Iraq war is 'lost': US Democrat leader  —  The war in Iraq "is lost" and a US troop surge is failing to bring peace to the country, the leader of the Democratic majority in the US Congress, Harry Reid, said Thursday.  —  "I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything …

In Testimony, Gonzales Says Firings Were Justified  —  Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales encountered anger and skepticism from senators today as he insisted that he had nothing to hide in the dismissals of eight United States attorneys, an episode that has cast a shadow on the Justice Department and brought calls for his resignation.

I'm Signing On  —  I really thought that the 2004 presidential campaign would be the last I would be involved in.  I have always wanted to make a difference, but for me I thought those days were over.  —  A few weeks ago, John and Elizabeth Edwards made their decision to continue …

Miscarriage of Justice  —  The federal "partial-birth" abortion ban has grave implications for all pregnant women, not only those seeking to end pregnancies.  —  Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the first federal law that bans an abortion procedure for all women and all doctors in all states.

McCain visits Murrells Inlet  —  Even though he was nursing a cold, Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain spent nearly 90 minutes talking to nearly 500 people who crammed into the Murrells Inlet VFW Hall Wednesday morning.  —  The "Straight Talk" tour, as it's called, included stops in Summerville and Charleston.

Package Forced NBC to Make Tough Decisions  —  The package that arrived yesterday at NBC headquarters in New York was almost immediately flagged as suspicious, because it had been mailed from Blacksburg, Va., and bore the return name A. Ishmael.  —  Last night, the anchor of "The NBC Nightly News …

Senate plot stirs Bruning, adds Kerrey  —  The plot not only thickened in the 2008 Senate race Wednesday night, it threatened to spin out of control.  —  Attorney General Jon Bruning is ready to enter the 2008 Republican primary whether Sen. Chuck Hagel seeks re-election or not.

Embattled lawmaker gives up panel seat  —  WASHINGTON - Rep. John Doolittle (news, bio, voting record) has decided to temporarily give up his House Appropriations Committee seat after FBI agents searched his house in a congressional influence-peddling investigation.

Gonzales: Criticism Damages DoJ Employees  —  Under questioning from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gonzales cautioned against criticizing the good employees of the Justice Department: "when there are attacks against the department, you're attacking the career professionals."

House vote permits guns in more places  —  NASHVILLE - In a surprise move, a House panel voted Wednesday to repeal a state law that forbids the carrying of handguns on property and buildings owned by state, county and city governments - including parks and playgrounds.

Message-Minded Admiral Ditches 'Long War' Phrase  —  TAMPA - "The Long War," a phrase coined by former U.S. Central Command chief John Abizaid to convey the time needed to defeat the religious extremism fueling al-Qaida, has been jettisoned by his successor, Adm. William Fallon.