Top American General Disputes US Military Claim on Iran  —  The top American military officer, General Peter Pace, declined Monday to endorse the conclusions of U.S. military officers in Baghdad, who told reporters on Sunday that the Iranian government is providing high-powered roadside bombs to insurgents in Iraq.

For Clinton and Obama, Different Tests on Iraq  —  Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was challenged on Iraq from corner to corner of New Hampshire this weekend, while Senator Barack Obama drew cheers in Iowa for his opposition to the war.  —  Besides giving voters a chance to probe the views …

Tentative Deal in N. Korea Nuclear Talks  —  BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. envoy to talks on North Korea's nuclear program said Tuesday that negotiators reached a tentative agreement on initial steps for the communist nation's disarmament.  —  Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill …

Pincus Reveals Fleischer As Leak Source  —  Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus testified in court this morning that then-White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, not I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was the first person to tell him that a prominent critic of the Iraq war was married to undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame.

More On Prison Rape  —  Another personal history from Human Rights Watch's report on prison rape, this one with an example of victim-blaming from the authorities: … And here's another history, though this one is more of a remembrance: … These are not atypical tales, click on any of the histories and similar horrors unfold.

Four Syllables, Starts With M, Ends With Uh-Oh  —  William M. Arkin, a military analyst who writes a blog for The Washington Post's Web site, says he knew that his criticism of American troops would be "highly inflammatory."  —  He got that part right.  —  Arkin, invoking an NBC report …

Salon: Obama Used to Be "Uppity"  —  The answer is no, the article, which focuses on Obama's transformation since his 2000 House campaign, doesn't get any less nasty, although it doesn't explicitly repeat the racially loaded term "uppity" (that choice, apparently, belongs to whoever does the front page of Salon).

First Attack by Al Qaeda in Japan?  —  Alexis Debat and Maddy Sauer Report:  —  There was a scare today at a U.S. military base outside Tokyo when two small explosions occurred shortly after 11 p.m. there.  While no one was injured, investigators are looking at the possibility that it was an attempted terrorist attack.

Thousands of Army Humvees Lack Armor Upgrade  —  The Army is working to fill a shortfall in Iraq of thousands of advanced Humvee armor kits designed to reduce U.S. troop deaths from roadside bombs — including a rising threat from particularly lethal weapons linked to Iran and known as …

Al-Qaeda praying for Obama win, says PM  —  PRIME Minister John Howard has blasted US presidential candidate Barack Obama, saying his policy of withdrawing troops from Iraq will destabilise the entire Middle East.  —  Senator Obama, who is aiming to be the first black American president, has vowed to withdraw US forces if elected.

A Renewed Call to Televise High Court  —  With Supreme Court justices becoming increasingly comfortable in the spotlight, Sen. Arlen Specter says it might finally be time for their close-ups.  —  Spector (Pa.), joined by two other Republican and three Democratic senators …

Iran in Iraq: The PowerPoint Presentation  —  We've just added yesterday's briefing on Iranian EFPs in Iraq to our Document Collection.  This is a 16-page brief presented to reporters, and not the transcript of the press conference itself, since the anonymous military briefers in Baghdad …

Senator's hospital room also an office  —  Johnson starting to do small legislative tasks  —  WASHINGTON - Two months after he was rushed to the hospital with a brain hemorrhage, U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota is easing back into his legislative work, an aide said Friday.

Stem cells used for 'natural' boob jobs  —  WOMEN may be able to undergo a "natural" form of breast enlargement using their own stem cells and fat.  —  The technique, pioneered in Japan, results in breasts that look and feel smoother than conventional cosmetic surgery using implants.

Libby Live: Novak One  —  NOTES: (1) This is not a transcript — It's the blogger's approximation, and no one really knows what that is yet!  But I do know you shouldn't quote anything not in quotation marks.  (2) I'll timestamp the updates and will update about every 15 minutes, servers willing.