Hillary vs. Obama  —  WASHINGTON — Agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information about her principal opponent for the party's presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama, but has decided not to use it.  The nature of the alleged scandal was not disclosed.

Police to search for guns in homes  —  City program depends on parental consent  —  Boston police are launching a program that will call upon parents in high-crime neighborhoods to allow detectives into their homes, without a warrant, to search for guns in their children's bedrooms.

Giuliani Vexes Audiences With His Abortion Views  —  On the campaign trail, Rudolph W. Giuliani has made the case that while he believes that abortions are wrong, he thinks the ultimate decision of whether to have them should be up to women, and not the government.

What Does Iraq Cost?  Even More Than You Think.  —  You may recall that you got rid of your loyal White House economic adviser Lawrence B. Lindsey back in 2002 after, among other sins, he claimed that a war in Iraq might cost as much as $200 billion.  At the time, White House staffers sneered that Lindsey was being alarmist.

YouTube Islamist arrested for threats to Christian political leader  —  A man who placed an "obituary" on YouTube of one of the leading opponents of plans to build Europe's biggest mosque near the London Olympics site has been arrested by police.  —  The video, "In memory of Councillor Alan Craig" …

U.S. Secretly Aids Pakistan in Guarding Nuclear Arms  —  Over the past six years, the Bush administration has spent almost $100 million so far on a highly classified program to help Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, secure his country's nuclear weapons, according to current and former senior administration officials.

Not-So-Great Generation  —  The boomers will be best remembered for their self-glorification.  —  Q: If the World War II generation was the "greatest generation," what is the Vietnam War generation?  —  A: I don't think the full judgment of history is in yet.  There is certainly greatness in the '60s generation.

In Paul They Trust (The Feds May Differ)  —  The ardent supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, the iconoclastic Texas libertarian whose campaign for the presidency is threatening to upend the battle for the Republican nomination, got word yesterday of a new source of outrage and motivation …

Petraeus Helping Pick New Generals  —  The Army has summoned the top U.S. commander in Iraq back to Washington to preside over a board that will pick some of the next generation of Army leaders, an unusual decision that officials say represents a vote of confidence in Gen. David H. Petraeus's conduct …

A Clinton Friend's Role Sets Off Intense Criticism of CNN and a Re-examination  —  Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton prepared for a battle with her Democratic rivals at the CNN-sponsored debate on Thursday night.  She did not have much to fear from the postdebate round table.

In Name Count, Garcias Are Catching Up to Joneses  —  Step aside Moore and Taylor.  Welcome Garcia and Rodriguez.  —  Smith remains the most common surname in the United States, according to a new analysis released yesterday by the Census Bureau.  But for the first time, two Hispanic surnames …

Gallery Collection donates 280,000 Greeting Cards for Troops  —  Greeting Card Publisher GalleryCollection.com Donates  —  Holiday Cards for Troops to write Home  —  GalleryCollection.com, the leading business Christmas card and personalized Christmas card publisher …

Democrat admits: S-CHIP is the universal health care Trojan Horse  —  I've said it all along: The Democrats' massive S-CHIP expansion is a Trojan Horse for Hillarycare.  Now, we get it straight from the horse's mouth.  A Hill source sends an audio clip of former Iowa Dem.

In Basra, violence is a tenth of what it was before British pullback, general says  —  BAGHDAD: Attacks against British and Iraqi forces have plunged by 90 percent in southern Iraq since London withdrew its troops from the main city of Basra, the commander of British forces there said Thursday.