The Road Home  —  It is time for the United States to leave Iraq, without any more delay than the Pentagon needs to organize an orderly exit.  —  Like many Americans, we have put off that conclusion, waiting for a sign that President Bush was seriously trying to dig the United States …

WHITE HOUSE PLANS TO BLOCK TESTIMONY FROM TOP ROVE AIDE IN US ATTORNEY INQUIRY; HARRIET MIERS ...  The White House appeared set for an expanded showdown with congressional investigators in the probe of the firing of eight US Attorneys over the weekend.  An attorney for Sara Taylor …

Why Bush and Cheney can't let Scooter sing  —  Well, President George Bush is certainly nothing if not predictable.  —  The talking heads on TV had barely caught their breaths after reports on Scooter Libby's conviction on charges he lied about his role in the Plamegate affair …

U.S. Aborted Raid on Qaeda Chiefs in Pakistan in '05  —  A secret military operation in early 2005 to capture senior members of Al Qaeda in Pakistan's tribal areas was aborted at the last minute after top Bush administration officials decided it was too risky and could jeopardize relations with Pakistan …

Madonna criticised over links to polluters  —  She provided the finale to yesterday's Live Earth concerts, even writing a special song to mark the worldwide musical event.  —  But instead of being lionised, Madonna found herself accused of hypocrisy last night after allegations …

Thompson energizes young Republicans  —  HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Not yet a 2008 candidate, Fred Thompson energized young Republicans with a speech Saturday that was heavy on rhetoric and short on policy pronouncements.  He branded Democrats as "the party of despair."

Car bombs are linked with Iraq's Al-Qaeda  —  AT least one of the suspects being quizzed over the alleged plot to set off car bombs in Britain was in recent contact with Al-Qaeda in Iraq, senior security officials said yesterday.  —  Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command SO15 is understood …

Research Links Lead Exposure, Criminal Activity  —  Rudy Giuliani never misses an opportunity to remind people about his track record in fighting crime as mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001.  —  "I began with the city that was the crime capital of America," Giuliani …

Musharraf tells mosque militants "surrender or die"  —  ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - President Pervez Musharraf told Islamist militants barricaded in a mosque on Saturday to surrender or die, while concern grew for hundreds of women and children inside the beseiged compound in the Pakistani capital.

Fight against terror could take 15 years  —  Britain faces a 15-year battle to end the threat posed by Islamist terrorists, the Government's new security supremo has admitted.  —  Admiral Sir Alan West, the former First Sea Lord, said the overall danger facing the country …

Zone by Zone: Showcase and Chimera in the Desert  —  SUNNI merchants watched warily from behind neat stacks of fruit and vegetables as Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno walked with a platoon of bodyguards through the Qatana bazaar here one recent afternoon.  At last, one leathery-faced trader glanced furtively …

AP Responds to DecapiGate  —  As most CY readers know, I sent a letter to Associated Press Director of Public Relations Jack Stokes and several of the AP Board of Directors on July 5.  —  I—along with many other bloggers, and a few journalists, it seems—were curious as to why the Associated Press …

Declaration of Dependence  —  Some mornings during the autumn of 1933, when the unemployment rate was 22 percent, the president, before getting into his wheelchair, sat in bed, surrounded by economic advisers, setting the price of gold.  One morning he said he might raise it 21 cents …

Bill Clinton addresses terrorism, environment, '08 election  —  ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — America must restore its leadership in the world and get back into cooperation and diplomacy, former President Bill Clinton said Saturday at the Aspen Ideas Festival.  —  Clinton was scheduled to talk …

Jihadists against climate change  —  Boy, even these incendiary docs are getting with the beat: … His poor family.  They figured he must have been referring to Live Earth and sat through 14 hours expecting to see him, Dr Mohammed, Dr Muhammed, Dr Mohammad and Dr Muhammad as back-up singers to Cat Stevens.

Libby Sentence Nullified; Candidates Release Fund-raising Numbers  —  JUDY WOODRUFF: And to the analysis of Shields and Brooks, syndicated columnist Mark Shields and "New York Times" columnist David Brooks.  —  Gentlemen, thank you for being with us, as always, every Friday.