Chafee quietly quits the GOP … PROVIDENCE — Lincoln D. Chafee, who lost his Senate seat in the wave of anti-Republican sentiment in last November's election, said yesterday that he has left the party.  —  Chafee said he disaffiliated with the party he had helped lead …

Albright Says U.S. Must Use Diplomacy Surge  —  Former Secretary Of State Says Iraq Worse Than Vietnam  —  DES MOINES, Iowa — Once the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States government, Madeleine Albright, spent Friday in central Iowa.  —  The former Secretary of State …

Osirak redux, and the idiom of military action  —  The Times of London reported this morning that the Israeli "incursion" into Syrian airspace a few days back destroyed, or was intended to destroy, nuclear material probably supplied by the North Koreans.  Iran is probably involved as well …

Bush May Name Ex-Judge to Succeed Gonzales  —  A former federal judge from New York has emerged as a contender to succeed Alberto R. Gonzales as attorney general, as the White House moved closer to announcing President Bush's choice to lead the Justice Department, according to associates of several prospective candidates.

The Last Taboo  —  Greenspan shocker, Iraq war all about oil.  Times of London: … Actually, they had a lot of reasons that were widely supported, including the threat Saddam posed to the security of the entire Middle East.  The world's prime oil-producing region.

The Economics Of Bling  —  It's a real phenomenon: … Sorry but can't resist:

Thousands march in D.C. war protest  —  WASHINGTON - Several thousand anti-war demonstrators marched through downtown Washington on Saturday, clashing with police at the foot of the Capitol steps where more than 190 protesters were arrested.  —  The group marched from the White House to the Capitol to demand an end to the Iraq war.

Lindsey Graham's Realism  —  Now that the president has endorsed the Petraeus-Crocker plan for Iraq, it is worth noting one exchange from their Senate hearings.  —  Some senators, such as Barbara Boxer of California, were so self-absorbed they could not manage to ask a single question …

US Gets Sattar Assassin  —  The US has captured the al-Qaeda terrorist who masterminded the assassination of the leader of Anbar Awakening.  Intelligence following the murder pinned it on Fallah Khalifa Hiyas Fayyas al-Jumayli, who got captured outide of a town north of Baghdad:

Gates Sees a 'Protracted' Stay for Troops  —  Two days after saying he hoped American forces in Iraq might be reduced to 100,000 by the end of next year, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today that American troops were likely to remain in that country for a "protracted period."

Bankers fear £12bn run on Rock  —  NORTHERN ROCK, the mortgage bank rescued by the Bank of England last week, could see as much as £12 billion - nearly half of its deposits - withdrawn by worried savers, experts say.  —  The run on the bank continued yesterday as police were called …

Sparse Schedule for Thompson on Trail  —  At his second campaign stop of the day on Friday, just after 2 p.m., Fred D. Thompson was deep into a riff on the benefits of high-quality American health care.  —  "It's allowing us to live healthier lives and to live longer," Mr. Thompson …

One Answer to Global Warming: A New Tax  —  IN the debate over global climate change, there is a yawning gap that needs to be bridged.  The gap is not between environmentalists and industrialists, or between Democrats and Republicans.  It is between policy wonks and political consultants.

No, Greenspan Doesn't Get To Rehabilitate His Reputation  —  So Alan Greenspan has a new book coming out on Monday.  And it says nasty things about the Bush administration.  Welcome to the club Alan - the club of Bush enablers who write books once they aren't in power …

Bin Laden sidelined as al-Qaeda threat revives  —  Osama bin Laden's deputy has seized control of al-Qaeda and rebuilt the terror network into an organisation capable of launching complex terror attacks in Britain and America.  —  Intelligence officials have told The Sunday Telegraph …