McCain Wrong on Iraq Security, Merchants Say  —  A day after members of an American Congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain pointed to their brief visit to Baghdad's central market as evidence that the new security plan for the city was working, the merchants there were incredulous about the Americans' conclusions.

The botched US raid that led to the hostage crisis  —  A failed American attempt to abduct two senior Iranian security officers on an official visit to northern Iraq was the starting pistol for a crisis that 10 weeks later led to Iranians seizing 15 British sailors and Marines.

The Money Primary  —  I'm going to crawl out on a lonely limb here.  —  On one level it's impressive that Hillary Clinton raised $26 million in the last three months, shattering the previous record, and equally impressive that Mitt Romney raised $20 million.

Reid Backs Iraq War-Funds Cutoff  —  Senate Leader Makes It Clear a Bush Veto Wouldn't End Debate on Withdrawal  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid yesterday endorsed the Senate's toughest antiwar bill yet, a bid to cut off funding within a year, sending a clear signal to President Bush …

No choice: Stay the course in Iraq  —  U.S. leadership deserves support for one last effort to succeed, says a retired Army general.  —  IRAQ IS BEING ripped apart by a low-grade civil war compounded by a dysfunctional, Shiite-dominated government.  As many as 3,000 Iraqis are being killed …

How Bogus Letter Became a Case for War  —  Intelligence Failures Surrounded Inquiry on Iraq-Niger Uranium Claim  —  It was 3 a.m. in Italy on Jan. 29, 2003, when President Bush in Washington began reading his State of the Union address that included the now famous — later retracted …

Justices Say E.P.A. Has Power to Act on Harmful Gases  —  In one of its most important environmental decisions in years, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate heat-trapping gases in automobile emissions.

Supreme Court rejects appeal by Gitmo prisoners … WASHINGTON (CNN) — In a victory for President Bush, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by suspected terrorists challenging their imprisonment at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Press shuts down blogger  —  A couple of weeks ago, I headed down the street to Parliament Hill to cover the budget for my blog and for Blogging Tories.  You can see the product of that effort here, here, here, and here.  I have a Hill pass that indicates that I have been pre-screened …

Featured Slideshow II: Openly Gay Celebrities  —  (CBS) NEW YORK Several candidates for president are on a fast pace for fundraising.  Democrat Hillary Clinton has set a record and Republican Rudy Giuliani isn't far behind.  —  But it's what Giuliani said Monday that will likely steal the headlines.

Exclusive: Iran Nuclear Bomb Could Be Possible by 2009  —  Brian Ross and Christopher Isham Report:  —  Iran has more than tripled its ability to produce enriched uranium in the last three months, adding some 1,000 centrifuges which are used to separate radioactive particles from the raw material.

'I'm Not Praying for God to Save Me'  —  Elizabeth Edwards talks about cancer and how the death of a son gives her the perspective she needs to cope.  —  After disclosing that her breast cancer, first diagnosed before the 2004 election, had spread to her bones, Elizabeth Edwards became a symbol of how to cope with recurrence.

Classical Music Looks Toward China With Hope  —  Yu Zhenyang, a self-assured 15-year-old violinist with a picture of Jascha Heifetz in his bedroom, glided through the Mendelssohn Concerto from memory.  His teacher bounded across the room, flailing his arms, swooning to demonstrate pathos and urging Zhenyang to play with more passion.

Pelosi shrugs off White House criticism  —  BEIRUT, Lebanon - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) on Monday shrugged off White House criticism of her upcoming trip to Damascus, saying she had "great hope" for reviving U.S. relations with Syria and changing its behavior.