Out-of-Afghanistan rumblings on the Hill  —  When they won control of Congress in November, Democrats pressed their case to withdraw troops from Iraq and refocus on Afghanistan, but some are growing impatient with U.S. operations in Afghanistan as well.  —  A few congressional Democrats …

Iranian forces crossed Iraqi border: report  —  Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces have been spotted by British troops crossing the border into southern Iraq, The Sun tabloid reported on Tuesday.  —  Britain's defence ministry would not confirm or deny the report, with a spokesman declining to comment on "intelligence matters".

Lugar: U.S. Must Reduce Military Presence In Iraq  —  Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), the senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, tonight announced his support for an immediate shift in Iraq policy, calling on President Bush "to downsize the U.S. military's role in Iraq and place …

A GOP Plan To Oust Cheney  —  The big question right now among Republicans is how to remove Vice President Cheney from office.  Even before this week's blockbuster series in The Post, discontent in Republican ranks was rising.  —  As the reputed architect of the war in Iraq …

A Strong Push From Back Stage  —  Air Force Two touched down at the Greenbrier Valley Airport in West Virginia on Feb. 6, 2003, carrying Vice President Cheney to the annual retreat of Republican House and Senate leaders.  He had come to sell them on the economic centerpiece of President Bush's first term: a $674 billion tax cut.

Matthews explains Coulter segment: 'She sells books.'  —  MSNBC is heavily promoting an appearance by Ann Coulter on tomorrow's Hardball.  Coulter hasn't appeared on Hardball since July 27, 2006 when she called Vice President Al Gore a "total fag."  Tonight, host Chris Matthews …

The Implications of the $54 Million Missing Pants Verdict  —  Remember the case in which Roy Pearson, a federal administrative law judge, sued his dry cleaner for millions of dollars for losing his pants?  Of course you do.  In reality, the claim that went to trial was consumer fraud.

How the GOP Could Win  —  There are two ways to predict the winner of the 2008 presidential race: Check the polls or read some history.  The polls tell you that with George Bush's approval ratings abysmally low; with the war in Iraq becoming increasingly unpopular; with the GOP lacking a dominant candidate …

GOP Backers Offer Immigration Bill Change  —  Provision Would Require Illegal Residents to Return Home to Gain Legal Status  —  With a crucial test vote scheduled for today, Republican supporters of a sweeping immigration bill threw their weight yesterday behind a significant change …

28-Mile Virtual Fence Is Rising Along the Border  —  If the effort to catch people illegally crossing the border here in the southern Arizona desert is a cat-and-mouse struggle, the Homeland Security Department says it has a smarter cat.  —  It comes in the form of nine nearly 100-foot-tall towers …

The Real Iraq Debate  —  Quietly, the real debate over Iraq is beginning.  —  It's not about whether the United States should pull out troops.  That is now inevitable.  The real challenge is to figure out the right timetable for withdrawal, whether a residual force should be left …

Iraqi Youth Face Lasting Scars of War  —  Conflict's Psychological Impact on Children Is Immense, Experts Say  —  BAGHDAD — Marwa Hussein watched as gunmen stormed into her home and executed her parents.  Afterward, her uncle brought her to the Alwiya Orphanage, a high-walled compound nestled …

ALERT: PBS Selects Luntz for Democratic forum analysis...  Email from David Brock, June 25, 2007.  —  Dear Friend:  —  I'm sure you've already heard that PBS will be hosting the next Democratic presidential forum on Thursday, June 28, at Howard University in Washington …