Obama Dines With Conservative Opinion Leaders  —  It's true.  —  He motorcaded to a house in Maryland this evening, and if the press pool report is accurate, he is breaking bread with William Kristol and David Brooks.  (If Brooks and Kristol seem to be unusually briefed about Obama's thinking, you'll know why.)

Geithner Questioned on Tax Returns  —  WASHINGTON — Timothy F. Geithner, President-elect Barack Obama's choice for Treasury secretary, failed to pay more than $34,000 in federal taxes over several years early this decade, and also faces questions about the employment papers of a former household employee …

Detainee Tortured, Says U.S. Official  —  Trial Overseer Cites ‘Abusive’ Methods Against 9/11 Suspect  —  The top Bush administration official in charge of deciding whether to bring Guantanamo Bay detainees to trial has concluded that the U.S. military tortured a Saudi national who allegedly planned …

Bin Laden ‘invites jihad’ for Gaza in purported message  —  (CNN) — Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has apparently released a new audio message calling for a jihad, or holy war, against Israel for its Gaza campaign.  —  The message is “an invitation” from bin Laden to take part in “jihad to stop the aggression against Gaza.”

Evidence in Terror Cases Said to Be in Chaos  —  Military Officials Reject Ex-Prosecutor's Charges  —  A former military prosecutor said in a declaration filed in federal court yesterday that the system of handling evidence against detainees at Guantanamo Bay is so chaotic that it is impossible …

Poll finds low trust in feds  —  A majority of voters say their confidence in the federal government's ability is falling, according to a new Public Strategies Inc./Politico poll.  —  Sixty-two percent of respondents say their confidence in Washington has decreased over the past 12 months …

Clinton Pledges Tough Diplomacy and a Fast Start  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday deflected calls for greater limits on her husband's fund-raising, struck a sharper tone toward Israel on violence in the Middle East and emerged from a daylong confirmation hearing headed for swift approval as secretary of state.

Obama changed views on gay marriage  —  Windy City Times Exclusive: WCT Examines His Step Back  —  Images for this article: (click on the thumbnail to see fullsize)  —  1996 statement: ‘I favor legalizing same-sex marriages’  —  During the final weeks of the presidential campaign last fall …

Australia offers ‘best job in world’ on paradise island  —  SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls “the best job in the world” — earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months.  —  The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars …

Iranian protesters burn Barack Obama pictures  —  Iranian demonstrators burned photographs of Barack Obama today as they protested against America's inaction over Gaza.  —  Dozens of people gathered in Tehran waving Palestinian flags and defacing and setting fire to images of the President-elect.

Awkwardness to prevail when Rod Blagojevich swears in members of Senate  —  They will determine his fate at impeachment trial  —  SPRINGFIELD — The bright hopes for a new political beginning that often accompany the inauguration of an Illinois legislature will be overshadowed …

Bush Presidency Closes With 34% Approval, 61% Disapproval  —  Three-quarters of Republicans approve of Bush, up slightly from recent months  — USA - Democrats - Government and Politics - Independents - Presidential Job Approval - Republicans - The Presidency - Americas - Northern America

Israel's Goals in Gaza?  —  I have only one question about Israel's military operation in Gaza: What is the goal?  Is it the education of Hamas or the eradication of Hamas?  I hope that it's the education of Hamas.  Let me explain why.  —  I was one of the few people who argued back in 2006 …

Why Israel Can't Make Peace With Hamas  —  IN the summer of 2006, at a moment when Hezbollah rockets were falling virtually without pause on northern Israel, Nizar Rayyan, husband of four, father of 12, scholar of Islam and unblushing executioner, confessed to me one of his frustrations.