CIA boss Goss is cooked  —  Tied to contractor's poker parties - hints of bribes & women  —  WASHINGTON - CIA Director Porter Goss abruptly resigned yesterday amid allegations that he and a top aide may have attended Watergate poker parties where bribes and prostitutes were provided to a corrupt congressman.

U.S. Explains Itself to U.N. on Torture Charges  —  GENEVA, May 5 — A delegation of American officials came before a United Nations panel on torture today to account for the conduct of the United States in the fight against terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001.  —  The American officials …

Algerian Reformist Malek Chebel: 27 Propositions for Reforming Islam  —  Malek Chebel, a renowned anthropologist focusing on the Arab world, is one of today's prominent French-speaking North African intellectuals.  In 2004, he established, in France, the Foundation for an Enlightened Islam.

Book Deal for Ex-C.I.A. Officer  —  Valerie Wilson, the former Central Intelligence Agency officer whose identity was publicly disclosed three years ago, has agreed to sell her memoir for a little more than $2.5 million, according to people involved in the bidding process for the book.

Not All See Video Mockery of Zarqawi as Good Strategy  —  An effort by the American military to discredit the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi by showing video outtakes of him fumbling with a machine gun — suggesting that he lacks real fighting skill — was questioned yesterday by retired and active American military officers.

Bush says fight against terror is 'World War III'  —  WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said the September 11 revolt of passengers against their hijackers on board Flight 93 had struck the first blow of "World War III."  —  In an interview with the financial news network CNBC …

Limousine Firm Denies Allegations  —  Cunningham Was Not Provided With Prostitutes, Official Says  —  The president of a limousine company questioned in a congressional bribery investigation has denied accusations that he or his company provided prostitutes to convicted former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham or anyone else.

"LOS RANGERS"  —  I'm not a baseball fan, but several readers wrote in about the Yankees-Rangers game last night.  A sample:  —  Reader K...  Reader Steve...  The Mexican consul approved of the jerseys: … I understand the Rangers wanted to do something innocuous to recognize a holiday celebrating historical and cultural pride.

Crazed Lefty vs Rumsfeld  —  Many of you have pointed out that Ray McGovern, the man who challenged Rumsfeld in public, holds some wacko views, and has made some arguably anti-Semitic statements.  It seems my description of him as not being a "crazed lefty" was wrong on at least one count.

The Great Republican Rebranding  —  Sen. Rick Santorum wanted to talk.  —  His purpose, he said over breakfast earlier this week in the Senate dining room, was to "tell the other side of the story" about his record, which his foes use to cast him as — these are his words — "a mean-spirited, hard-right country club Republican."

Where's Our Fox News?  —  I don't watch Fox News.  In fact, upon having cable installed a couple of months ago I put a parental block on the channel so that I need to punch in a security code if I ever want to turn on the channel — a trick I learned from my brother-in-law …

Iraqis Cheer Crash of British Helicopter  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - A British military helicopter crashed in Basra on Saturday, and Iraqis hurled stones at British troops and set fire to three armored vehicles that rushed to the scene.  Clashes broke out between British troops and Shiite militias, police and witnesses said.

Police Disciplined in Kennedy Crash  —  Investigation Continues as Congressman Enters Mayo Clinic  —  May 5, 2006 — Capitol Police have taken disciplinary action in relation to the handling of the response to Rep. Patrick Kennedy's car accident, acting Capitol Police Chief Christopher McGaffin said.

Air Force to Examine Fundraising E-Mail Sent by a General  —  Message Praised Candidate's Christianity  —  The Air Force is investigating whether a two-star general violated military regulations by urging fellow Air Force Academy graduates to make campaign contributions to a Republican candidate …