Democrats Criticize Iraq in 1st Debate  —  ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidates criticized President Bush over the Iraq war Thursday night in the first debate of their campaign, and urged him to reconsider his threat to veto legislation to begin withdrawing U.S. troops.

Senate Sends War Timetable To Bush's Desk  —  As Funding Bill Heads to Likely Veto, Talks on Revised Legislation Begin  —  The Senate approved a $124 billion Iraq war spending bill yesterday that would force troop withdrawals to begin as early as July 1, inviting President Bush's veto …

Timmeh's Tool Time Redux  —  Everyone has their favorite moment from the Bill Moyers documentary last night, this was mine: … After sitting in the Libby trial with jaw-dropping incredulity as Russert admitted he'd spilled his guts to the FBI when they first contacted him and then later refused …

Ex-C.I.A. Chief, in Book, Assails Cheney on Iraq  —  George J. Tenet, the former director of central intelligence, has lashed out against Vice President Dick Cheney and other Bush administration officials in a new book, saying they pushed the country to war in Iraq without ever conducting a …

The Great Wall of Segregation...  ...Which is the wall the current Iraqi government is building (with the support and guidance of the Americans).  It's a wall that is intended to separate and isolate what is now considered the largest 'Sunni' area in Baghdad- let no one say the Americans are not building anything.

Baghdad's Fissures and Mistrust Keep Political Goals Out of Reach  —  U.S. military commanders say a key goal of the ongoing security offensive is to buy time for Iraq's leaders to reach political benchmarks that can unite its fractured coalition government and persuade insurgents to stop fighting.

AP Interview: Romney says he's not the only one switching positions, rivals do it too  —  Republican Mitt Romney on Thursday defended his series of shifts on issues, arguing that his top rivals for the GOP presidential nomination also have histories of switching positions.

Old Mike, new Christine  —  During my 23 years with The Times' sports department, I have held a wide variety of roles and titles.  Tennis writer.  Angels beat reporter.  Olympics writer.  Essayist.  Sports media critic.  NFL columnist.  Recent keeper of the Morning Briefing flame.

Is the War on Terror Over?  —  Do we still need to fight a war on terror?  —  The answer seems to be no for an increasing number in the West who are weary over Afghanistan and Iraq or complacent from the absence of a major attack on the scale of 9/11.  —  The British Foreign Office …

Army Officer Accuses Generals of 'Intellectual and Moral Failures'  —  An active-duty Army officer is publishing a blistering attack on U.S. generals, saying they have botched the war in Iraq and misled Congress about the situation there.  —  "America's generals have repeated the mistakes of Vietnam in Iraq …

Jessica Lynch was on Capitol Hill to talk about her experience in Iraq as a POW and subsequently as a media darling.  This article from the Charleston Daily Mail typifies the coverage given to this topic by the media for years now.  It portrays Lynch as a victim of military propaganda that pushed her forward as a hero.

Bush administration targeted another top federal prosecutor  —  WASHINGTON - The Bush administration considered firing the former U.S. attorney in Minnesota, but he left his job voluntarily before the list of attorneys to be ousted was completed, two congressional aides said Thursday.