U.S. may be numb to terror threats as real evil lurks  —  To Americans who have grown skeptical of terrorism warnings, the professionals in the intelligence community say they understand.  They also say this time, it could be for real.  —  That's because the level of worldwide jihadist activity …

Why Bush Will Be A Winner  —  I suppose I'll merely expose myself to harmless ridicule if I make the following assertion: George W. Bush's presidency will probably be a successful one.  —  Let's step back from the unnecessary mistakes and the self-inflicted wounds that have characterized the Bush administration.

Gilmore drops out of the race  —  Former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III is dropping his underdog bid for the Republican presidential nomination today, he told The Politico in an interview.  —  Gilmore said he has been approached about running for Virginia governor a second time …

Ship of fools: Johann Hari sets sail with America's swashbuckling neocons  —  The Iraq war has been an amazing success, global warming is just a myth - and as for Guantanamo Bay, it's practically a holiday camp... The annual cruise organised by the 'National Review', mouthpiece of right-wing America …

Maliki Says His Forces Are Able to Secure Iraq  —  Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki declared Saturday that Iraqi forces could secure the country on their own "any time" American troops decided to withdraw, his first response to the White House report this week that found his government falling …

Deal Reported in Los Angeles Abuse Cases  —  Lawyers for more than 500 people who say they were abused by Roman Catholic clergy members said last night that they had settled their lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for $660 million.  —  If approved, it will be by far …

Bill Moyers talks with Bruce Fein and John Nichols  —  BILL MOYERS: One of the fellows you're about to meet wrote the first article of impeachment against President Clinton.  Bruce Fein did so because perjury is a legal crime.  And Fein believed no one is above the law.

An Open Letter to CNN from Michael Moore  —  Well, the week is over — and still no apology, no retraction, no correction of your glaring mistakes.  —  I bet you thought my dust-up with Wolf Blitzer was just a cool ratings coup, that you really wouldn't have to correct the false statements you made about "Sicko."

Having a torrid time at the BBC - Busy Blurting Confessions  —  The BBC has been forced to apologise for a trailer clip that seemed to show the Queen snarling "stitch this, love" at the American photographer Annie Leibovitz and then nutting her between the eyes.  A palace spokesman angrily denied the Queen had done any such thing.

Fair Taxes?  Depends What You Mean by 'Fair'  —  DO the rich pay their fair share in taxes?  This is likely to become a defining question during the presidential campaign.  —  At a recent fund-raiser for Hillary Clinton, the billionaire investor Warren E. Buffett said that rich guys like him weren't paying enough.

Generals' warning on Afghanistan  —  Military chiefs warn No.10 that defeat could lead to change of regime in Pakistan  —  Britain's most senior generals have issued a blunt warning to Downing Street that the military campaign in Afghanistan is facing a catastrophic failure …

Thompson delays filing as campaign ramps up  —  He has collected millions of dollars.  Aides go to work every day in a secret suite of offices in McLean, Va. He has policy briefings.  He is preparing for nationally televised Republican debates.  He just named a communications director and a political director.

SIRIUS doesn't think you're patriotic  —  I just was a guest on Mike Feder's show SIRIUS Satellite Radio show and learned something deeply, deeply offensive.  —  The liberal channel is called "SIRIUS Left."  —  The conservative channel is called "SIRIUS Patriot."  —  SIRIUS Satellite Radio doesn't think you're patriotic.

Bush Is Prepared to Veto Bill to Expand Child Insurance  —  The White House said on Saturday that President Bush would veto a bipartisan plan to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program, drafted over the last six months by senior members of the Senate Finance Committee.

In Intelligence World, A Mute Watchdog  —  Panel Reported No Violations for Five Years  —  An independent oversight board created to identify intelligence abuses after the CIA scandals of the 1970s did not send any reports to the attorney general of legal violations during the first 5 1/2 years …

N. Korea Shutters Nuclear Facility  —  Move Follows Delivery of Oil; U.N. Team to Verify Shutdown  —  After four years of off-and-on negotiations, North Korea said it began closing down its main nuclear reactor Saturday, shortly after receiving a first boatload of fuel oil aid.