Rules Lay Out C.I.A.'s Tactics in Questioning  —  The White House said Friday that it had given the Central Intelligence Agency approval to resume its use of some severe interrogation methods for questioning terrorism suspects in secret prisons overseas.  —  With the new authority …

Court Tells U.S. to Reveal Data on Detainees at Guantánamo  —  A federal appeals court ordered the government yesterday to turn over virtually all its information on Guantánamo detainees who are challenging their detention, rejecting an effort by the Justice Department …

David Brooks: 'I'm so confused' about what to do in Iraq.  —  Fresh off his hero worship of President Bush, New York Times columnist David Brooks said last night on the PBS Newshour that he's more confused than ever about Iraq.  "Let me say, I'm more uncertain about what to do than I've ever been in this war," he said.

The Phony Debate  —  THE SENATE Democratic leadership spent the past week trying to prove that Congress is deeply divided over Iraq, with Democrats pressing and Republicans resisting a change of course.  In fact that's far from the truth.  A large majority of senators from both parties favor …

Harry Potter: the economics  —  Successful magical worlds depend on basic economic principles, and that's where JK Rowling's Harry Potter falls short.  —  Why are books about magic so exciting?  The lure is almost tautological: magic is compelling because it allows us to imagine doing the things we cannot ordinarily do.

Romney targets Obama - with a twist  —  Promoting sex education for kindergarten students—kind of a sexy topic — was injected into the 2008 presidential race.  It conjures up visions of condoms and cupcakes passed around before the afternoon naptime.  Except that it is not true.

"Sometimes I can't believe it when I look up in the mirror"  —  All Russian female names end in "A".  My grandmother was Sarra, her sister Raya.  My other grandma was Antonina.  My mom is Nina.  Her sister is Gyala.  So, when people meet me and learn I was born in the Soviet Union they ask "so what is your Russian name?"

Shays screams at Capitol Police officer  —  On Thursday afternoon, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) got into a loud, angry dispute with a U.S. Capitol Police officer at the security checkpoint inside the entrance of the West Side of the Capitol.  On Friday, Shays, a veteran lawmaker …

Bald eagles  —  Our political cartoonist casts his eye towards the presidential campaign  —  A GROWING number of Republicans are hoping that Fred Thompson, a former senator and television actor, will throw his hat into the presidential ring.  Should he do so, he'd be wise to keep his head …

A White House Warning on Contempt Charges  —  The Justice Department would be likely to block any efforts by Congressional Democrats to seek contempt charges against present and former White House officials for refusing to give information to Congress, a White House spokesman said Friday.

Rudy and Romney: Artful dodgers  —  When the most belligerent Republicans start to beat the war drums, it's important to look at what they're trying to hide.  —  Left: Rudy Giuliani talks to students during a campaign stop in Henniker, N.H., on April 24, 2007.

'NYT': Ron Paul for President — Of the 'Wackos'?  —  NEW YORK A feature piece in this coming Sunday's New York Times Magazine on Republican candidate for president, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, portrays his followers as including a wild mix of "wackos" on both ends of the political spectrum.

Google Intends to Bid in Spectrum Auction If FCC Adopts Consumer Choice and Competition Requirements  —  Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced today that should the Federal Communications Commission adopt a framework requiring greater competition and consumer choice, Google intends to participate …

The Pentagon Gets a Lesson From Madison Avenue  —  U.S. Needs to Devise a Different 'Brand' to Win Over the Iraqi People, Study Advises  —  In the advertising world, brand identity is everything.  Volvo means safety.  Colgate means clean.  IPod means cool.

Slacker Friday:  —  Hometown: Newton, MA.  —  Hey Doc —  "Mary Hill used to love to ride on the merry-go-round/All the guys got eager eyes watching Mary go 'round."  —  WWOZ Pick To Click — "Fish For Supper" (Hot Lips Page): Once again, I have forgotten to design an eight-mile circular work …

NOTE TO READERS:  —  Several conservative blogs have raised questions about the Diarist "Shock Troops," written by a soldier in Iraq using the pseudonym Scott Thomas.  Whenever anybody levels serious accusations against a piece published in our magazine, we take those charges seriously.