Cindy Sheehan Says Adios  —  Once the "darling" of the Left, a woman to whom crowds flocked, Cindy Sheehan has discovered that she has worn out her welcome by attacking everyone.  In a missive she sent to the Democratic caucuses in Congress, Sheehan has renounced her membership in the party …

Social conservatives bite bullet, back Rudy  —  Rudy Giuliani, whose positions on abortion and homosexuality mark him as the most socially liberal Republican presidential candidate in more than a generation, is so far winning the contest for the support of social conservatives, according to a new analysis of recent polls.

Iraq Brings to Table Two Countries Inching Closer to a War Footing  —  WASHINGTON — Iraq's Shiite-led government is embarking on a reconciliation project of its own between its two closest supporters, America and Iran.  —  Yesterday, Prime Minister Maliki was the host of a four-hour meeting …

Lawmakers Push for Big Subsidies for Coal Process  —  Even as Congressional leaders draft legislation to reduce greenhouse gases linked to global warming, a powerful roster of Democrats and Republicans is pushing to subsidize coal as the king of alternative fuels.

TO TEMPER IMAGE, GIULIANI TRADES GROWL FOR SMILE  —  ATLANTA — Oh, baby, here it comes.  The gray-haired woman raises her hand and compliments His Honor for his Sept. 11 bravery.  Then she asks him:  —  Why does so much of the world hate us?  Haven't we failed to understand Arab grievances?

MISS UNIVERSE PULLS AN UPSET  —  One thing I've noticed is that beauty pageants tend to follow form.  I'm not sure how bettors are able to predict judges' choices, but they generally do so pretty accurately.  But not in this year's Miss Universe competition.

Progress in Iraq likely to miss target  —  Military officers doubt any of the three top goals will be achieved before the September assessment.  —  BAGHDAD — U.S. military leaders in Iraq are increasingly convinced that most of the broad political goals President Bush laid out early this year …

AP Still Gets Kyoto History Wrong  —  Earlier this year, I noted that the Associated Press either did a poor job of research or revealed their bias against the Bush administration by incorrectly recounting the history of the Kyoto Treaty in the US.  They used the Left's talking points …

Welcome to the Newly-Expanded Huffington Post  —  It's still the same place, with the same address, the same mission, and the same attitude that has always made HuffPost such a great read.  It's just that now there is much more of it to love.  And to organize it all we've created five new sections …

What It Means To Be Secure  —  The current debate on financing military operations in Iraq, as well as the Memorial Day just past, stimulated yet again my 30-year search for a national security policy that liberal and progressive Americans can endorse.  —  The great 20th century Democratic presidents were war presidents.

Obama offers universal health care plan  —  IOWA CITY, Iowa - Seeking to add heft to his presidential bid, Democrat Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) is offering a sweeping plan that would provide every citizen a means to have health coverage and calls on government, businesses and consumers to share the costs of the program.

Desperate Iraqi Refugees Turn to Sex Trade in Syria  —  MARABA, Syria — Back home in Iraq, Umm Hiba's daughter was a devout schoolgirl, modest in her dress and serious about her studies.  Hiba, who is now 16, wore the hijab, or Islamic head scarf, and rose early each day to say the dawn prayer before classes.

Venezuelan TV station goes off air  —  Country's oldest private TV broadcaster was critical of the government  —  CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan police fired tear gas and plastic bullets Monday into a crowd of thousands protesting a decision by President Hugo Chavez that forced …

Is Iraq in a Civil War?  —  Many politicians have determined Iraq to be in a civil war.  "We're not fighting terrorism in Iraq," Rep. John Murtha (Democrat-Penn.) said on January 27, 2006, "We're fighting a civil war in Iraq."  [1] He is not alone.  On November 27, 2006 …