McCain Wrong on Iraq Security, Merchants Say  —  A day after members of an American Congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain pointed to their brief visit to Baghdad's central market as evidence that the new security plan for the city was working, the merchants there were incredulous about the Americans' conclusions.

Romney Reaps $20 Million to Top G.O.P. Rivals  —  Mitt Romney's presidential campaign said Monday that it had raised $20 million in the first quarter, tapping two distant but rich networks — Wall Street and the Mormon Church — to easily outpace his better-known Republican primary rivals.

CNN's Malveaux parroted White House criticism of Pelosi's Syria visit, but ignored GOP-led trip  —  During an interview with former Ambassador John Bolton on the April 2 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, guest host and CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux noted the White House's denunciations …

Reid Backs Iraq War-Funds Cutoff  —  Senate Leader Makes It Clear a Bush Veto Wouldn't End Debate on Withdrawal  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid yesterday endorsed the Senate's toughest antiwar bill yet, a bid to cut off funding within a year, sending a clear signal to President Bush …

Supreme Court Denies Guantánamo Appeal  —  The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear urgent appeals from two groups of detainees at Guantánamo Bay.  The 45 men sought to challenge the constitutionality of a new law stripping federal judges of the authority to hear challenges …

How Bogus Letter Became a Case for War  —  Intelligence Failures Surrounded Inquiry on Iraq-Niger Uranium Claim  —  It was 3 a.m. in Italy on Jan. 29, 2003, when President Bush in Washington began reading his State of the Union address that included the now famous — later retracted …

The botched US raid that led to the hostage crisis  —  A failed American attempt to abduct two senior Iranian security officers on an official visit to northern Iraq was the starting pistol for a crisis that 10 weeks later led to Iranians seizing 15 British sailors and Marines.

No choice: Stay the course in Iraq  —  U.S. leadership deserves support for one last effort to succeed, says a retired Army general.  —  IRAQ IS BEING ripped apart by a low-grade civil war compounded by a dysfunctional, Shiite-dominated government.  As many as 3,000 Iraqis are being killed …

Justices Say E.P.A. Has Power to Act on Harmful Gases  —  In one of its most important environmental decisions in years, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate heat-trapping gases in automobile emissions.

Featured Slideshow II: Openly Gay Celebrities  —  (CBS) NEW YORK Several candidates for president are on a fast pace for fundraising.  Democrat Hillary Clinton has set a record and Republican Rudy Giuliani isn't far behind.  —  But it's what Giuliani said Monday that will likely steal the headlines.

Conservative Voters, It's Time to Give In to Your Inner Rebel  —  In life, there are times to make a safe choice.  Should you go to the gym in the morning or pour yourself a bowl of Miller Lite Cheerios?  Should you take the car rental insurance or chance it?  Decisions, decisions.

Classical Music Looks Toward China With Hope  —  Yu Zhenyang, a self-assured 15-year-old violinist with a picture of Jascha Heifetz in his bedroom, glided through the Mendelssohn Concerto from memory.  His teacher bounded across the room, flailing his arms, swooning to demonstrate pathos and urging Zhenyang to play with more passion.

U.N. Officials Knew Earlier of N. Korea Fake Currency  —  UNITED NATIONS — As federal investigators examine how the leading U.N. agency in North Korea illegally kept 35 counterfeit American $100 bills in its possession for 12 years, documents indicate that more officials were aware …

Via Joan Walsh, NBC's Andrea Mitchell is confirming her scoop that (a) moderate Republican Senators don't think the "surge" will work but temporarily supported it anyway; and (b) will withdraw their support for the war if the "surge" doesn't show progress by late August.

'I'm Not Praying for God to Save Me'  —  Elizabeth Edwards talks about cancer and how the death of a son gives her the perspective she needs to cope.  —  After disclosing that her breast cancer, first diagnosed before the 2004 election, had spread to her bones, Elizabeth Edwards became a symbol of how to cope with recurrence.

Still more extraordinary anti-democracy comments from Giuliani  —  Over the weekend, it was revealed by National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru that Rudy Giuliani believes that, as President, he would have the power to imprison American citizens without any sort of review of any kind …