shocked Italy by stating that Jews murdered Christians during the Middle Ages so that their blood could be used in ritualistic ceremonies.  —  The details were revealed in yesterday's Corriere Della Sera newspaper …

U.S. May Be Mishandling Asylum Seekers, Panel Says  —  A bipartisan federal commission warned on Wednesday that the Bush administration, in its zeal to secure the nation's borders and stem the tide of illegal immigrants, may be leaving asylum seekers vulnerable to deportation and harsh treatment.

Railroad Firms Bringing Aboard Lawmakers' Lobbyist Relatives  —  The railroad industry is hiring relatives of Capitol Hill lawmakers and staff members as it faces tighter federal safety legislation, employing a tactic untouched by the Democrats' new ethics proposals: lobbying by congressional family members.

Veterans Group Speaks Out on War  —  Congressional Democrats Let VoteVets.org Talk for Them, Bluntly  —  When Iraq war veteran Jon Soltz accused Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) of "aiding the enemy," the Democratic senators gathered around him yesterday did not wince.

THE PANDAGON PAPERS  —  [Strong content warning - ed.]  —  Dear Senator Edwards:  —  I am f**king delighted to accept your offer of the position of Official Blogger for the Edwards 2008 presidential campaign.  Please find attached my f**king W-2 form.  —  I would like to express …

Kaizen, That Continuous Improvement Strategy, Finds Its Ideal Environment  —  Remember when Japanese manufacturing techniques were all the rage?  You could hardly read the business press without encountering mention of "lean manufacturing," "just-in-time inventory systems" and "total quality management."