Envoy's Letter Counters Bush on Dismantling of Iraq Army  —  A previously undisclosed exchange of letters shows that President Bush was told in advance by his top Iraq envoy in May 2003 of a plan to "dissolve Saddam's military and intelligence structures," a plan that the envoy, L. Paul Bremer …

Conscience of a Conservative  —  In the fall of 2003, Jack L. Goldsmith was widely considered one of the brightest stars in the conservative legal firmament.  A 40-year-old law professor at the University of Chicago, Goldsmith had established himself, with his friend and fellow law professor John Yoo …

Troop buildup fails to reconcile Iraq  —  POSITIVE NOTE: "There are if you will, mini-benchmarks where things are happening," said U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, pictured with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, right.  Crocker cited Anbar province, where violence has decreased substantially.

Weighing the 'Surge'  —  The U.S. War in Iraq Hinges on the Counterinsurgency Strategy Of Gen. Petraeus.  The Results Have Been Tenuous.  —  BAGHDAD — Nearly every week, American generals and politicians visit Combat Outpost Gator, nestled behind a towering blast wall in the Dora market.

Bundlers Behaving Badly  —  Norman Hsu and the case for sunshine in fundraising  —  THE STORY of Norman Hsu offers a compelling demonstration of why it is so important for presidential candidates to reveal the names of their major fundraisers — and why the existing system of voluntary …

IS CHENEY ABOUT TO BLOW UP THE BAY BRIDGE?  —  Having been a 911 truth activist for 5 years, I have serious suspicions about  —  the Bay Bridge being closed for entire 4 days.  —  There has been a lot of threats of terrorist attacks coming form the government.  —  Looks like they are preparing the public.

Why Liberals Are Turning on Ted Kennedy  —  Once upon a time, Ted Kennedy could count on his daily dose of veneration.  The right wing hated the Massachusetts Democrat, but progressives honored him as a defender of old-school liberalism.  —  In a remarkable turnaround, liberals are now heaping scorn on the 73-year-old senator.

The Most Feared Man on the Hill?  —  For Gay Blogger, Craig's Resignation Is Just the Latest on His List  —  Soon, a new name will pop up on Mike Rogers's hit list.  —  Larry Craig wasn't "the first on my list," the gay blogger says.  And the Idaho senator, who announced his resignation Saturday, "won't be the last."

Blogs about politics on radar of state elections officials  —  The rapid growth of political blogs and Web sites has attracted the attention of state elections officials, who are considering what, if any, new regulations should be imposed on the Internet.  —  The go-slow approach …

The Tide Is Turning in Iraq  —  The initial concept of the "surge" strategy in Iraq was to secure Baghdad and its immediate environs, which is why its proper name was the "Baghdad Security Plan."  But as President Bush pointed out during his surprise trip to Iraq, operations and events …

Rudy Giuliani talks hurricane, emergency preparedness in New Orleans  —  Rudy Giuliani will head to Hurricane Katrina's backyard today to highlight his plans on emergency preparedness, an issue some see as his greatest strength - and others among his biggest vulnerabilities.

Romney: Iraq 'is a mess'  —  Confronted by an unhappy questioner, Mitt Romney said tonight at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire that the situation in Iraq "is a mess."  —  Romney's assessment was delivered by way of agreeing with a gentleman who stood up at a Nashua VFW post and complained …

Persistence of Myths Could Alter Public Policy Approach  —  The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a flier to combat myths about the flu vaccine.  It recited various commonly held views and labeled them either "true" or "false."