'Dozens died in Syrian-Iranian chemical weapons experiment'  —  Proof of cooperation between Iran and Syria in the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction was brought to light Monday in a Jane's Defence Weekly report that dozens of Iranian engineers and 15 Syrian officers were killed in a July 23 accident in Syria.

Meet the future savior of journalism: "FamousWriterMan@aol.com", a/k/a Taserman "The Andrew Meyer"  —  It figures.  —  He's a journalist.  —  In fact, now 21-year-old University of Florida student journalist Andrew Meyer — or "The Andrew Mayer," based on his personal Web site …

Webb's Righteous Amendment  —  The best thing about the grey eminence John Warner finally leaving the Senate is that he will no longer be around to play Lucy pulling the football away from the Democrats at the last minute any more.  For some reason, the political establishment persists …

Mystery illness strikes after meteorite hits Peruvian village  —  LIMA (AFP) - Villagers in southern Peru were struck by a mysterious illness after a meteorite made a fiery crash to Earth in their area, regional authorities said Monday.  —  Around midday Saturday, villagers were startled …

Iraqi Report Says Blackwater Guards Fired First  —  A preliminary Iraqi report on a shooting involving an American diplomatic motorcade said Tuesday that Blackwater security guards were not ambushed, as the company reported, but instead fired at a car when it did not heed a policeman's call to stop, killing a couple and their infant.

U.S. Working to Reshape Iraqi Detainees  —  Moderate Muslims Enlisted to Steer Adults and Children Away From Insurgency  —  The U.S. military has introduced "religious enlightenment" and other education programs for Iraqi detainees, some of whom are as young as 11, Marine Maj. Gen. Douglas M. Stone …

Debate No-Shows Worry GOP Leaders  —  Candidates Are Urged to Attend Forums Sponsored by Minorities  —  Key Republican leaders are encouraging the party's presidential candidates to rethink their decision to skip presidential debates focusing on issues important to minorities …

Democrats chuck Iraq compromise  —  Senate Democrats, who have spent weeks trying to woo Republicans to help end the war in Iraq, have taken a hard turn against compromise.  —  They now believe their best political strategy is to continue to play to a stalemate and blame an intransigent President Bush …

CRE says nation is fractured  —  Three decades of multi-culturalism have left Britain an unequal and segregated nation that is in danger of breaking up, race watchdogs say in a report published today.  —  The Commission for Racial Equality fears the country is ''fracturing" …

Paulose under investigation by feds  —  The federal Office of Special Counsel is investigating allegations that Rachel Paulose, U.S. attorney for Minnesota, mishandled classified information, decided to fire the subordinate who called it to her attention, retaliated against others in the office …

Clinton Rejects Rival's Attack on Luncheon  —  The campaigns of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards traded pointed criticisms yesterday over Mrs. Clinton's use of a Washington luncheon for fund-raising.  —  The confrontation started with Mr. Edwards's campaign attacking …

the claim  —  "You know, you look back over our history, and it doesn't take you long to realize that our people have shed more blood for other people's liberty than any other combination of nations in the history of the world.''  — Fred D. Thompson, stump speech in Des Moines, Sept. 7

Stevens, Inouye top defense earmarks list at over $180M each; Byrd next at $166M  —  Sens. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) are among the biggest winners in the 2008 Appropriations defense bill, according to data gathered by The Hill and the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS).

Introducing This Blog  —  "I was born in 1953.  Like the rest of my generation, I took the America I grew up in for granted - in fact, like many in my generation I railed against the very real injustices of our society, marched against the bombing of Cambodia, went door to door for liberal candidates.

In Olympics Success, Romney Found New Edge  —  SALT LAKE CITY — Mitt Romney walked onto the Olympic stage in 1999 a rich businessman still smarting from losing his first bid for public office.  He walked off, three years later, a star-polished candidate who would be elected governor of Massachusetts in a matter of months.