Split threatens to rupture Republican ranks  —  Conservative vs. moderate divide plays out across the airwaves on Sunday  —  WASHINGTON - The conservative vs. moderate split threatening to rupture the Republican Party played out across the airwaves Sunday, with Colin Powell …

They May Not Want The Bomb  —  And other unexpected truths. … From the magazine issue dated Jun 1, 2009  —  Everything you know about Iran is wrong, or at least more complicated than you think.  Take the bomb.  The regime wants to be a nuclear power but could well be happy …

Durbin Calls On Gingrich To Apologize For Attacking The CIA In 2007  —  Last week, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich called on Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to resign her current position as Speaker.  He said that she “disqualified herself” over her comments that the CIA was “misleading” Congress.

The Writers Make News.  Unfortunately.  —  IT has been a busy week or two for the ethics police — those within The Times trying to protect the paper's integrity, and those outside, ready to pounce on transgressions by Times journalists.  —  Thomas Friedman, the star columnist …

Former Senior Interrogator in Iraq Dissects Cheney's Lies and Distortions  —  As a senior interrogator in Iraq (and a former criminal investigator), there was a lesson I learned that served me well: there's more to be learned from what someone doesn't say than from what they do say.

STATE OF THE UNION WITH JOHN KING  —  Interview With Senators Boxer, Shelby; Interview With Tom Ridge  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  KING: I'm John King.  This is our “State of the Union” report for this Sunday, May 24th.

DE'TAT'CHED ATTITUDE  —  JOB SEEKERS ERASING BODY ART TO COMPETE  —  When the Dow is low, the “tramp stamp” has to go.  —  Dermatologists across the city are reporting a boom in tattoo laser removals, as body-art fanatics fretting over their professional image rush to erase their inky mistakes.

British banks revolt against Obama tax plan  —  British banks and stockbrokers may refuse to take on American clients if new international tax proposals outlined by President Obama are passed.  —  The decision, which would make it hard for Americans in London to open bank accounts and trade shares …

How Much Do Safe Havens Matter?  —  I'm still trying to decide what I think about this question.  But given how much strategic focus we're giving to Afghanistan, I'm confident we haven't given the question enough collective thought.  Matt Yglesias had a post a couple months ago asking a basic question …

Is Silence Consent?  —  WHILE THE United States and Venezuela's neighbors silently stand by, Hugo Chávez's campaign to destroy his remaining domestic opposition continues.  On Thursday night state intelligence police raided the Caracas offices of Guillermo Zuloaga …