Top Items:
New York Times:
Buildup in Iraq Needed Into '08, U.S. General Says — The day-to-day commander of American forces in Iraq has recommended that the heightened American troop levels there be maintained through February 2008, military officials said Wednesday. — The White House has never said exactly …
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Washington Post:
As Iraq Exit Plan Arrives, Democrats' Rift Remains — Even in her conservative Kansas district, calls and letters to freshman House Democrat Nancy Boyda show a constituency overwhelmingly ready for U.S. troops to come home from Iraq. — Yet as the House nears a legislative showdown on the war …
David Espo / Associated Press:
Democrats to propose troop withdrawal from Iraq by fall of 2008 — WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders intend to propose legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of 2008, and even earlier if the Iraqi government fails to meet security and other goals …
Discussion:
The Impolitic
Washington Post:
Bush Deflects Pressure To Give Libby a Pardon — Clemency Before 2008 Election Could Be Politically Risky — President Bush said yesterday that he is "pretty much going to stay out of" the case of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby until the legal process has run its course, deflecting pressure …
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MSNBC:
Juror calls on Bush to pardon Libby — Ex-Cheney aide was 'really nice guy' who was 'caught in the initial lie' — WASHINGTON - Saying "I don't want him to go to jail," a member of the jury that convicted I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby of perjury and obstruction of justice in the CIA leak case called Wednesday …
Robert D. Novak / Washington Post:
A Verdict on the Wilson Affair — Denis Collins, a Washington journalist on the Scooter Libby jury, described sentiments in the jury room reflecting those in the Senate Democratic cloakroom: "It was said a number of times. . . . Where's Rove? Where are these other guys?"
Dafna Linzer / Washington Post:
Former Iranian Defense Official Talks to Western Intelligence — A former Iranian deputy defense minister who once commanded the Revolutionary Guard has left his country and is cooperating with Western intelligence agencies, providing information on Hezbollah and Iran's ties to the organization, according to a senior U.S. official.
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Cpl. Matt Sanchez / Cpl Matt Sanchez:
Salon.com — Was I totally clueless? When I stepped forward to talk about an anti-military bias at Columbia of course I knew my life would come under some scrutiny. We hear it everyday, with the universality of the internet, it's impossible to have privacy.
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Matt Sanchez / Salon:
Porn free — Left-wing blogs gleefully outed my gay porn past after I criticized antiwar zealots. But the truth has set me free. — Was I totally clueless? When I stepped forward in late 2005 to talk about anti-military attitudes at New York's Columbia University, I knew my past might be put under the microscope.
Discussion:
Brilliant at Breakfast
New York Times:
The Gonzales Eight — Americans often suspect that their political leaders are arrogant and out of touch. But even then it is nearly impossible to fathom what self-delusion could have convinced Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico that he had a right to call a federal prosecutor at home …
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David Johnston / New York Times:
Inquiry Into Ouster of U.S. Attorneys Moves Toward Subpoenas at Justice Department
Inquiry Into Ouster of U.S. Attorneys Moves Toward Subpoenas at Justice Department
Discussion:
Washington Post
Matt Apuzzo / Associated Press:
Former sailor arrested on terror charge — WASHINGTON - A former Navy sailor was arrested Wednesday for allegedly releasing classified information that ended up in the hands of a suspected terrorism financier. — Hassan Abujihaad, 31, of Phoenix, is accused in a case that began in Connecticut …
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Jerusalem Post:
Report: Assad flips out at Ahmadinejad on phone — Syrian President Bashar Assad exchanged harsh words with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during a phone conversation, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyassah reported on Wednesday. — Sources close to the Syrian leader told the newspaper …
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Bill Carter / New York Times:
Producer for Katie Couric Out at CBS News — The shake-ups at the evening newscasts continued last night. — In the latest disruption, CBS News replaced Rome Hartman, the executive producer of the "Evening News with Katie Couric," with the long-time TV news executive and producer Rick Kaplan …
Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
New York Label May Not Fit All in Giuliani Run — When Republicans say they are skeptical that Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, can survive their party's presidential nominating process, they usually point to his record of support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control.
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Jailed Man Is A Videographer And a Blogger but Is He a Journalist? — He is being cast by some journalists as a young champion of the First Amendment, jailed for taking a lonely stand against heavy-handed federal prosecutors. — Josh Wolf, a 24-year-old blogger, has spent …
Discussion:
The Gun Toting Liberal ™
The Blotter:
Under VA Chief, Effort to Aid Wounded Vets Stalled, Ex-Employee Charges — Brian Ross and Justin Rood Report: — A proposal to keep seriously wounded vets from falling through the cracks of the bureaucracy was shelved in 2005 when Jim Nicholson took over as the secretary …