Maliki Bets That Obama Will Prevail  —  Reception of Democrat Shaped by Chalabi Advice  —  WASHINGTON — In throwing his support behind Senator Obama's plan for a 16-month timetable for an American withdrawal from Iraq, Prime Minister al-Maliki is calculating that Mr. Obama …

Andrea on Obama Trip: ‘What Some Would Call Fake Interviews’  —  Andrea Mitchell might be a doyenne of the liberal media, but she has her reporter's pride and principles, both of which have been trampled by the way the Obama campaign has managed the media during the candidate's current trip to Afghanistan and Iraq.

McCain gaffes pile up; critics pile on  —  Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) said “Iraq” when he apparently meant “Afghanistan” on Monday, adding to a string of mixed-up word choices that is giving ammunition to the opposition.  —  Just in the past three weeks, McCain has also mistaken “Somalia” …

Attack injures 5 near Obama's Jerusalem hotel  —  JERUSALEM (CNN) — The driver of a backhoe was shot and killed after driving the construction machine over a number of vehicles near the Jerusalem hotel where Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to stay Tuesday night, according to police.

Coverage of ‘Netroots’ Confab Draws Protest— Snarky Article Spiked — Editor's Note Apologizes  —  NEW YORK (Commentary) It started innocently enough, over coffee in a hotel lobby, with me (as usual at that hour) huddled over a newspaper—in print, not on a laptop, unlike everyone else in the vicinity.

Karadzic Nabbed  —  War criminal Radovan Karadzic was arrested in Serbia bringing to an end the long twilight of his career as a fugitive from international justice.  Here's a useful PBS profile of Karadzic.  The Finding Karadzic blog is interesting (and though soon to be literally obsolete …

Obama Far More Popular Among Jews Than Lieberman  —  If Barack Obama has a problem among Jewish voters, then Sen. Joseph Lieberman is in monumental trouble.  —  Among the most high-profile Jews in Congress, Lieberman is viewed far more unfavorably than the presumptive Democratic nominee, according to a new poll.

McCain To Meet With Jindal  —  John McCain will huddle with vice presidential aspirant Bobby Jindal during a trip to New Orleans later this week, sources close to the campaign confirm to The Fix.  —  McCain's trip to Louisiana on Wednesday was the cause of much head scratching in the political world …

Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama  —  A few weeks ago, the Rev. Jesse Jackson made something of a fool of himself.  There he was — a historical figure in his own right — threatening the castration of Barack Obama.  It was sad to see.  —  If I have often criticized Mr. Jackson, I have also, reservedly, admired him.

Ford to Make Broader Bet on Small Cars  —  DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Motor Company, which devoted itself for nearly 20 years to putting millions of Americans into big pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles, is about to drastically alter its focus to building more small cars.

Obama tries to dial down politics  —  AMMAN, Jordan - Democrat Barack Obama's entire traveling campaign apparatus is in place.  He will speak Thursday at an historic site in Berlin that could draw tens of thousands of spectators.  And chief campaign strategist David Axelrod might …

The Culture of Debt  —  On the front page of Sunday's Times, Gretchen Morgenson described Diane McLeod's spiral into indebtedness, and now a debate has erupted over who is to blame.  —  Some people emphasize the predatory lenders who seduced her with too-good-to-be-true credit lines and incomprehensible mortgage offers.

Michelle Obama's pledge: Barack will save all the children  —  Charles Krauthammer wrote last week about the enormous arrogance of Barack Obama, but even Krauthammer couldn't imagine that the Obamas would claim to rescue all of the world's children through their election.

Ink-Stained Wretchedness  —  Tattoos are the emblems of our age.  They bristle from the biceps of men in summer shirts, from the lower backs of women as they ascend stairs, from the shoulders of basketball players as they drive toward the basket, and from every inch of certain celebrities.

Guantanamo Judge Blocks Use of Some Statements  —  GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba.  July 21 — Prosecutors in the trial of Osama bin Laden's former driver cannot use as evidence some statements the defendant gave interrogators because they were obtained under “highly coercive” conditions while he was a captive …