Chalabi back in action in Iraq  —  BAGHDAD-Ahmad Chalabi, the controversial, ubiquitous Iraqi politician and one-time Bush administration favorite, has re-emerged as a central figure in the latest U.S. strategy for Iraq.  —  His latest job: To press Iraq's central government to use early security gains …

As Democrats Criticize, Health Care Industry Donates  —  In a reversal from past election cycles, Democratic candidates for president are outpacing Republicans in donations from the health care industry, even as the leading Democrats in the field offer proposals that have caused deep anxiety …

IAEA chief lashes out over Israeli raid in Syria  —  Mohamed ElBaradei accuses Jewish state of 'taking the law into its own hands', says 'if countries have information that another country is working on a nuclear-related program, they should come to us'  —  Chief UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed …

The Two-Man Race  —  Only Rudy and Mitt have credible scenarios.  —  Ron Paul has been a striking presence in the Republican presidential debates.  One result is he's raised an unimaginable amount of money—$5.1 million in the third quarter—for an obscure congressman from Texas.

Iranians study nuclear physics in Britain  —  THE Foreign Office has cleared dozens of Iranians to enter British universities to study advanced nuclear physics and other subjects with the potential to be applied to weapons of mass destruction.  —  In the past nine months about 60 Iranians …

Colbert campaigns in S.C.; Edwards camp attacks Doritos link  —  COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — Comedian Stephen Colbert brought his mock presidential campaign to the capital of South Carolina Sunday, where he was declared "favorite son" by the mayor of Columbia and given the key to the city.

Nader voters crippled Gore in 2000; now they love him  —  Right or wrong, people who voted for Ralph Nader get blamed for costing Al Gore the 2000 election.  —  Now, some of those very same voters are throwing themselves into a new - and nonexistent - campaign: Gore 2008.  —  And they say there's no irony at all.

War, like life, is not a movie  —  As far as I know, the movie "Deliverance" has been featured in political discourse just the once.  Back in 1996, Pat Buchanan, hot from his triumph over Bob Dole in the New Hampshire primary, warned the country-club Republicans that he was coming to get them "like a character out of Deliverance."

Giuliani is GOP's best shot against Hillary, said Ford  —  WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF  —  WASHINGTON - Jerry Ford wasn't sure Hillary Clinton could be elected President, but he was absolutely certain which Republican had the strongest shot at stopping her: Rudy Giuliani.

Newser's book: Ford saw Clinton as a sex 'addict'  —  Gerald Ford was disturbed by Bill Clinton's skirt-chasing ways - and thought he should check into a sex addiction clinic.  —  A new book on the late 38th President reveals he had strong views about the Clintons: He thought Hillary wore …

Matier & Ross: Political jockeying heats up as wildfires rage  —  Nothing like a disaster to bring politicians together - or turn them into punching bags.  —  Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, never one to shy away from the cameras, was told by his advisers to keep his eyes open when he arrived …

William Safire's Spooky Political Predictions  —  Play (957) (thanks to Heather for videos)  —  Just in time for Halloween, semi-retired New York Times columnist, William Safire, made some frightful political predictions on this morning's Meet The Press — some of which sounded more like tricks than treats.

Fox heralds Bush as a World Series 'hero.'  —  Last night, Fox aired a montage prior its airing of the Red Sox/Rockies game that celebrated great moments in World Series history.  "The story of the World Series is told in seven chapters," the narrator said, "each with their old tale, each with their own hero.

Royal targeted in sex and drugs blackmail plot  —  A MEMBER of the royal family has been targeted in an alleged "sex and drugs" blackmail plot being investigated by Scotland Yard.  —  The royal - who cannot be named for legal reasons - called in the police after being approached by two alleged blackmailers in August.