WHY IT'S CUTTING  —  Like you, I've been watching this AIG bonus story unfold over the weekend.  And though I did not see it at first, I think it may prove to be a turning point, both for AIG and the government.  —  I don't believe the bonuses themselves are the heart of the matter …

News Analysis: Bracing for a Bailout Backlash  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is increasingly concerned about a populist backlash against banks and Wall Street, worried that anger at financial institutions could also end up being directed at Congress and the White House and could complicate President Obama's agenda.

A Continent Adrift  —  I'm concerned about Europe.  Actually, I'm concerned about the whole world — there are no safe havens from the global economic storm.  But the situation in Europe worries me even more than the situation in America.  —  Just to be clear, I'm not about to rehash …

Dramatic Advances Sweep Iraq, Boosting Support for Democracy  —  ABC News/BBC/NHK National Survey of Iraq  —  Dramatic advances in public attitudes are sweeping Iraq, with declining violence, rising economic well-being and improved services lifting optimism, fueling confidence in public institutions …

Greatest threat to Obama spending plan?  Moderate Dems  —  WASHINGTON — Government spending on most domestic programs is growing at its fastest pace in nearly 30 years, and a lot of worried Democrats are seeking ways to rewrite and reduce the size of President Barack Obama's budget proposals.

To Urge Passage of Budget, Obama E-Mails His Campaign Army  —  President Obama will kick off an all-out grass-roots effort today urging Congress to pass his $3.55 trillion budget, activating the extensive campaign apparatus he built during his successful 2008 candidacy for the first time since taking office.

Ruling may not be enough to fill Minn. Senate seat  —  A three-judge panel has the result of the Minnesota Senate race in its hands, at least for the time being.  But that doesn't mean Minnesota will have a senator anytime soon.  —  Lawyers for Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman delivered …

My imam father came after me with an axe  —  Hannah Shah had been raped by her father and faced a forced marriage.  She fled, became a Christian and now fears for her life  —  We are all too familiar with the persecution of Christians in countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Red Cross Described ‘Torture’ at CIA Jails  —  Secret Report Implies That U.S. Violated International Law  —  The International Committee of the Red Cross concluded in a secret report that the Bush administration's treatment of al-Qaeda captives “constituted torture,” a finding that strongly implied …

Thousands of girls mutilated in Britain  —  The NHS is offering to reverse female circumcision amid concerns that there are 500 victims a year with no prosecutions  —  The NHS is to advertise free operations to reverse female circumcisions, with experts warning that each year more than 500 British girls have their genitals mutilated.

Poll: Unemployment is Americans' top economic concern  —  CNN Deputy Political Director  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — A new national poll indicates that worries about unemployment have tripled over the past year.  —  Thirty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey …

Iran, Jews and Pragmatism  —  The Persian New Year, or Norouz, is celebrated this month, often with great extravagance.  Among its traditions is jumping over a bonfire while declaiming: “Take away my yellow complexion and give me your red glow of health.”  —  One way of looking …

Tucker Carlson Rips Jon Stewart Repeatedly (VIDEO)  —  Tucker Carlson repeatedly blasted Jon Stewart for his grilling of Jim Cramer on “The Daily Show” last Thursday.  Carlson, appearing on CNN's “Reliable Sources,” called Stewart a “partisan hack,” just an operative for the Democratic party …

Obama's No Socialist.  I Should Know.  —  It took a massive global financial crisis, a failed military adventure and a popular repudiation of the Republican Party to make my national television debut possible.  After 15 years of socialist political organizing — everything from licking envelopes …