Myths of Iraq  —  During a recent visit to Baghdad, I saw an enormous failure.  On the part of our media.  The reality in the streets, day after day, bore little resemblance to the sensational claims of civil war and disaster in the headlines.  —  No one with first-hand experience of Iraq …

Reprisal Killings Leave 87 Dead Throughout Baghdad  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 14 — The police reported finding 87 bodies today scattered around the city, as the wave of reprisal killings in the wake of Sunday's attack on Shiite civilians appeared to gain steam.

For Bush's Ex-Aide, Quick Fall After Long Climb  —  WASHINGTON, March 13 — Claude A. Allen often said his religious upbringing took him from a two-room apartment in a poor neighborhood of Washington to a post at the White House.  —  "Probably the vast majority of the kids who grew …

Isaac Hayes Quits 'South Park'  —  NEW YORK - Isaac Hayes has quit "South Park," where he voices Chef, saying he can no longer stomach its take on religion.  —  Hayes, who has played the ladies' man/school cook in the animated Comedy Central satire since 1997, said in a statement Monday that he feels a line has been crossed.

Bush's Approval Ratings Slip In the Latest Harris Poll  —  President Bush's job-approval ratings continue to slip, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll, while job-approval ratings for most of his key cabinet members also remain low.  —  Mr. Bush's current job-approval ratings stand at 36% in March …

No Sympathy for Slobo  —  Let's not forget Milosevic's many crimes.  —  During the siege of Sarajevo or the mass deportations from Kosovo, the news of a sudden stoppage of the heart of Slobodan Milosevic would have occasioned a joyous holiday in many other hearts.

Study Links Ambien Use to Unconscious Food Forays  —  The sleeping pill Ambien seems to unlock a primitive desire to eat in some patients, according to emerging medical case studies that describe how the drug's users sometimes sleepwalk into their kitchens, claw through their refrigerators …

US postwar Iraq strategy a mess, Blair was told  —  Senior British diplomatic and military staff gave Tony Blair explicit warnings three years ago that the US was disastrously mishandling the occupation of Iraq, according to leaked memos.  —  John Sawers, Mr Blair's envoy in Baghdad …

Pentagon examining chances of Israeli strike against Iran  —  Washington  —  The Pentagon is looking into the possibility of Israel launching a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.  In the past months there were several working-level discussions trying to map out the possible scenarios …

Magazine: Bradlee Knows Woodward's Source on Plame  —  Vanity Fair is reporting that former Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee says it is reasonable to assume former State Department official Richard L. Armitage is likely the source who revealed CIA operative Valerie Plame's name to Post Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward.

Robertson Finds Radical Muslims 'Satanic'  —  NORFOLK, Va. - Television evangelist Pat Robertson said Monday on his live news-and-talk program "The 700 Club" that Islam is not a religion of peace, and that radical Muslims are "satanic."  —  Robertson's comments came after he watched …

Crash kills former game show host, wife  —  SANTA MONICA, California (AP) — A former TV game show host and his wife were killed Monday morning when their small plane crashed into Santa Monica Bay, authorities said.  Rescue crews were searching for a third person also aboard the plane.

Democrats Beat Quick Retreat on Call to Censure President  —  WASHINGTON, March 13 — Senate Democrats on Monday blocked an immediate vote on a call by one of their own to censure President Bush for his eavesdropping program.  —  They acted after Republicans said they were eager to pass judgment …

Arab central banks move assets out of dollar  —  Middle Eastern anger over the decision by the US to block a Dubai company from buying five of its ports hit the dollar yesterday as a number of central banks said they were considering switching reserves into euros.

We were right to invade Iraq  —  The failures of occupation may be legion, but at least we confronted Saddam at a time of our choosing  —  With the advantage of three years of hindsight, politicians' failed predictions about Iraq make dispiriting reading.  "Any war will cause a refugee crisis …

Drop Out of the College  —  The Electoral College is an antidemocratic relic.  Everyone who remembers 2000 knows that it can lead to the election of the candidate who loses the popular vote as president.  But the Electoral College's other serious flaws are perhaps even more debilitating for a democracy.

Judge Calls Halt to Penalty Phase of Terror Trial  —  ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 13 — An angry federal judge delayed the sentencing trial of Zacarias Moussaoui on Monday and said she was considering ending the prosecution's bid to have him executed after the disclosure that a government lawyer had improperly coached some witnesses.