The General's Long View Could Cut Withdrawal Debate Short  —  If Gen. David H. Petraeus has his way, tens of thousands of U.S. troops will be in Iraq for years to come.  —  Iraq's armed forces are improving, Petraeus told Congress yesterday.  Overall violence is down.

Thompson calls on Democrats to return MoveOn.org donations  —  COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - Former senator and Republican White House hopeful Fred Thompson called on Democratic presidential candidates Monday to refund all donations received from MoveOn.org after the liberal advocacy group ran …

By Bush's Own Standard, Surge Has Failed  —  Before Gen. David Petraeus' report, and to give it a context of optimism, the president visited Iraq's Anbar province to underscore the success of the surge in making some hitherto anarchic areas less so.  More significant, however, was the fact that the president did not visit Baghdad.

Anti-Thompson Site Connects to Romney Camp  —  A top adviser to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney appears to be behind today's launch of a new Web site attacking GOP presidential rival Fred Thompson.  —  The site, www.phoneyfred.org, paints an unflattering picture of Thompson …

Clinton to return $850,000 raised by Hsu  —  WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign said Monday it will return $850,000 in donations raised by Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, who is under federal investigation for allegedly violating election laws.

THAT POLL OF IRAQIS  —  There's been a lot of attention to that poll that showed that the great majority of Iraqis (70%) believe that the surge has failed and that security conditions have deteriorated.  But there's a lot more in that poll that's worth looking at.  (Click here for the full results.)

In Poll, Voters See Strengths and Flaws in Giuliani  —  Republican voters say Rudolph W. Giuliani has strong leadership qualities, and they associate him closely with his handling of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but those impressions have not translated into a substantial advantage …

67 wounded in Qassam attack  —  (Video) Rocket launched from northern Gaza lands in western Negev military base, injures dozens of soldiers, the largest number of casualties from a Qassam attack  —  VIDEO - About 67 Israeli soldiers were wounded after a Qassam rocket launched from northern Gaza landed …

Clinton Questions Petraeus  —  After blaming the previous "supine" Congress and Rumsfeld for our current impasse, she repeats that skepticism of Petraeus's report is merited.  She seems to have conceded that there's no chance that the Congress can stop the continued escalation.

Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith  —  A group of young Muslim apostates launches a campaign today, the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America, to make it easier to renounce Islam.  —  The provocative move reflects a growing rift between traditionalists …