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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Giuliani comes out against civil unions  —  The political website of the New York Sun will report tomorrow that in a major reversal from an earlier position, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani now opposes civil unions between same sex partners.  —  An advance copy of an article sent …

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 …

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 …

Washington Reporters In Meltdown, Damage-Control Freak Out Mode  —  In the lead up to and wake of Bill Moyers' much-anticipated mega-dunk on the Washington press corps this week, we are seeing the ugliest side of Beltway culture - the meltdown, damage-control freak out.