Iran Opens Plant That Can Produce Plutonium  —  Just days before it is supposed to suspend enrichment of uranium or face the prospect of sanctions, Iran continues to project an image of defiance and confidence.  Its position regarding the demand it suspend enrichment remains a determined "No."

Lieberman to consider Iraq pullout plan  —  NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Sen. Joe Lieberman, the three-term Democrat whose independent campaign for re-election is being seen as a referendum on the Iraq war, said Friday he would consider taking a look at a fellow lawmaker's proposal for a timeline for troop withdrawals.

Case of kidnapped Fox journalists could be resolved … GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP // With a deadline looming in the case of two kidnapped Fox News journalists, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday that he hoped the crisis would be resolved "in the coming hours."

Rep. Harris Condemns Separation of Church, State  —  Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) said this week that God did not intend for the United States to be a "nation of secular laws" and that the separation of church and state is a "lie we have been told" to keep religious people out of politics.

Israel seeks troops from Muslim nations  —  JERUSALEM - Israel said Saturday it was encouraging some Muslim countries to send peacekeepers to southern Lebanon, a contribution that would lend credibility to the heavily European force.  —  EU nations pledged 6,900 troops Friday …

The McCain Makeover  —  IT'S FEBRUARY 15, 2000, a pivotal moment in the race for the Republican nomination for president, and at the televised candidates' debate in Columbia, S.C., temperatures are rising.  —  John McCain, fresh off an upset victory in the New Hampshire primary …

Critic Alleges Deceit in Study On Stem Cells  —  A landmark scientific report that was supposed to bridge the gap between proponents and opponents of human embryonic stem cell research has become the focus of an escalating feud, with a prominent critic of the research alleging that scientists were deceptive in presenting their results.

Greg Mitchell's fake-news confession rewritten by unknown anonymous mystery perpetrator!  —  Poor guy.  As if his credibility wasn't in bad enough shape, now some fiendish saboteur's hacked in to the Media Info archives and revised the column he wrote in 2003 about having invented quotes for a story back in the late 60s.

JERRY McNERNEY: TURNING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA A DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE  —  If someone— like Charlie Cook or Larry Sabato— held a gun to my head and demanded I pick one congressional district that is the model for nationalizing a campaign I'd... try to get out of answering.  But if I heard the gun cock, I'd say CA-11.

Prospective New House Chairman  —  The NY Times looks at the roster of Democrats who would chair the various House committees *if* the Dems reclaim the House this November and follow their past practice of elevating members on the basis of seniority.  After noting the Dems that scare Republicans …

Screaming crowds welcome U.S. senator 'home'  —  Barack Obama uses spotlight to promote AIDS tests  —  KISUMU, Kenya (CNN) — Tens of thousands of Kenyans lined the streets of Kisumu on Saturday, giving U.S. Sen. Barack Obama a hero's welcome as he arrived to visit the nearby village where his late father and grandfather lived.

Visa Mart—Possible AQ link to busted U.S. diplomat (UPDATED)  —  UPDATES OF EXTRAORDINARY MAGNITUDE—READ TO END!  —  A U.S. Foreign Service Officer in Canada got busted Friday for an alleged visas-for-jewelry bribe case. 22-year State Department veteran Michael O'Keefe was indicted along …

Protests intrude on Bush's trip to Maine  —  KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine - President Bush came to his parent's century-old summer home on the Maine coast for a little relaxation, a distant cousin's wedding and some family time.  He got all that, along with a boisterous reminder nearly on his bucolic doorstep …

The San Francisco Chronicle slimes  —  This is Peter Hartlaub.  He is the San Francisco Chronicle's pop-culture critic and "helps cover movies, television and the media," according to his bio.  In addition to his newspaper duties, Hartlaub blogs for the paper's "Culture Blog."