Al Sadr Fled Iraq, Fearing U.S. Bombs  —  Insurgent Leader Reportedly Moved to Iran With Members of Mahdi Army  —  The story tonight in Iraq is not the arrival of more U.S. troops, but the departure of one of the country's most powerful men, Moqtada al Sadr and members of his army.

Announcement  —  I regret to say that I have also resigned from the Edwards campaign.  In spite of what was widely reported, I was not hired as a blogger, but a part-time technical advisor, which is the role I am vacating.  —  I would like to make very clear that the campaign did not push me out …

GOP leaders admit they 'lose' the Iraq debate if they stick to the issue  —  The resolution the House is debating this week is surprisingly straightforward; House Dems even managed to keep the whole thing to just 58 words.  Point #1 says we support the troops; point #2 says Congress "disapproves" of Bush's escalation strategy.

Uncle: Abducted U.S. soldier appears in video … BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — The uncle of an Iraqi-American U.S. soldier abducted last October in Baghdad identified his missing nephew Wednesday in a video posted on a militant Shiite Web site.  —  U.S. Army Sgt. Ahmed K. Altaie was kidnapped October 23 …

Tough Questions We Were Right to Ask  —  Promoters of the "Bush Lied, People Died" line claim that the recent Pentagon inspector general's report concerning my former office's work on Iraq intelligence supports their cause.  What the IG actually said is a different story.

Shooter, Say It Ain't So!  —  When Ted Wells came back from lunch today and announced that he had released Dick Cheney as a witness I was damn near brokenhearted.  After all that, and Shooter lets me down.  Did he not want to testify on Libby's behalf, did Team Libby decide he could do more harm than good …

The Davy Crockett defense of escalation.  —  During today's House debate on Iraq, Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) debuted the Davy Crockett defense: … UPDATE: From commenter Mike:

HOUSE HEARING ON 'WARMING OF THE PLANET' CANCELED AFTER SNOW/ICE STORM HEARING NOTICE  —  The Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building has been postponed due to inclement weather.

Obama Apologizes for Saying Troops' Lives 'Wasted'  —  Senator Enters Race for White House Highlighting Iraq Stance, But Stirs Controversy with Comment  —  Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., entered the race for the White House over the weekend and is immediately feeling the hot spotlight …

Army Giving More Waivers in Recruiting  —  The number of waivers granted to Army recruits with criminal backgrounds has grown about 65 percent in the last three years, increasing to 8,129 in 2006 from 4,918 in 2003, Department of Defense records show.  —  During that time …

Police identify gunman as 18-year-old Bosnian  —  Police Tuesday identified the gunman accused in Monday night's Trolley Square shooting as Sulejman Talovic, an 18-year-old Bosnian refugee who lived in Salt Lake City.  —  Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank said Talovic drove his car to the mall …

On Fla. Menus, a Favorite Fish Experiences Identity Theft  —  MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — What the undercover agents ordered, over and over, was the grouper.  —  What wound up on their plates could stifle anyone's appetite.  —  The alleged grouper at 17 of 24 area restaurants sampled …

Senate agrees to move '08 vote to Feb.  —  Legislators say shifting the primary would give California more clout in the presidential race.  But if more states follow, the benefit may be nil.  —  SACRAMENTO — The California Senate voted Tuesday to move the state's presidential primary …

House Democrats' New Strategy: Force Slow End to War  —  Led by Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., and supported by several well-funded anti-war groups, the coalition's goal is to limit or sharply reduce the number of U.S. troops available for the Iraq conflict, rather than to openly cut off funding for the war itself.

The Ever-'Present' Obama  —  Barack has a along track record of not taking a stand.  —  Finally and officially, Barack Obama is running for president.  His symbolic announcement, in the Land of Lincoln, called for a new era in politics.  Obama downplayed his thin federal experience …

Explosion kills 18 in Iran  —  A car loaded with explosives blew up near a bus carrying members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards in southeastern Iran, killing 18 of them, the state-run news agency reported today.  —  The car stopped in front of the bus near Zahedan …

Poll shows Clinton, Giuliani pull ahead ias campaigns kick off  —  WASHINGTON — New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani have widened leads over their rivals in recent weeks as they began to openly campaign for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations …