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.

LA Times Publishes Iran Propaganda Claim, Ignores Fauxtography  —  The Los Angeles Times gives credence to Iran's bogus claim that the US is behind two recent attacks in Iran: Iran alleges U.S. link to militant attack. … They include this picture, a screen capture from Iranian TV:

Bush compares Revolutionary, terror wars  —  MOUNT VERNON, Va. - President Bush honored the 275th birthday of the nation's first president on Monday, likening George Washington's long struggle that gave birth to a nation to the war on global terrorism.  —  "Today, we're fighting a new war …

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.

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" …

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 …

McCain's duck and pander strategy  —  Thank you, John McCain, for proving my point.  —  In a print column yesterday, I boarded the Flip Flop Express for an extended look at how far the '08 presidential candidate has journeyed away from his image as an "independent" "straight-talking" "maverick."

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 …

Organic farming 'no better for the environment'  —  Organic food may be no better for the environment than conventional produce and in some cases is contributing more to global warming than intensive agriculture, according to a government report.  —  The first comprehensive study …

George Bush is exactly who you think he is  —  A few months ago a book called Ariel Sharon: An Intimate Portrait came out.  It's by the late Uri Dan, who was Sharon's longtime confidant/bootlicker.  It sounds like it's worth skimming, at least for these two parts:  —  From a new review in Ha'aretz:

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 …

A Cheerful Anachronism  —  Rep. Ron Paul says he can find in the Constitution's enumeration of the federal powers—Article I, Section 8—no reference to rice.  —  Some rice farmers from Congressman Ron Paul's district were in his office the other day, asking for this and that from the federal government.

Medicare Loops  —  "Medicare for Everybody" is becoming a slogan in the left-wing blogosphere.  Does it sound so bad?  Surely private insurance deserves a whacking for its high overhead costs and its general willingness to not cover people, screw people over, and deny just claims.

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.