Experts Doubt Drop In Violence in Iraq  —  Military Statistics Called Into Question  —  The U.S. military's claim that violence has decreased sharply in Iraq in recent months has come under scrutiny from many experts within and outside the government, who contend that some of the underlying statistics …

Transcript of the Fox News Republican Presidential Candidates Debate  —  The Fox News Republican Presidential Candidates Debate in Durham, N.H. with candidates: Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas); the former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani; the former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee …

FBI Makes 11 Corruption Arrests In N.J.  —  NEW YORK — Eleven public officials were charged Thursday in a widespread FBI corruption investigation in New Jersey, officials said.  —  Among those charged were Passaic Mayor Sammy Rivera and Orange Mayor Mims Hackett, investigators said.

The Making of the Front-Runner  —  As the serious stage of the presidential campaign begins this fall, Hillary Rodham Clinton has clearly established herself in the lead of the race for the Democratic nomination.  That makes her the most worthy subject for examination among all the White House prospects.

How I Didn't Dismantle Iraq's Army  —  "The Iraqi Army of the future cannot be an extension of the present army, which has been made into a tool of dictatorship."  — Report by the Department of State's Future of Iraq Project, May 2002  —  IT has become conventional wisdom that the decision …

Luciano Pavarotti, Italian Tenor, Is Dead at 71  —  Luciano Pavarotti, the Italian singer whose ringing, pristine sound set a standard for operatic tenors of the postwar era, died early this morning at his home in Modena, in northern Italy.  He was 71.  —  His death was announced by his manager, Terri Robson.

Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act  —  NEW YORK -  —  A federal judge struck down parts of the revised USA Patriot Act on Thursday, saying investigators must have a court's approval before they can order Internet providers to turn over records without telling customers.

Petraeus for President?  —  "Senators and distinguished guests, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to testify in respect of progress in the Battle of Iraq.  Before I do however, there are a few things I'd like to get off of my chest.  Although your house of Congress confirmed …

Shocking truth about Fred Thompson revealed!  —  Before we get too far into the brand-new presidential campaign of Fred Thompson, which began in the wee hours of this morning in a webcast at Fred08.com, we need to straighten one thing out for the official record.

SO I'M READING JACK GOLDSMITH'S NEW BOOK, The Terror Presidency: Law and Judgment Inside the Bush Administration, and so far it's quite good.  Excerpt: … As I've said before, this war has been overlawyered, which is not to say it has been well-lawyered.  Goldsmith notes that the Defense …

Larry Craig and "Don't Tap, Don't Tell"  —  The ignominious fall of Senator Larry Craig casts new light on the importance of the nation's "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning open homosexuals from military service.  —  If preventing public sex in airport men's rooms is important enough …

A Wall Street Trader Draws Some Subprime Lessons: Michael Lewis  —  Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) — So right after the Bear Stearns funds blew up, I had a thought: This is what happens when you lend money to poor people.  —  Don't get me wrong: I have nothing personally against the poor.

Report: Libraries stock Islamic terror books  —  Public libraries are stocking hundreds of Islamic books by advocates of "holy war", with many glorifying acts of terrorism, a new report claims.  —  Council taxpayers' money has been spent on the books, with one library stocking works …

Craig supporters call for boycott of Minneapolis airport  —  BATTLE GROUND, Wash. — Supporters of Sen. Larry Craig with the American Land Rights Association are calling for a boycott of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport.  —  The Battle Ground (Washington) based association says airport police …

Living in Bizarro World: Spit-covered double standards  —  You've probably noticed the new "Notable Quotable" feature on my blog.  I think it's important not to let Geraldo Rivera's hate speech disappear down the rabbit hole.  I am not surprised that he's gotten away with it.