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.

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.

U.S. Says Arms Link Iranians to Iraqi Shiites  —  After weeks of internal debate, senior United States military officials on Sunday literally put on the table their first public evidence of the contentious assertion that Iran supplies Shiite extremist groups in Iraq with some of the most lethal weapons in the war.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Obama Casts Peevish Eye on National Media  —  Barack Obama used his first news conference after announcing his run for president to accuse the media of ignoring his substantive record and falsely depicting him as a lightweight.  —  "The problem's not that the info's not out there," he said of his record on policy issues.

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.

Dixie Chicks Lead Grammys With 5 Awards  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dixie Chicks completed a defiant comeback on Sunday night, winning five Grammy awards after being shunned by the country music establishment over the group's anti-Bush comments leading up to the Iraq invasion.

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.

REMEMBERING MR. LINCOLN  —  Today is of course the birthday of America's greatest president, Abraham Lincoln.  As a politician and as president, Lincoln was a profound student of the Constitution and constitutional history.  Perhaps most important, Lincoln was America's indispensable teacher …

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.

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.

Iraq war debate shifts to the House  —  GOP lawmakers will be in a tough position as Democrats push a resolution that dissents from Bush's strategy.  —  WASHINGTON — As the House this week launches its first major debate over the Iraq war since the November elections …