Romney speaks up for sons' decisions  —  BETTENDORF, Iowa - Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday defended his five sons' decision not to enlist in the military, saying they're showing their support for the country by "helping me get elected."

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  —  SEC v. Sierra Brokerage Services, Inc., et al., United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.  Civil Action No. C2-03-326  —  On July 26, 2007, the Honorable John D. Holschuh, U. S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio …

Democrats Praise Military Progress  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - One senator said U.S. troops are routing out al-Qaida in parts of Iraq.  Another insisted President Bush's plan to increase troops has caused tactical momentum.  —  One even went so far on Wednesday as to say the argument could be made that U.S. troops are winning.

Endeavour Lifts Off!  —  NASA's Administrator and top launch managers celebrated the flawless liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour Wednesday evening as the fulfillment of a legacy.  —  "A launch operation doesn't get any better than this, it can't," Administrator Mike Griffin said following the launch.

SERIOUS....I don't know Anne-Marie Slaughter.  Here's what I mean by this: not just that I've never met her, but that I don't even know much of anything about her views, what she's written, or, when you get right down to it, what kind of foreign policy she prefers.

Ho-Hum: Yet Another False Media-Reported Massacre In Iraq  —  On Sunday, Reuters reported that the scene of a large massacre had been discovered near Baquba: … Why did the police have such a hard time providing an indication of how the 60 people had been killed?  Probably because there were no bodies to examine.

INSTAPUNDIT IS SIX YEARS OLD TODAY: Here's what it looked like that first week.

Potential Flaw Is Found in Design of Fallen Bridge  —  Investigators have found what may be a design flaw in the bridge that collapsed here a week ago, in the steel parts that connect girders, raising safety concerns for other bridges around the country, federal officials said today.

If You Were a Terrorist, How Would You Attack?  —  The TSA recently announced that most airplane carry-on restrictions will stay in place for at least another year, until new X-ray technology has been fully installed.  Surprisingly, one item that will now be permitted on board is a lighter.

One billion Muslims to turn into suicide bombers if Makkah, Madina are attacked: NA  —  ISLAMABAD: The treasury and opposition members in National Assembly (NA) Wednesday have made it clear on US that one billion Muslims will turn into suicide bombers if the holiest places of Makkah and Madina …

Pakistan May Declare State of Emergency  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The government of embattled Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Thursday it may impose a state of emergency because of "external and internal threats" and deteriorating law and order in the volatile northwest near the Afghan border.

Gen. Petraeus Talks to a Liberal  —  GLENN GREENWALD GETS HIS WISH  —  Liberal blogger Glenn Greenwald made a mountain out of a molehill last month when he accused the U.S. military of granting an "exclusive" interview with Army Gen. David Petraeus to conservative talker Hugh Hewitt.

Sources: Republicans will vote Jan. 19  —  S.C. Republican Party chairman Katon Dawson is expected to announce Thursday that the 2008 S.C. presidential primary will be Jan. 19, sources close to the party and campaigns told The State.  —  Dawson will be in Concord, N.H., on Thursday …

First Father: Tough Times on Sidelines  —  There are times in the life of George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States and father of the 43rd, that people, perfect strangers, come up to him and say the harshest things — words intended to comfort but words that wind up only causing pain.

Fish can fight malaria mosquitoes  —  Kenyan researchers have hailed a humble fish as the latest weapon in the battle to curb the spread of malaria.  —  Nile tilapia, a fish more usually seen on Kenyan dinner tables, was introduced to several abandoned fishponds in the west of the country.