The Rush to Hang Saddam Hussein  —  The important question was never really about whether Saddam Hussein was guilty of crimes against humanity.  The public record is bulging with the lengthy litany of his vile and unforgivable atrocities: genocidal assaults against the Kurds …

Why We Need More Troops in Iraq  —  I've just spent 10 days traveling in the Middle East and speaking to leaders there, all of which has made one thing clearer to me than ever: While we are naturally focused on Iraq, a larger war is emerging.  On one side are extremists and terrorists led …

Marines deny airstrikes used against insurgents in Ramadi  —  BAGHDAD — A large-scale U.S. military operation in Ramadi last month did not target suspected insurgents with airstrikes, U.S. military officials said.  —  Witness statements reported by The Times on Nov. 15 indicated …

Edwards Opens Presidential Campaign  —  Framed by two ruined houses and a dead tree, John Edwards inaugurated his 2008 presidential campaign here on Thursday with an appeal to citizens to take on challenges like the one represented by this still-devastated city.

THE SITUATION ROOM  —  Saddam Hussein's Final Hours; James Brown's Life Celebrated at the Apollo  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Christine.  And to our viewers …

Somalia Forces Retake Capital From Islamists  —  Just hours after Islamist fighters abandoned Mogadishu, the capital from which they ruled much of Somalia, thousands of troops of the transitional government marched into the city on Thursday in a stunning reversal of fortune.

End of Another Year...  You know your country is in trouble when:  —  The UN has to open a special branch just to keep track of the chaos and bloodshed, UNAMI.  —  Abovementioned branch cannot be run from your country.  —  The politicians who worked to put your country in this sorry state …

Ford, Nixon Sustained Friendship for Decades  —  Months before Richard M. Nixon set a relatively unknown Michigan congressman named Gerald R. Ford on the path to the White House, Nixon turned to Ford, who called himself the embattled president's "only real friend," to get him out of trouble.

Sen. Johnson Improves, Is Expected to Miss Start of Congress  —  Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) turned 60 yesterday, two weeks after emergency surgery to repair a brain hemorrhage that has left him in critical condition.  —  Julianne Fisher, a spokeswoman for the senator, said Johnson …

Nifong In Trouble  —  Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong faces charges of ethical violations at the North Carolina Bar Association due to his inflammatory and misleading comments to the press during the rape investigation of three Duke lacrosse team members.

Chavez to shut down opposition TV  —  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he will not renew the licence for the country's second largest TV channel which he said expired in March 2007.  —  In an address to troops, Mr Chavez said he would not tolerate media outlets working towards a coup against him.

Ken plans Trafalgar Square street party to celebrate 50 years of Castro  —  Ken Livingstone is planning a "massive festival" across London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro's Cuban revolution.  —  The event, to be staged in 2009, will involve street parties …