Iraqi insurgents using Austrian rifles from Iran  —  Austrian sniper rifles that were exported to Iran have been discovered in the hands of Iraqi terrorists, The Daily Telegraph has learned.  —  More than 100 of the.50 calibre weapons, capable of penetrating body armour, have been discovered by American troops during raids.

North Korea to Close Reactor in Exchange for Raft of Aid  —  North Korea agreed today to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for a package of food, fuel and other aid from the United States, China, South Korea and Russia.  The breakthrough, announced by the Chinese government …

Foggo Indictment Expected; Dark Day for the CIA  —  Brian Ross and Vic Walter Report:  —  Federal prosecutors in San Diego are expected today to announce indictments in a case that involves the former No. 3 official at the CIA, Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, officials tell ABC News.

BOEHNER GETS EMOTIONAL  —  From NBC's Mike Viqueira  —  House Minority Leader John Boehner got emotional this morning as he spoke about the "solemn" debate that the House is set to begin today over the non-binding resolution opposing Bush's troop increase.

Romney kicks off White House bid … DEARBORN, Michigan (CNN) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney returned to his native state of Michigan on Tuesday to kick off his bid officially for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.  —  Romney evoked memories of his father …

Now It's Personal: Al Qaeda Calls Bush an Alcoholic Liar  —  Brian Ross Reports:  —  The latest taped statement from al Qaeda is an unusually personal attack on President Bush, in which al Qaeda's No. 2 in command, Ayman al Zawahiri, denounces Bush as "an alcoholic, liar and gambler with an addictive personality."

U.S. general: No evidence Iran is arming Iraqis  —  Pace contradicts claims by other U.S. military, administration officials  —  JAKARTA, Indonesia - A top U.S. general said Tuesday there was no evidence the Iranian government was supplying Iraqi insurgents with highly lethal roadside bombs …

Obama regrets saying soldiers' lives 'wasted'  —  Apologizes for remark in Iowa campaign stop  —  DURHAM, N.H. — In his first stumble, White House hopeful Barack Obama on Monday took back words from the day before, when he said the lives of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq were "wasted."

Amanda Marcotte Resigns from Edwards Campaign  —  Amanda Marcotte has resigned as John Edwards' blogger, on the basis that she was creating a distraction for the campaign.  Rather than stop there, though, she plays the victim. … What in the world does gender have to do with it?

Libby Live: Tedious Legal Arguments  —  graphic courtesy Monk at Inflatable Dartboard  —  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.

Rove: 2008 Race Is Already Too Much, Too Soon  —  White House senior adviser Karl Rove says that the 2008 presidential candidates have been pushed into such an early focus on tactics, fundraising and publicity that they risk a backlash from voters long before the first primary ballots are cast.

Long a Target Over Faulty Iraq Intelligence, Ex-C.I.A. Chief Prepares to Return Fire  —  For the past two years, George J. Tenet has maintained a determined silence even as senior White House officials have laid the blame for the prewar mistakes about Saddam Hussein on him.

Patenting Life  —  YOU, or someone you love, may die because of a gene patent that should never have been granted in the first place.  Sound far-fetched?  Unfortunately, it's only too real.  —  Gene patents are now used to halt research, prevent medical testing and keep vital information from you and your doctor.

'24' gets a lesson in torture from the experts  —  Their advice: Make the scenes more realistic, not bloodier.  And don't rely on tidy conclusions.  —  Hollywood is notorious for its meetings, but even by L.A. standards this one was unusual.  —  A few steps away from the CTU set of Fox's …

What Happens If a Deficit Falls and Almost No One Reports It?  —  US Tax Revenues Up 9.7% through four months, Deficit Down 57%; US Media Outlets Mostly Ignore the News  —  There's a good chance you didn't hear about this (original US Treasury report is here):

Year of the Rat  —  HILLARY CLINTON SCURRIES AWAY FROM HER OLD LINE ON IRAQ.  —  A hardened veteran of the British House of Commons once put it to me like this.  "You can rat," he said.  "Anybody can rat once.  But it's very hard to re-rat."  Ah, how slowly one learns to appreciate the fine art and science of repositioning.

Poll: 63% want all troops home by end of '08  —  WASHINGTON — Americans overwhelmingly support congressional action to cap the number of U.S. troops in Iraq and set a timetable to bring them home by the end of next year, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds — tougher action than the non-binding resolution …