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.

Obey to Kucinich: #$%@!!!  —  Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.) is at it again.  He's already been captured on "YouTube" denouncing "idiot liberals" over the war.  —  Tuesday he went a step further.  He offended some fellow Democrats with delicate ears when he used extremely strong language …

Hamas Mickey Mouse Teaches Jihad  —  A new black and white rodent has appeared on Palestinian television, and it's not the Mickey Mouse you're used to.  This one teaches children about AK-47s and Jihad on behalf of the Islamist group Hamas. … If one were to choose the imaginary creature …

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 …

Obama Overstates Kansas Tornado Deaths  —  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Barack Obama, caught up in the fervor of a campaign speech Tuesday, drastically overstated the Kansas tornadoes death toll, saying 10,000 had died.  —  The death toll was 12.  —  "In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas.

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.

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.

The Sunni Awakening  —  The Albu Fahd tribe joins the Anbar Salvation Council and vows to fight al Qaeda in Iraq  —  Poster shows Sheikh Abu-Risha staring down figures representing Al Qaeda in Ramadi.  (Photo by Sam Dagher, CSM).  Click to view.  —  The Anbar Salvation Council …

"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.