General Defends Army Chief Who Spoke Out  —  WASHINGTON, April 16 — Gen. Richard B. Myers, who retired six months ago as the nation's top military officer, said today that senior administration officials had been wrong to publicly criticize the former Army chief just before the invasion …

New Worry Rises After Iran Claims Nuclear Steps  —  Of all the claims that Iran made last week about its nuclear program, a one-sentence assertion by its president has provoked such surprise and concern among international nuclear inspectors they are planning to confront Tehran about it this week.

Second Dancer At Duke Lacrosse Party Speaks Out  —  DURHAM, N.C. — The woman who has accused members of the Duke University men's lacrosse team of raping her at a party last month "definitely was under some sort of substance" after leaving the party, according to a second woman at the party.

Palestinian militant leaders rally behind Iran  —  TEHRAN (AFP) - Palestinian militant leaders have rallied behind Iran, vowing to resist pressure to recognise Israel and supporting the Islamic republic in its stand-off with the West over its nuclear programme.

Why Newt Is So Much Fun to Watch  —  He's older and wiser, but as refreshingly unorthodox as ever  —  "How many of you have ever used an automatic bank machine overseas?"  Newt Gingrich asks, and since this is a pretty affluent New Hampshire audience, a fair number of people raise their hand.

Hiltzik of the LA Times - Unethical Or Just Ignorant?  —  I've had fun reading Michael Hiltzik in the past, mostly because he's an interesting case of a major newspaper trying on the blog form.  He manages, I think to combine the worst of both - the overweening arrogance of the MSM and the casual …

Meet Masood Farivar  —  The Afghan Yale refused to admit.  —  In February, former Yale admissions dean Richard Shaw was explaining why the university had admitted Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi.  Yale once had, as the Times put it, "another foreigner of Rahmatullah's caliber" who applied.

Demonstrations on Immigration Harden a Divide  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 14 — Al and Diane Kitlica have not paid close attention to the immigration debate in Congress.  But when more than 100,000 mostly Hispanic demonstrators marched through Phoenix this week, the Kitlicas noticed.

White House changes Easter Egg Roll admit process; LGBT families 'moved from front of the line'  —  After waiting outside overnight to be among the first to enter this year's White House Easter Egg Roll, families in line were surprised to learn that the White House had changed the ticketing policy …

'Speak softly, don't argue and slow down'  —  Loud and brash, in gawdy garb and baseball caps, more than three million of them flock to our shores every year.  Shuffling between tourist sites or preparing to negotiate a business deal, they bemoan the failings of the world outside the United States.

It's Republicans' Game to Lose  —  I'm no big fan of polls, but as I've been browsing through some polls relating to some top issues, I've noticed an interesting trend.  It seems that based on the following numbers, if Republicans fell back on their true, conservative values, there shouldn't be any worry of losing in the Fall.

Muslims outraged by new cartoon of Prophet in Hell  —  An Italian magazine has infuriated Muslims by publishing a cartoon showing the Prophet Mohammed cut in half and burning in Hell.  —  The drawing appears in Studi Cattolici, a monthly magazine with links to the ultra-conservative Roman Catholic group, Opus Dei.

In Candor From China, Efforts to Ease Anxiety  —  BEIJING, April 16 — China and the United States have engaged in public disputes about trade, human rights, military spending and energy security, but for just a moment late last year, their leaders put briefing books aside and agreed to talk privately.

More enemies of the enemy  —  Regular readers should feel free to tune out.  Yes, it's time to remind people that Arabs and other Muslims are essential to victory over the jihad.  —  Since we can't sort the jihadis from the innocents even when we can reach across jurisdictional lines, we need Arabs and Muslims to do it.

America's 10 Best Senators  —  Those who make a difference in the U.S. Senate — and five Senators who are falling short  —  By law, just about anyone can be a U.S. Senator.  The Constitution requires only that you have reached your 30th birthday, reside in the state you represent and have held American citizenship for nine years.

Aravosis vs Goldberg  —  Aravosis vs Goldberg  —  John Aravosis debated Jonah Goldberg on "Reliable Sources," today about Iran, the Biolabs and the Presidential leaker in chief..  —  I had never seen Goldberg before so it was interesting indeed.  —  (transcript from CNN)

Academic Studies Starbucks Cultural Impact  —  LONDON - A cup of coffee is just a drink.  But a frappuccino is an experience.  So believes Bryant Simon, a historian who is searching for the meaning of modern life amid the round tables and comfy sofas of Starbucks coffee shops.

By any name, it's civil war, Iraqis admit  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - The conflict in Iraq is not marked by front lines or raging battles between warring Iraqi factions.  There is no Green Line separating sectarian militias, as in Beirut in the 1970s and 1980s, nor are there clearly defined armies and commanders.

FEMA deemed these homes habitable  —  Labeling Katrina homes as livable makes owners ineligible for more aid, but officials here call structures unfit  —  A New Orleans house flattened but for a concrete staircase on a crumbling facade was among many storm-ravaged structures …

Iraqi Bid To End Impasse Stalls  —  BAGHDAD, April 16 — Iraq's top legislator postponed the meeting of parliament scheduled for Monday, putting off "for a few days" an attempt to resolve a months-long deadlock over the formation of the country's new government.