Mideast Hawks Help to Develop Giuliani Policy  —  Rudolph W. Giuliani's approach to foreign policy shares with other Republican presidential candidates an aggressive posture toward terrorism, a commitment to strengthening the military and disdain for the United Nations.

Baghdad Diarist Was On Guard When Questioned by Editors  —  The soldier whose New Republic article about military cruelty in Iraq was labeled false by Army investigators refused to defend his accusations when questioned by the magazine, even after being told that the editors could no longer support him unless he cooperated.

Rudy?  —  Giuliani and religious right meet on the road to political adulthood.  —  One school of thought on the religious right holds that if Rudy Giuliani would commit to an unequivocal anti-abortion position, they could vote for him.  A second school of thought, articulated by Richard Land …

Simply Simpatico  —  Lima is beautiful in the spring, when it's not too hot, I was told.  Machu Pichu is a must see, too.  —  My visits to the Green Zone are always a joy when I pass through checkpoints manned by Peruvian troops, with whom I have established a rapport.

Bomb Iran?  U.S. Requests Bunker-Buster Bombs  —  White House Bomber Request Leaves Some Wondering if U.S. Is Preparing Action in Iran  —  Tucked inside the White House's $196 billion emergency funding request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is an item that has some people wondering whether …

Terror watch list swells to more than 755,000 names  —  WASHINGTON — The government's terrorist watch list has swelled to more than 755,000 names, according to a new government report that has raised worries about the list's effectiveness.  —  The size of the list, typically used …

Where is the National Guard?  —  Today, we all extend our sympathies and prayers to those devastated by the wildfires in California.  Millions of Americans are impacted by this natural disaster.  —  Neighbors should help neighbors in their time of need.  As Governor of New Mexico …

Arson suspect killed, another arrested  —  Police in San Bernardino shoot an Arizona man who fled after being spotted near the Cal State campus.  In a separate incident, a Hesperia man is in custody.  —  Amid worries of new blazes adding to the firestorm already afflicting the region …

Minimum-Tax Fix May Cost Hedge Funds, Buyout Firms $48 Billion  —  Oct. 24 (Bloomberg) — House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel said he would propose paying for curbing the alternative minimum tax this year with a $48 billion tax increase on executives of buyout firms and hedge funds.

Video: Wildfire victims getting what's coming to them, says Carlin  —  No need for grandiose outrage here.  He's been saying stuff like this for decades.  In fact it's a core part of his act, which is why he's allowed to skate.  I offer the clip not as fodder for indignation but because it's …

Official Overseeing Security Contractors Resigns  —  The State Department official responsible for overseeing Blackwater USA and other private security contractors in Iraq resigned abruptly today.  —  Richard J. Griffin, who has been the director of the department's diplomatic security …

Who's in Charge?  "Dream Act" Fails, Southwick Wins  —  With votes like these, it's difficult to believe the Democrats are the majority party in Congress.  The Senate vote to advance the Dream Act failed today. … Despite efforts of Sen. Harry Reid and Dick Durbin, the Republican opposition framing …