Vaclav Havel, Dissident Playwright Who Led Czechoslovakia, Dead at 75  —  PRAGUE — Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who wove theater into politics to peacefully bring down communism in Czechoslovakia and become a hero of the epic struggle that ended the Cold War, has died.  He was 75.

The Des Moines Register's GOP caucus endorsement: Mitt Romney is best to lead  —  Sobriety, wisdom and judgment.  —  Those are qualities Mitt Romney said he looks for in a leader.  Those are qualities Romney himself has demonstrated in his career in business, public service and government.

House GOP revolts on payroll deal  —  House Republicans are in full revolt in the wake of Senate passage of a two-month payroll tax holiday package, casting serious doubt on the fate of a bill that already has President Barack Obama's approval.  —  In a private conference call on Saturday afternoon …

The Chicago Expulsion Act of 2011  —  Windy City pols are bankrupting Illinois with bailouts for their hometown.  Now downstate legislators are fighting back.  —  'Why would anyone want to live in Illinois?  " So muses Curt Wooters, who works for the state and helps his dad run …

A Photo That Encapsulates the Horror of Egypt's Crackdown  —  Three soldiers beat a defenseless woman, pull off her abaya, and drag her down a Cairo street  —  The above photo shows Egyptian army soldiers beating a young woman in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Saturday, the second straight …

When Events Collide: An “Uncommon Knowledge” from July, 2002 with Hitchens and Gingrich  —  A few days ago as part of his remembrance of Christopher Hitchens, Rob posted an episode of Uncommon Knowledge from 1998 with Hitchens and William F. Buckley.  Almost immediately …

Bollywood actress Veena Malik reported missing after nude FHM photo scandal  —  Veena Malik  —  There were fears today for the wellbeing of Bollywood actress Veena Malik after she was reported missing by her manager.  —  The controversial Pakistani model and actress …

Last Convoy of American Troops Leaves Iraq, Marking an End to the War  —  BAGHDAD — The last convoy of American troops to leave Iraq drove into Kuwait on Sunday morning, marking the end of the nearly nine-year war.  —  The convoy's departure, which included about 110 vehicles and 500 soldiers …

Op-Ed Columnist: Newt Gingrich's Self-Adoration  —  MARVELING over a presidential candidate's arrogance is like noting that a hockey player wears skates.  It states not just the obvious but the necessary.  You can't zip across the ice in Crocs, and you can't thrash your way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue …

False assumptions underpinned British strategy  —  UK's isolation at EU summit follows policy of secrecy  —  Statecraft in Europe is usually exercised on a full stomach.  So it was that Angela Merkel and David Cameron sat in the stark white dining room of Berlin's chancellery on a cold November afternoon …