Hill Briefed on Waterboarding in 2002  —  Intelligence Panels' Chiefs Did Not Then Protest CIA Technique  —  In September 2002, four members of Congress met in secret for a first look at a unique CIA program designed to wring vital information from reticent terrorism suspects in U.S. custody.

DEM RACE TIGHTER THAN EVER; HUCKABEE SURGE CONTINUES  —  From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro  —  If the first round of MSNBC/McClatchy/Mason-Dixon presidential state  —  polls are any indication, we're in for a wild ride these next six weeks.

CIA has recruited Iranians to defect  —  The secret campaign was launched two years ago to undermine Tehran's nuclear program.  It has persuaded a 'handful' of key officials to leave.  —  WASHINGTON — The CIA launched a secret program in 2005 designed to degrade Iran's nuclear weapons program …

Civil Rights Icon Calls Obama Too Young  —  ATLANTA (AP) - Civil rights icon Andrew Young says Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is too young and lacks the support network to ascend to the White House.  —  In a media interview posted online, Young also quipped …

Al Gore is criticised for lining his own pockets after £3,300-per-minute green speech  —  Al Gore has come under fire for making personal gain from his mission to save the planet - after charging £3,300 a minute to deliver a poorly received speech.

Firsthand account of the Von Maur shooting  —  The Shack has the privilege of being able to talk with one of the witnesses from the third floor of the Von Maur store at Westroads Mall in Omaha.  —  On the condition of anonymity, he has agreed to tell his account of what happened.

Rudy, Mitt, Fred, John, Mike, Duncan, Ron, Tom — and Alan  —  The Republican presidential field will debate next Wednesday in Des Moines in what will be the last and most important debate before the January 3 Iowa caucuses.  What many observers haven't thought about is that the field …

Oprah Winfrey Hits Campaign Trail for Obama  —  When she begins a typical show, seldom does Oprah Winfrey question the power of her brand or wonder aloud about the influence that accompanies her golden seal of approval.  —  But when Ms. Winfrey strode onto a stage here Saturday …

The trial of Bilal Hussein  —  It's Sunday morning in Iraq.  Today is the day our military officials plan to submit evidence against Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein to the Iraqi judiciary system.  You'll recall that the military stated last month that it "possesses convincing …

Huckabee Denies He Ever Called For Quarantining AIDS Patients, Contradicts His Own Comments  —  On Fox News Sunday this morning, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee denied that he ever called for quarantining AIDS patients in 1992, claiming that he "didn't say that we should quarantine," …

Iraq Bonds Rally on U.S. Troop Surge, Oil Earnings  —  Dec. 7 (Bloomberg) — Holders of Iraqi bonds are giving President George W. Bush a vote of confidence.  —  The country's $2.7 billion of 5.8 percent bonds due in 2028 returned 15.2 percent since July, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. index data.