Thompson, as a lobbyist, took abortion rights assignment  —  A spokesman for the presidential hopeful denies he did the work, a claim an ex-colleague calls "bizarre."  —  Former Tennessee Sen. Fred D. Thompson, who is campaigning for president as a "pro-life" Republican …

Jihadists On Defense  —  On July 4, Zawahiri released a new video tape.  The production values are pretty good, and Zawahiri is intercut with other footage, including television clips.  What is striking about Zawahiri's message, however, is how defensive it is.  And what Zawahiri is defensive about, is events in Iraq.

Poll: Americans Evenly Divided On Impeachment Of Bush, Majority For Targeting Cheney  —  Does the conventional wisdom that impeachment would be politically radioactive still hold true in the post-Libby commutation political world?  A new poll from American Research Group shows a startling result …

Online community flocks to Ron Paul  —  Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani may lead the polls and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney might have the most money among GOP presidential candidates, but Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) clearly leads his Republican colleagues in online support …

David Shuster dismantles Fouad Ajami's comparison of Libby to our fallen soldiers  —  David Shuster filled in for Chris Matthews this evening on "Hardball" where he interviewed neo-con author, Fouad Ajami, and absolutely shredded him over his Wall Street Journal OpEd comparing Scooter Libby to fallen U.S. Soldiers in Iraq.

Al Qaeda fanatics working in police (but they don't dare sack them)  —  Up to eight police officers and civilian staff are suspected of links to extremist groups including Al Qaeda.  —  Some are even believed to have attended terror training camps in Pakistan or Afghanistan.

Live Aid is promoting green to save the planet - what planet are they on?  —  As Madonna bounds on to the huge Wembley stage to save the planet, how the assembled Greenies will cheer.  —  The superstar is today fronting the massive Live Earth event, with nine concerts played …

Circuit Court bars challenge to NSA spying  —  In the first appeals court ruling on the Bush Administration's controversial electronic spying program, a divided Sixth Circuit Court on Friday ordered the case dismissed, finding that none of the challengers had proved they were personally subjected to the surveillance.

Bomb proof  —  Terrorism is no longer much of a "black swan" event for markets  —  CAR bombs are placed in London and Glasgow airport is attacked; Britain's terrorism-alert status moves briefly to the highest level, suggesting another attack is imminent.  So how does the stockmarket react?

Martyr Mouse taking Mickey  —  Decrease Increase -  —  Submit comment:  —  IF YOU'VE not heard of Farfour the mouse, let's get you quickly up to speed.  Farfour was the star of Pioneers of Tomorrow, a children's television program produced by Al Aqsa TV - a sort of Middle Eastern ABC - and broadcast throughout Gaza.

Wormeries 'may add to greenhouse gases'  —  Worms may not be as environmentally friendly as the growing number of gardeners who use them to help compost their kitchen scraps and grass clippings believe, say scientists.  —  In fact, the greenhouse gases emitted by a large commercial worm composting plant …

Why Americans Should Feel Happy  —  About three-quarters of Americans, according to surveys, think the country is on the wrong track.  About two-thirds of the public disapprove of the job performance of President Bush, and an even higher number disdain Congress.