THE REDIRECTION  —  A STRATEGIC SHIFT  —  In the past few months, as the situation in Iraq has deteriorated, the Bush Administration, in both its public diplomacy and its covert operations, has significantly shifted its Middle East strategy.  The "redirection," as some inside the White House …

Romney family tree has polygamy branch  —  SALT LAKE CITY - While Mitt Romney condemns polygamy and its prior practice by his Mormon church, the Republican presidential candidate's great-grandfather had five wives and at least one of his great-great grandfathers had 12.

38 killed in attack near Baghdad college  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide bomber struck Sunday outside a college campus in Baghdad, killing at least 38 people and injuring dozens as a string of other blasts and rocket attacks left bloodshed around the city.  —  Most of the victims were students …

Clinton Fights to Keep Impeachment Taboo  —  After Spat, Campaigns Know to Expect Swift Reprisal for Any Hint of the Scandal  —  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has a new commandment for the 2008 presidential field: Thou shalt not mention anything related to the impeachment of her husband.

Murtha Stumbles on Iraq Funding Curbs  —  Democrats Were Ill-Prepared for Unplanned Disclosure, Republican Attacks  —  The plan was bold: By tying President Bush's $100 billion war request to strict standards of troop safety and readiness, Democrats believed they could grab hold of Iraq war policy …

U.N. calls U.S. data on Iran's nuclear aims unreliable  —  Tips about supposed secret weapons sites and documents with missile designs haven't panned out, diplomats say.  —  VIENNA — Although international concern is growing about Iran's nuclear program and its regional ambitions …

Al Gore, Rock Star  —  Oscar Hopeful May Be America's Coolest Ex-Vice President Ever  —  LOS ANGELES — In the annals of vice presidential history, tonight will be something different.  In his black tux, the man known to his most fervent fans as "The Goracle" will arrive by hybrid eco-limo and …

Sitting Ducks  —  At last my heart and mind are at rest, until tomorrow.  —  I was waiting for a phone call from my daughter to tell me she is home safely.  —  She, like thousands of university students in Iraq, is taking her mid-term tests, starting today.  They have a fixed schedule, i.e. are sitting ducks - for ten days.

Sunday Wrap-up  —  Writing in Roll Call, Stuart Rothenberg, one of the nation's most astute political commentators, urged politicians not to "lower the bar for candidates' campaign bloggers."  —  The occasion for his column?  Amanda Marcotte's apologia, in which she claimed that her departure …

Al Qaeda Resurgent  —  Almost five and a half years ago, America — united by the shock of 9/11 — understood exactly what it needed to do.  It had to find, thwart and take down the command structure of Al Qaeda, which was responsible for the deaths of 3,000 innocent people on American soil.

Dismissed U.S. Attorneys Received Strong Evaluations  —  Internal Justice Department performance reports for six of the eight United States attorneys who have been dismissed in recent months rated them "well regarded," "capable" or "very competent," a review of the evaluations shows.