US reports 'phenomenal' drop in Iraq violence  —  By Stephen Fidler in London and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington  —  Violence in Iraq has fallen at a rate that has surprised military commanders and even one of the architects of the "surge" that boosted US troop numbers in the country this year …

Foreign Fighters in Iraq Are Tied to Allies of U.S.  —  BAGHDAD — Saudi Arabia and Libya, both considered allies by the United States in its fight against terrorism, were the source of about 60 percent of the foreign fighters who came to Iraq in the past year to serve as suicide bombers …

Thanksgiving and JFK  —  For anyone over 50, today is not only Thanksgiving but the day JFK died 44 years ago.  He has been gone now for almost as long as he lived and, in these times of White House infamy, not nearly as much in the national mind as his antagonist, Richard Nixon …

"You Gotta Ask Me Nicely"  —  When a man questions why a policeman has pulled him over and refuses to sign the ticket, the policeman electrocutes him to make him comply: … Police in the country are now allowed to torture speeders by the side of the highway in order to get them to comply.

J.F.K.'s Death, Re-Framed  —  FORTY-FOUR years ago today, a clothing company owner named Abraham Zapruder filmed the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas.  And for 44 years, most people have presumed that his home movie captured the assassination in its entirety.  This presumption has led to deep misunderstandings.

Immigrant Paperwork Backs Up At DHS  —  Delays May Deny Vote to Hundreds Of Thousands  —  The Department of Homeland Security failed to prepare for a massive influx of applications for U.S. citizenship and other immigration benefits this summer, prompting complaints from Hispanic leaders …

Seattle Schools' Thanksgiving 'Myths' Stir Controversy  —  Seattle public schools want a side of political correctness served on your Thanksgiving table.  —  Washington state's largest school district sent letters to teachers and other employees suggesting Thanksgiving should be "a time of mourning" for its Native American students.

Presidential Shopping List  —  I am making a list called Qualities We Don't Want in the Next President, based on lessons learned from the Bush administration.  The first undesirable attribute was loyalty, in the sense of valuing personal relationships over competence.

SEC Opens Investigation of Company Headed by Key Supporter of Clintons  —  The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an investigation into InfoUSA, a Nebraska company that used corporate funds to fly Hillary Rodham Clinton around the country, and one of only two companies …

11 years for refusing to testify to grand jury in Hamas funding case  —  CHICAGO: A former professor accused of taking part in a Palestinian terrorist network was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison Wednesday for refusing to testify before a U.S. grand jury.

Drunken Hookup Barbie Demands Bush Official's Resignation  —  From The Blotter:  —  Using simple filmmaking techniques — and employing a crude parallel between lead poisoning and sexually transmitted diseases — a consumer advocacy group is pushing for the nation's top product safety official to step down.

Saudi rape victim's husband blames judge for punishment  —  (CNN) — The husband of a Saudi rape victim sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison said his wife is "a crushed human being," but blamed a judge — not the Saudi judicial system — for treating her as a criminal.

Rail Sabotage Is Reported in France  —  Transit union leaders met with France's state-owned rail operator and the government today in the opening round of negotiations that came on the eighth day of strikes, a day that was punctuated by arson fires along high-speed rail lines.

Ex-Iraq commander says bring troops home  —  WASHINGTON - Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top commander in Iraq shortly after the fall of Baghdad, said this week he supports Democratic legislation that calls for most troops to come home within a year.

John Bolton On Hardball: "I'm Not A Neoconservative"  —  On Wednesday's Hardball Chris Matthews talked with right wing warmonger and former U.N. Ambassador, John Bolton, and Middle East expert, Jo-Anne Hart, about a possible U.S. invasion of Iran.  Matthews is normally all over the place …