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 …

Sen. Obama launches White House run  —  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Democrat Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) announced Saturday that he is running for the White House in 2008, evoking Abraham Lincoln's ability to unite a nation and promising to lead a new generation to "transform this nation."

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.

Getting Feith: Emily Litella, ace reporter for the WaPo, says "never mind"  —  Last night I was in the middle of preparing a piece about the Washington Post article that described the Pentagon's sharp criticism of Douglas Feith for giving too much credence to some faulty prewar intelligence reports …

Has Rudy Giuliani gotten incoherent about abortion?  —  Here's a NYT piece about how Rudy Giuliani is reframing his stance on abortion to appeal to conservatives.  It contains a quote that I found puzzling: … How is "strict construction" supposed to protect liberty …

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.

Obama formally kicks off presidential campaign  —  About a month ago, we talked about Barack Obama creating a presidential exploratory committee, and today, Obama made it official, giving a strong speech in front of what appeared to be thousands of very cold supporters in Springfield, Ill.

"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser  —  This Week:  —  Ain't No Man Righteous (No Not One)  —  Last week, ABC played a video clip of Rush Limbaugh accusing "libs" of "prejudice" — without noting Limbaugh's own voluminous history of outright bigotry.  —  ABC gave Rush Limbaugh a forum …

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 …

Facing the Islamist Menace  —  Mark Steyn's new book is a welcome wake-up call.  —  In the prologue to his new book, America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, Mark Steyn sarcastically alludes to two people whom, in different ways, I know well.  The first is novelist Martin Amis …

Life Insurance for Palestinian Suicide Bombers  —  An important bank in the Arab world offers accounts paying a type of life insurance to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.  But now it could soon face a lawsuit from American lawyers representing the victims.

Family Prison  —  Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a problem.  When they charge people with immigration violations, or when people have asked for asylum but not yet been given a hearing, these people have to be housed somewhere.  Not in actual houses, of course.  But in a facility.