Rep. Wilson Says She Contacted Prosecutor  —  Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) acknowledged today that she contacted a federal prosecutor to complain about the pace of his public corruption investigations, as the Senate Ethics Committee signaled that it had opened a preliminary inquiry …

Companies to pull ads from Coulter's Web site … WASHINGTON (CNN) — At least three major companies want their ads pulled from Ann Coulter's Web site, following customer complaints about the right-wing commentator referring to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards as a "faggot."

Kidnapped or Defected?  Top Iranian General Disappears  —  Hoda Osman and Christopher Isham Report:  —  The mysterious disappearance of an Iranian general in Turkey in early February has led to speculation he either was kidnapped or defected.  —  Iran has reportedly asked Interpol to investigate the general's disappearance.

Walter Reed commanders admit fault  —  WASHINGTON - Flayed by lawmakers' criticism, Army leaders said Monday they accept responsibility for substandard conditions at the service's flagship Walter Reed Army Medical Center but also said they hadn't known about most of the problems.

Blasts kill 9 U.S. soldiers in Iraq … BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — At least nine U.S. soldiers were killed Monday in a pair of deadly attacks north of Baghdad, U.S. military statements released Tuesday said.  —  "Six Task Force Lightning soldiers died as a result of injuries sustained following …

A WARMING WORLD  —  China about to pass U.S. as world's top generator of greenhouse gases  —  Far more than previously acknowledged, the battle against global warming will be won or lost in China, even more so than in the West, new data show.  —  A report released last week …

Russian Journalist Dies in Fall From Window  —  A military correspondent for Russia's top business daily has died after falling out of a window, and some media alleged Monday that he might have been killed for his critical reporting.  —  Ivan Safronov, the military affairs writer for Kommersant …

WEBB INTRODUCES BILL BARRING FUNDING FOR MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN  —  WASHINGTON — A Democratic senator on Monday introduced legislation that in some cases would deny funding for the Bush administration to take military action against Iran without first getting congressional approval.

Privacy board clears U.S. spy programs  —  WASHINGTON - A White House privacy board is giving its stamp of approval to two of the Bush administration's controversial surveillance programs — electronic eavesdropping and financial tracking — and says they do not violate citizens' civil liberties.

She's No Fundamentalist  —  WHAT PEOPLE GET WRONG ABOUT AYAAN HIRSI ALI.  —  W.H. Auden, whose centenary fell late last month, had an extraordinary capacity to summon despair—but in such a way as to simultaneously inspire resistance to fatalism.  His most beloved poem is probably September 1 …

Tests Reveal Blood Clot in Cheney's Leg  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Doctors discovered a blood clot in Vice President Dick Cheney's left leg Monday, a condition that could be fatal if left untreated.  —  The 66-year-old Cheney, who has a history of heart problems, will be treated …