ABC News: Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran  —  This evening, ABC's World News Tonight reported that the "United States has opened a new front in its showdown with Iran."  According to the report, President Bush has directed the CIA to carry out covert operations both inside and outside Iran …

Democrats Relent On Pullout Timetable  —  Democrats gave up their demand for troop-withdrawal deadlines in an Iraq war spending package yesterday, abandoning their top goal of bringing U.S. troops home and handing President Bush a victory in a debate that has roiled Congress for months.

Deadline pulled from war funding bill … WASHINGTON (CNN) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi will present a plan to House Democrats for a war funding bill that won't include a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq but will feature benchmarks with consequences, according to Democratic leadership aides.

Some US Muslims say suicide attacks OK  —  WASHINGTON - One in four younger U.S. Muslims said in a poll that suicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances, though most Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject the tactic and are critical of Islamic extremism and al-Qaida.

Just Off The Phone With Al Gore — With Special Note To Tony Snow  —  Al Gore has a new book out today, "The Assault On Reason."  I won't spoil the ending for you but let's just say that the wrong guy wins, through some dubious methods, the United States is plunged into a pre-emptive war …