AL-DURA AND THE "PUBLIC SECRET" OF MIDDLE EAST JOURNALISM  —  The evidence emerging from the ongoing Al Dura trial in France indicates that Western journalists are fully aware that some of the footage they use in their reports on the Mideast conflict is staged, charges Richard Landes.

Norman Mailer, Outspoken Novelist, Dies at 84  —  Norman Mailer, the combative, controversial and often outspoken novelist who loomed over American letters longer and larger than any writer of his generation, died today at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York.  He was 84.

Recession?  What Recession?  —  If it looks like a recession and feels like a recession ...  "Quite frankly," said Senator Charles Schumer, peering over his glasses at the Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, "I think we are at a moment of economic crisis, stemming from four key areas …

Republicans blame the wrong president for overstretched military  —  Of all of Bush's misstatements from the 2000 presidential election, one of the most obviously-false attacks was on military readiness.  Indeed, then-Gov. Bush blamed Clinton and Gore directly for "hollowing out" the military.

Rice's Management at Issue  —  Critics Cite Blackwater, Baghdad Embassy and Passports  —  Shortly after Condoleezza Rice took charge of the 57,000-person State Department in 2005, she said she relished the challenge of "line responsibility" in leading a large organization.

Play of the Day: McCain's Mom on Mormons  —  MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) - John McCain's 95-year-old mother, in a swipe at her son's rival Mitt Romney, said Friday that Mormons were to blame for the scandal that rocked the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.  —  During an appearance on MSNBC …

Hugo Chavez's criminal paradise  —  Under the anti-globalization president, Venezuela has become a haven for global crime.  —  While President Hugo Chavez has been molding Venezuela into his personal socialist vision, other transformations — less visible but equally profound — have taken hold in the country.

People Who Live in Glass Houses  —  Nationally syndicated radio host Michael Baisden has been blasting Color of Change and suggesting they misappropriated funds raised for the Jena 6.  —  From the Chicago Tribune: … You view the cancelled checks here.  According to emails and letters released …

NUCLEAR....John McCain offered up some criticism of Bernie Kerik yesterday for bailing out on his job training the Iraqi police, and the Giuliani campaign naturally went ballistic in response.  Rich Lowry is perturbed: … But this is just the package you get with Rudy.

Edwards @ John Mellencamp concert  —  It was 7 p.m. on a Friday night in Des Moines and I was driving to meet friends L, M and S at Wells Fargo Arena where I would see one of my favorite bands, Los Lobos, open for John Mellencamp.  The sound of my phone ringing pierced the interior of my car.

Edwards hits Clinton, Dodd says general to be close  —  DES MOINES—Former Sen. John Edwards lashed out at Democratic presidential rival Sen. Hillary Clinton today for staging a question at a voter meet-and-greet session and compared it to something that President Bush would do.  —  "That's what George Bush does.