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 …

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 …

Blast Kills 40 as Cleric Assails Baghdad Plan  —  A suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with explosives and ball bearings blew himself up at a Baghdad university today, killing at least 40 people and strewing fingers, pens, purses and bloody textbooks all over the ground.

ANGELINA A BABE AMID BRAINIACS  —  The prestigious Council on Foreign Relations is about to get a jolt of sex appeal.  —  The exclusive, Manhattan-based foreign-policy group has decided to admit actress Angelina Jolie, a U.N. goodwill ambassador who has taken more than 30 trips worldwide …

Report: 3 Gulf states agree to IAF overflights en route to Iran  —  Three Arab states in the Persian Gulf would be willing to allow the Israel Air force to enter their airspace in order to reach Iran in case of an attack on its nuclear facilities, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyasa reported on Sunday.

Levin: Last Congress Didn't Investigate Walter Reed Because 'They Did Not Want To Embarrass' Bush  —  On NBC's Meet the Press today, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) argued that the Senate Armed Services Committee did not conduct oversight of the treatment at military facilities in recent years because …

In Big Buyout, Utility to Limit New Coal Plants  —  Under a proposed $45 billion buyout by a team of private equity firms, the TXU Corporation, a Texas utility that has long been the bane of environmental groups, will abandon plans to build 8 of 11 coal plants and commit to a broad menu …

Obama on Iraq in 2002  —  He was right.  I was wrong.  This clip is impressive.

Should News Entertain Or Inform — Or Both?  —  INDIO, California — It is the buzz up here at the Riverside County Fair, where I have been performing three shows a day in my other incarnation since Feb. 16.  It's the subject of conversation among entertainers, some of the people who have booths …

Iraqi President Falls Ill  —  Jalal Talabani, 73, Flown To Jordan For Medical Treatment  —  (CBS/AP) Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived in Jordan late Sunday for medical treatment amid conflict reports about his health.  Sources in Amman and from Talabani's office in Baghdad told CBS News …

The Oscar thread  —  Tonight's the night Hollywood takes a break from disclaiming responsibility for any of the culture's ills to congratulate itself for having so much influence over the culture.  The tension mounts: Is this the year for Scorsese?  Will black actors take home three of the big four?

Titanic director aims to sink Christianity  —  Titanic ego, titanic project.  Of which I'm very skeptical. … Well, Da Vinci author Dan Brown has made truth (or truthy) claims about his 2000-year-old conspiracy theory too.  And it's a pile of bunk. … I'll quibble with the part about Christians "worshipping" the empty tomb.

APPEAL FOR REDRESS: ASTROTURFING  —  This post originally appeared at MilBlogs in October, 2006.  While some of the information uncovered herein has since made it's way into smaller media outlets, most major mainstream media sources are still reporting this effort as a "grass roots" campaign.

Sacramento lawyer's ascent takes a turn  —  The timing of her resignation from the U.S. Justice Department is being linked to the Abramoff corruption scandal.  —  Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A4  —  Sue Ellen Wooldridge received a hero's send-off from her partners …