Deserting Petraeus  —  "The key to turning [Anbar] around was the shift in allegiance by tribal sheiks.  But the sheiks turned only after a prolonged offensive by American and Iraqi forces, starting in November, that put al-Qaeda groups on the run."  —  Finally, after four terribly long years, we know what works.

Strategists Agree: McCain's Only Option Is To Turn His Back On Bush  —  According to private conversations with political operatives from both parties, John McCain has no choice but to adopt a high risk strategy to revive his presidential bid, a double Hail Mary: Throw one stink bomb …

Musharraf declares war on Muslim extremists  —  President Pervez Musharraf pledged to combat Muslim extremists across Pakistan yesterday as furious crowds demonstrated against the storming of the Red Mosque and two suicide bomb attacks left six dead.  —  In a televised address to the nation …

Dems pledge to undo what Bush has done  —  Cheers for change fill Cobo during candidate forum  —  U.S. Sen. Barack Obama was the clear crowd favorite at the NAACP presidential forum in Detroit on Thursday, winning thunderous applause just for walking on stage and standing ovations when he spoke.

What Atheists Can't Answer  —  British author G.K. Chesterton argued that every act of blasphemy is a kind of tribute to God, because it is based on belief.  "If anyone doubts this," he wrote, "let him sit down seriously and try to think blasphemous thoughts about Thor."

The New York Times Surrenders A monument to defeatism on the editorial page  —  On July 8, the New York Times ran an historic editorial entitled "The Road Home," demanding an immediate American withdrawal from Iraq.  It is rare that an editorial gets almost everything wrong, but "The Road Home" pulls it off.

Hold Your Fire and Brimstone  —  Perhaps because no one else will do it, I want to offer a qualified defense of Sen. David Vitter, the socially conservative Louisiana Republican who faces a bit of a problem.  —  Vitter admitted Monday night to a "very serious sin in my past" …

American Grit  —  We can't fire the president right now, so we're waiting it out.  —  It's been a slow week in a hot era.  I found myself Thursday watching President Bush's news conference and thinking about what it is about him, real or perceived, that makes people who used to smile at the mention of his name now grit their teeth.

Bush war policy needs more time, says Rice  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice exhorted congressional critics of Iraq war policy Friday to give the Bush administration and the fledgling government in Baghdad until September to "make a coherent judgment of where we are."

The cry should go up in Europe: more babies, please  —  Of all the bogeys you might have thought well and truly nailed in the past decade or so, the population control movement seemed most obviously to have a stake through its heart.  At a time when we - I mean, anyone over 35 …

'Seismic shift' seen on oil, gas commission  —  Governor appoints conservationists, industry critic to panel  —  Gov. Bill Ritter fundamentally reshaped oversight of Colorado's oil and gas industry Thursday, adding conservationists and an industry critic to the nine-member Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Democrats Lead in Raising Money Online  —  The Democrats have established a commanding and growing dominance over Republicans in securing contributions online, reshaping the fund-raising landscape heading into the 2008 elections.  —  Online donations are emerging as a cornerstone …

Brown message to US: it's time to build, not destroy  —  Minister signals foreign policy shift ahead of PM's Washington trip  —  The first clear signs that Gordon Brown will reorder Britain's foreign policy emerged last night when one of his closest cabinet allies urged the US to change …

Cato Unbound Cont'd  —  Matt Yglesias responds to Brink Lindsey here.  And it's nice to see he pretty much agrees with me that the social agenda of liberalism is by no means libertarian.  He writes: … Me: What's refreshing about this is that Yglesias is honestly and correctly admitting …