Deadliest Bomb in Iraq Is Made by Iran, U.S. Says  —  The most lethal weapon directed against American troops in Iraq is an explosive-packed cylinder that United States intelligence asserts is being supplied by Iran.  —  The assertion of an Iranian role in supplying the device …

When Petty Reporters Get Mad  —  Looks like the blogs are going to be busy this cycle rebutting smears against our candidates.  This latest is penned by Mike Allen. … How suspicious!  The answer, as both Brad Delong and The Poorman note, is that Swahili and Arabic are extremely similar languages …

Target Iran: US able to strike in the spring  —  Despite denials, Pentagon plans for possible attack on nuclear sites are well advanced  —  US preparations for an air strike against Iran are at an advanced stage, in spite of repeated public denials by the Bush administration, according to informed sources in Washington.

OBAMA: IF YOU LOOK AFRICAN-AMERICAN, YOU ARE TREATED LIKE ONE  —  Acknowledging that his presidential campaign has opened a racial debate, Sen. Barack Obama, who has a white mother and an African father, says if you look African-American, you are treated like one.

Democratic voters growing impatient with Congress  —  CHICAGO - In Washington, Democrats are blaming Republicans for the Senate's failure so far to vote on a resolution opposing a troop increase in Iraq.  —  But in the heartland, some voters say such excuses no longer are good enough.

Senators Debate Significance of Pentagon Report On Intelligence  —  Senate Democrats and Republicans disagreed yesterday over the meaning and importance of a Defense Department inspector general's conclusion that a Pentagon policy office produced and gave senior policymakers …

For Lawyers, No Clear Favorite  —  Litigators Backed Edwards in 2004, but He Has New Competition  —  In the last presidential election, John Edwards had the powerful support and deep pockets of the nation's trial lawyers behind him.  But when the lawyers gather for their winter conference today …

Poll shows Arabs dislike Bush  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new poll on Thursday underscored deep Arab unhappiness with the United States but said the negative image could be repaired if Washington brokered a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace agreement.  —  The survey of 3,850 people …

U.S. Gives Tour of Family Detention Center That Critics Liken to a Prison  —  Responding to complaints about conditions at the nation's main family detention center for illegal immigrants, officials threw open the gates on Friday for a first news media tour.

Giuliani Shifts Abortion Speech Gently to Right  —  As he prepares for a possible run for president — a road that goes deep into the heart of conservative America — Rudolph W. Giuliani takes with him a belief in abortion rights that many think could derail his bid to capture the Republican nomination.

Best of the Web  —  Best of the Tube This Weekend: Watch James Taranto on "Lou Dobbs Tonight."  CNN, 6-7 p.m. EST tonight, with a repeat showing at 4 a.m. EST Saturday.  —  Denying the Future  —  The Boston Globe's Ellen Goodman starts off a column about global warming on a loopy note:

Balloon Juice  —  Wuzzadem John sends me this email: … Just so you don't have to go over there, here's the post: … You've got a weird sense of humor, John.  Of course, we all know that there's no such thing as a feminist alcoholic exhibitionist.  Except for Ted Kennedy.  —  F**k off, man.

Soviet monument to make way for Reagan: report  —  Opponents of Poland's former communist regime reportedly want to pay a posthumous homage to US President Ronald Reagan by erecting his statue in the place of a Soviet-era monument.  —  In an open letter to the mayor of the southwestern city of Katowice …