Clinton campaign wants Texas to postpone party conventions  —  As final results from the Texas Democratic caucus remain unknown, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign wants signatures from the March 4 contest verified before party conventions are held around the state later this month.

McCain in Iraq  —  John McCain took some time off of the campaign trail and hit the ground in Iraq this morning.  The media calls it a “surprise visit”, but he had given indications that he would visit Iraq after he clinched the nomination in order to get a fresh assessment of the progress …

The Intelligence Cover-Up  —  For more than two years now, Congress, the news media, current and former national security officials, think tanks and academic institutions have been engaged in a profound debate over how to modernize the law governing electronic spying to keep pace with technology.

Obama's gains  —  A pretty stunning gain out of Iowa for Obama, where an Iowa Democratic official confirmed to me just now that the county convention results will translate into a 25-14-6 edge for Obama over Clinton and Edwards.  —  That's a gain of nine for the Illinois senator …

Obama, Clinton brace for three-month deadlock  —  The Democratic race has entered its World War I phase, a bloody fight between two adversaries making only the most incremental of gains.  And there is no reason to think either side will emerge from the trenches anytime soon.

A Novel Take on an Ending  —  Back when I was teaching fiction writing, I used to pitch my students, especially the beginners, on complexity.  They seemed to think that readers would be attracted to their characters' virtue and would recognize shared humanity in their strength and courage …

For Democrats, Increased Fears of a Long Fight  —  WASHINGTON — Lacking a clear route to the selection of a Democratic presidential nominee, the party's uncommitted superdelegates say they are growing increasingly concerned about the risks of a prolonged fight between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton …

Perino: men know more about war ‘by osmosis.’  —  Perino: men know more about war ‘by osmosis.’  —  On Fox News Sunday today, White House press secretary Dana Perino was named the “Power Player of the Week.”  She explained to host Chris Wallace that, in addition to the pressure to look good …

Iraq Insurgency Runs on Stolen Oil Profits  —  BAIJI, Iraq — The Baiji refinery, with its distillation towers rising against the Hamrin Mountains, may be the most important industrial site in the Sunni Arab-dominated regions of Iraq.  On a good day, 500 tanker trucks will leave the refinery filled …

McCain's mixed signals on foreign policy  —  Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, right, and former Navy Secretary John Lehman speak on McCain's campaign bus, Friday, March 14, 2008, after a town hall meeting in Springfield, Pa.  —  The presumed Republican presidential nominee …