Cheney Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad  —  Vice President Dick Cheney made an unannounced visit to Baghdad today, meeting with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders to pressure them to show more progress in quelling violence in Iraq, and to do so quickly.

Giuliani gave to Planned Parenthood  —  Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in his campaign appearances this year has stated that he personally abhors abortion, even though he supports keeping a legal right to choose.  But records show that in the '90s he contributed money …

Chance for Reform  —  CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS have been promising since last November's election to reform President Bush's treatment of foreign prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay prison.  There are practical limits to what can be done while this president remains in office …

Charges may result from firings, say two former U.S. attorneys  —  Two former U.S. attorneys said today they believe ongoing investigations into the dismissals last year of eight federal prosecutors could result in criminal charges against senior Justice Department officials.

National Poll: Presidential Campaign 2008  —  This WNBC/Marist Poll reports:  —  · Hillary Clinton is not only the Democratic favorite for her party's nomination but, for the first time, she edges both Rudy Giuliani and John McCain: Senator Hillary Clinton still outpaces her Democratic rivals by a wide margin.

All you need to know about the Beltway journalist mind  —  Radar Online has a new profile of presidential candidate Mike Gravel.  The article recounts what happened when the reporter, Jebediah Reed, basically followed Gravel as he was profiled by The Today Show.

Islamist-Left Alliance A Growing Force … Over the past year, multiple international conferences have featured leaders of the anti-global left and Islamist groups working together.  Go to any anti-war or anti-globalization demonstration in the West and chances are you will see the flags …

On 'Codpieces' and Community: Strib's Boyd Discusses Editorial Page Shakeup  —  If you've ever heard the Star Tribune called the Red Star, you can probably blame Jim Boyd, at least in part.  As deputy editor of the paper's editorial page, he's one of a handful of editorial writers who plots …

Axis of Soros  —  The men and motives behind the World Bank coup attempt.  —  Mark Malloch Brown spoke Monday to a crowded auditorium at the World Bank's headquarters, warning that the bank's mission was "hugely at risk" as long as Paul Wolfowitz remained its president.

"FRANCE WILL NOT ABANDON THE WOMEN WHO ARE CONDEMNED TO THE BURQA" President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy's first speech to the French nation concluded with a wonderful endorsement of human rights.  (Video here.)  —  Sarkozy spoke from a prepared text , which appears on his official campaign websites.

DeLay: FBI 'running amok'  —  Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) is calling on the Justice Department either to drop its investigation of his wife and former political associates or else to bring charges quickly.  —  DeLay said he has given the FBI documents exonerating his wife …

Majority of Iraqi Lawmakers Now Reject Occupation  —  By Raed Jarrar and Joshua Holland, AlterNet.  —  More than half of the members of Iraq's parliament rejected for the first time on Tuesday the continuing occupation of their country.  The U.S. media ignored the story.

Hamas TV drops militant Mickey Mouse  —  A program using a Mickey Mouse-like character to urge Palestinian children to fight Israel and the West and work for world Islamic domination has been pulled off Hamas's television station for "review," Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said Wednesday.