Biden solidifies defense of Israel: 'What's the big deal here?'  —  Vice President Joe Biden offered the White House's strongest defense yet of Israeli's actions off the coast of Gaza this week in an interview with Charlie Rose airing tonight on PBS.  —  “I think Israel has an absolute right to deal with its security interest.

BP Oil Leak May Last Until Christmas in Worst Case Scenario  —  BP Plc's failure since April to plug a Gulf of Mexico oil leak has prompted forecasts the crude may continue gushing into December in what President Barack Obama has called the greatest environmental disaster in U.S. history.

A Storyteller Loses the Story Line  —  It's not a good narrative arc: The man who walked on water is now ensnared by a crisis under water.  —  One little hole a mile down on the ocean floor, so deep it seems like hell spewing up its sulfurous smoke, has turned the thrilling saga of “The One” into the gurgling horror of “The Abyss.”

Holloway suspect sought in Peru killing  —  Arrest warrant issued for van der Sloot after woman's death  —  A young Dutchman previously arrested in the 2005 disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway is the prime suspect in a weekend murder of a Peruvian woman, police said Wednesday.

Gaza flotilla: How Israel's ministry of foreign affairs fakes photos of seized weapons  —  On the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs' Flickr page, the pictures of the so-called weapons seized on the ships taking part in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla provide ample evidence of the deviousness of those darned anti-semitic terrorists.

Brewer tells conflicting stories about dad's war effort  —  Gov. Jan Brewer said in a recent interview that her father died fighting Nazis in Germany.  In fact, the death of Wilford Drinkwine came 10 years after World War II had ended.  —  During the war, Drinkwine worked as a civilian supervisor …

Carville unrepentant on W.H. criticism  —  James Carville walked into one of his favorite New Orleans eateries, Eleven 79, Tuesday night — and was stunned to find BP CEO Tony Hayward and Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the two men tasked with stopping the Gulf spill, eating dinner together.

Obama whacks GOP in Pittsburgh  —  PITTSBURGH — President Barack Obama — seizing on the smash-mouth spirit of the Steelers — delivered his first major midterm hit on the GOP on Wednesday during a quick trip to Western Pennsylvania.  —  Obama has largely been on the defensive during …

RAHM EMANUEL (and Valerie Jarrett) SUBPOENAED BY BLAGOJEVICH: ATTORNEY  —  President Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel was subpoenaed by the defense to testify in Rod Blagojevich's upcoming trial, a Blagojevich attorney told the Chicago Sun-Times.  —  “Yes, he's been subpoenaed by the defense …

Palin: Oil Spill Proves We Were Right About 'Drill, Baby, Drill  —  The very politician who inspired country songs about drilling for oil is now boasting that her “drill here, drill now” plan for U.S. energy policy would have mitigated or forestalled the oil disaster in the Gulf...if only you redefine what she meant when she said that.

The Times, They Are a-Changing — By: Victor Davis Hanson  —  At the present rate, Turkey has about as much business in NATO as Greece does in the EU.  Both countries seem out of place in their respective organizations; both envy and resent northern Europe and the United States …

Disclosed Partisanship  —  In February 1996, then-White House aide and current Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan co-authored a memorandum to deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes regarding whether President Clinton should support proposed amendments to the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance bill.

Obama orders extension of benefits to gay and lesbian federal employees  —  President Barack Obama signed a memorandum on Wednesday formally extending benefits to federal employees in same-sex couples.  —  After a year of review, the president officially extended benefits to federal employees …

NBC runs Palin statement day later  —  NBC's “Today” show on Wednesday read a statement from Sarah Palin intended for the previous day's broadcast after the former Alaska governor's complaint that the program ignored her rebuttal to a critical interview.  —  On Tuesday, the show broadcast …