Top Items:
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross / Counterterrorism Blog:
N.Y. Times: Al-Qaeda Gaining Strength in Pakistan, Waziristan Accord Has Failed — A report in today's New York Times discusses American intelligence and counterterrorism officials' view that al-Qaeda's senior leadership has "re-established significant control" over the worldwide terror network.
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StrategyPage:
Why Al Qaeda Central is Immune from Attack — Al Qaeda is fighting back against the Pakistani tactic of bombing terrorist camps along the Afghan border. In the last few weeks, terrorists bomb attacks have killed over a hundred people. Police have also prevented several additional bombings …
New York Times:
Al Qaeda Chiefs Are Seen to Regain Power — Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once battered worldwide terror network and over the past year have set up a band of training camps in the tribal regions near the Afghan border …
Discussion:
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Muneeza Naqvi / Associated Press:
66 die in India-Pakistan train attack — DEWANA, India - A pair of explosions on a train headed for Pakistan set off a fire that killed at least 66 people, some of whom became trapped when a train door was fused shut by the heat of the flames. Officials said the attack was aimed at disrupting improving relations between the rivals.
CNN:
Reid: Iraq war 'worst foreign policy mistake' in U.S. history … WASHINGTON (CNN) — After months of heated rhetoric slamming President Bush's Iraq policy, the Senate's top Democrat moved into new terrain by declaring the Iraq war a worse blunder than Vietnam. — "This war is a serious situation.
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Michael Slackman / New York Times:
Iran's Chance: U.S. Troubles in Iraq Create Opening for Regional Shift
Iran's Chance: U.S. Troubles in Iraq Create Opening for Regional Shift
Discussion:
NewsHog
Robert D. Novak / Washington Post:
Murtha in Command — After 16 undistinguished terms in Congress, Rep. John P. Murtha at long last felt his moment had arrived. He could not keep quiet the secret Democratic strategy that he had forged for the promised "second step" against President Bush's Iraq policy (after the "first step" …
Discussion:
Confederate Yankee, Salon, Daily Kos, Decision '08, Norwegianity, PrairiePundit and The Political Pit Bull
Dan Balz / Washington Post:
In Limbo in Washington, McCain Comes Alive in Iowa — Campaigning for Conservatives, He Plays Up Fiscal Discipline — Former Texas senator Phil Gramm was wrapping up his introduction in Des Moines on Saturday morning when a white-haired man wearing gray slacks and a big …
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Jim Davenport / Associated Press:
McCain: Roe v. Wade should be overturned
McCain: Roe v. Wade should be overturned
Discussion:
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Marc Santora / New York Times:
Militants Attack U.S. Base in Iraq — In a coordinated assault on an American combat outpost north of Baghdad, suicide bombers drove three cars laden with explosives into the base, killing two American soldiers and wounding at least 17 more, according to witnesses and the American military.
Discussion:
Daily Kos
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William Wan / Washington Post:
Maryland to Unveil the Page That Began a New Chapter — George Washington's Resignation Speech Left the U.S. Military in Civilians' Hands — It was a speech so moving the crowd wept. It was a speech so personally important George Washington's hand shook as he read it until he had to hold the paper still with both hands.
Peter Lauria / New York Post:
HEAVENLY DEAL — SIRIUS, XM SET TO CONFIRM MERGER PLAN TODAY — Satellite radio operators Sirius and XM are expected to announce their long-awaited merger today, according to a source familiar with the deal. — The two sides were locked in negotiations over the weekend trying to hammer …
Bill Sammon / Examiner:
Some mull idea of Sen. Bill Clinton — WASHINGTON - If Hillary Rodham Clinton wins the presidency, some top Democrats would like to see her husband, former President Bill Clinton, appointed to serve out Hillary's unexpired Senate term. — "As a senator, he'd be a knockout," said Harold Ickes …
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James Glanz / New York Times:
Iraqi Sunni Lands Show New Oil and Gas Promise — In a remote patch of the Anbar desert just 20 miles from the Syrian border, a single blue pillar of flanges and valves sits atop an enormous deposit of oil and natural gas that would be routine in this petroleum-rich country except for one fact: this is Sunni territory.
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, Prairie Weather, TPMCafe blogs, rubber hose, Dean's World and PrairiePundit
John Linder / Washington Times:
Global-warming theory and the eugenics precedent — "Global Warming" had a precursor in capturing the hearts and minds of the world. Michael Crichton, in his novel "State of Fear," brilliantly juxtaposes the world's current political embrace of "global warming" with the popular embrace of the "science" of eugenics a century ago.
New York Times:
Making Martial Law Easier — A disturbing recent phenomenon in Washington is that laws that strike to the heart of American democracy have been passed in the dead of night. So it was with a provision quietly tucked into the enormous defense budget bill at the Bush administration's behest …
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Diane Sawyer, On the Ground And in High Gear — Eight days ago, amid shouts of "Death to America!," Diane Sawyer waded into a huge demonstration in Tehran and asked a group of boys, "Do you not like me?" They thought for a moment and switched to "Death to George Bush!"
Michael Barone / Real Clear Politics:
The Misuses of Intelligence — Last week, we had a couple of object lessons in how to use — or misuse — foreign intelligence. — The first emerges from reports by U.S. military authorities in Iraq that weapons have been used there against American forces which seem highly likely to have come from Iran.