Thompson Calls bin Laden "Symbolic"; Draws GOP Fire  —  ABC News' Bret Hovell and Jennifer Parker report: Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., has only been an official Republican presidential candidate for a day.  But his comments are already drawing fire from his GOP rivals.

Hagel is calling it quits  —  WORLD-HERALD BUREAU, COPYRIGHT 2007 OMAHA WORLD-HERALD  —  WASHINGTON - Chuck Hagel will announce Monday that he is retiring from the U.S. Senate and will not run for president next year, people close to the Nebraska Republican said Friday.

Why We Should Exit Iraq Now  —  Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have suggested that there is little difference among us on Iraq.  This is not true: I am the only leading Democratic candidate committed to getting all our troops out and doing so quickly.

Jew-Hatred and Jihad  —  The Nazi roots of the 9/11 attack.  —  The idea of using suicide pilots to obliterate the skyscrapers of Manhattan originated in 1940s Berlin.  "In the latter stages of the war, I never saw Hitler so beside himself as when, as if in a delirium …

Madeleine L'Engle at Home  —  You know her as the author of A Wrinkle in Time — possibly the best and most memorable young person's novel written in the United States since World War II.  If you're lucky, you read or sampled a dozen or more of the 60-odd books she wrote for children and adults …

OVER THE TOP, EVEN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE  —  Maybe there is a limit as to how far the White House will—or can—go to spin the situation on the ground in Iraq as positive.  —  On his way to the APEC conference in Australia this week, President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq.

Countrywide to cut up to 12,000 jobs  —  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Countrywide Financial Corp, the largest U.S. mortgage lender, said on Friday it plans to cut 10,000 to 12,000 jobs to cope with weak housing demand, rising foreclosures and tightening credit markets.

Behavioral Science Turns to Dogs for Answers  —  For a long time, domesticated dogs were seen as just the slobbering, dumbed-down ancestor of the wild wolf.  Dogs, though, have learned a few tricks of their own through the millennia — and can teach us a lot about ourselves.

Senate's vote revives overseas abortion issue  —  Despite a veto threat, 53 senators back overturning a ban on aid to groups that offer support for the procedure.  —  WASHINGTON — Defying a White House veto threat, the Democratic-controlled Senate voted Thursday to overturn a long-standing ban …

Our followers 'must live in peace until strong enough to wage jihad'  —  One of the world's most respected Deobandi scholars believes that aggressive military jihad should be waged by Muslims "to establish the supremacy of Islam" worldwide.  —  Justice Muhammad Taqi Usmani argues that Muslims …

Joe Sixpack on Taxes  —  Regarding the supply-side foofaraw, I loved this comment by "8″ on this Alex Tabarrok post: … That pretty much gets to the heart of this.  Or, as NBER chief Martin Feldstein puts it: … It is possible that the state can make its citizens better off …

Hillary wants withdrawal bill with teeth  —  Hillary is finally showing leadership on the pre-emptive capitulation efforts in Congress.  This statement was sent to me via email, so no link yet: … I have to say I'm shocked at the silence from the Obama campaign.

Thompson's First Campaign Event: Unimpressive  —  I just attended Fred Thompson's first campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa.  The quick take: This is a whimper of a start.  —  I'm writing from the filing center that the Thompson campaign has set up in the Polk County Convention Complex …

Feinstein Should Be Thrown Out Of The Senate Right Now  —  How could anyone take Feinstein at her word ever again?  Does she care about the troops?  She wants to bring them home, care for them, and make life pretty.  On her website, she states her goals on Iraq:  —  Iraq: U.S. forces were sent to Iraq as liberators.

Bush federal judge pick criticized  —  Getchell was not on joint list of nominees favored by Sens. Warner, Webb  —  WASHINGTON — President Bush has nominated Richmond lawyer E. Duncan Getchell Jr. to a federal appeals bench in a pick that already faces major trouble.