Iraqi: U.S. Bodies Showed Signs of Torture  —  An Iraqi military official said Tuesday that the bodies of two missing U.S. soldiers showed signs of torture, and that men appeared to have been killed "in a barbaric way."  Also, the umbrella group for Iraqi insurgents claimed responsibility for the soldiers' deaths.

The Shadow War, In a Surprising New Light  —  a Washington Post staff writer who reports on intelligence and national security … Simon & Schuster.  368 pp.  $27  —  This is an important book, filled with the surest sign of great reporting: the unexpected.

AQI Top 5 Terrorist Killed (Update: Confirmed, Perhaps Plus Another AQI Leader Captured)  —  CENTCOM announced minutes ago that one of the men expected to take the place of the now-room temperature Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has also reached thermal equilibrium near Baghdad.

US makes missile defense system operational  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has moved its ground-based interceptor missile defense system from test mode to operational amid concerns over an expected North Korean missile launch, a U.S. defense official said on Tuesday.

Safavian Found Guilty of Lying, Obstruction  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A jury found former Bush administration official David Safavian guilty Tuesday of covering up his dealings with Republican influence-peddler Jack Abramoff.  —  Safavian was convicted on four of five felony counts of lying and obstruction.

Saudis Offered Scholarships for Aviation Courses in US  —  JEDDAH, 20 June 2006 — The Ministry of Higher Education and the General Authority of Civil Aviation are offering scholarships to Saudi men and women to study various majors related to civil aviation in the United States.

Revived Taliban waging 'full-blown insurgency'  —  PANJWAI DISTRICT, Afghanistan — In their biggest show of strength in nearly five years, pro-Taliban fighters are terrorizing southern Afghanistan — ambushing military patrols, assassinating opponents and even enforcing the law in remote villages where they operate with near impunity.

Making Victory Rhyme with Defeat  —  FROM NEWSWEEK to the New York Daily News, nearly every major media outlet has fallen for at least one of the three major myths concerning Abu Musab al-Zarqawi: that he was an "American creation"; that he was not a unique warlord but was easily replaceable …

Dan Rather Signs Off  —  Veteran Newsman Exits CBS After 44 Years With Tiffany Network  —  (CBS) Dan Rather is leaving CBS after 44 years with the Tiffany Network.  —  Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports, made the announcement.  —  "Of all the famous names associated with CBS News …

Bush Raises $27 Million for GOP  —  President Bush suggested last night that Republicans must remain in control of Congress for the country to effectively combat terrorism and keep the economy healthy, speaking at a $27 million fundraiser meant to provide a needed boost to the campaign war chest of congressional Republicans.

High Infidelity  —  What if three admitted adulterers run for president and no one cares?  —  Last month, The New York Times published a 2,000-word, front-page dissection of Bill and Hillary Clinton's marriage.  It contained no real news, few named sources, and plenty of gossip masquerading as political coverage.

Jesus Is Not a Republican  —  In November 2002, 30 years after my previous visit to Wheaton College to hear George McGovern, I approached the podium in Edman Chapel to address the student body.  At evangelical colleges like Wheaton, in Illinois, there are two kinds of required gatherings: chapel and convocation.

The Way Out of Iraq: A Road Map  —  There has been much talk about a withdrawal of U.S. and coalition troops from Iraq, but no defined timeline has yet been set.  There is, however, an unofficial "road map" to foreign troop reductions that will eventually lead to total withdrawal of U.S. troops.