Iraq Contractors Face Growing Parallel War  —  As Security Work Increases, So Do Casualties  —  BAGHDAD — Private security companies, funded by billions of dollars in U.S. military and State Department contracts, are fighting insurgents on a widening scale in Iraq, enduring daily attacks …

What Next on Palestine: Time to Get Real  —  Hamas is now in control of Gaza after a cruel, if somewhat surprisingly easy, military victory over Fatah.  The images coming out of the Palestinian territories have been harsh to say the least and neither side looks good to put it mildly.

Facing Sanction, Duke Prosecutor Says He'll Resign  —  Michael B. Nifong, the Durham County district attorney, announced Friday that he would resign, as he faces disciplinary charges for his handling of a sexual assault prosecution against three former Duke University lacrosse players who were later declared innocent.

Iran Curtails Freedom In Throwback to 1979  —  Iran is in the midst of a sweeping crackdown that both Iranians and U.S. analysts compare to a cultural revolution in its attempt to steer the oil-rich theocracy back to the rigid strictures of the 1979 revolution.

Iran Strategy Stirs Debate at White House  —  A year after President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced a new strategy toward Iran, a behind-the-scenes debate has broken out within the administration over whether the approach has any hope of reining in Iran's nuclear program …

Timmeh  —  Could The Nation team up with Air America and offer to sponsor a Republican debate please?  We'll even let Lionel be involved.  —  Though, this bit of punditing from the patron saint of  —  Buffalo was even better:

Polished and Upbeat, Romney Tries to Connect  —  WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Mitt Romney loves the word "great."  As in, "Have a great day," "Things are going great," "I'm feeling great."  Mr. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, also looks great, sounds great and smells great, like shaving cream.

An Also-Ran in the GOP Polls, Ron Paul Is Huge on the Web  —  On Technorati, which offers a real-time glimpse of the blogosphere, the most frequently searched term this week was "YouTube."  —  Then comes "Ron Paul."  —  The presence of the obscure Republican congressman from Texas on a list …

Another Justice Dept. Official Resigns  —  Another Justice Department official involved in last year's dismissals of federal prosecutors is resigning, department officials said on Friday.  —  In this case, the departure of Michael J. Elston, chief of staff to the outgoing deputy attorney general …

With Opposition Research, Tone Is Revealing  —  In the shadowy world of opposition research and not-for-attribution dossiers, things can get confusing.  —  On Thursday, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign circulated a memo criticizing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton "(D-Punjab)" for having financial ties …

Second Sunni Mosque Is Blown Up in Basra  —  Hooded gunmen clad in black blew up a second Sunni mosque in the southern city of Basra today after ordering the police at the mosque to flee, and despite a curfew imposed by Iraq's central government, witnesses and security officials said.

The Upward Moving Middle Class  —  Everybody else may know this, but each time I reflect upon these Census Bureau numbers (2006), they surprise me.  Anyone who has an annual household income above $92,000 is in the top quintile of the population—with all the other "rich."

Guest Voice: Obama's (and America's) Generation Problem  —  NOTE: The Moderate Voice runs Guest Voice posts from time to time by readers who don't have their own websites, or people who have websites but would like to post something for TMV's diverse and thoughtful readership.

The Saturday Cartoons  —  We have an added treat today: Another animation from our friend, Nick Anderson.  This time, Nick gives us a fun game to play called Bush Administration Missile Defense and it's a takeoff on the old arcade game.  It's certainly a challenge to make this defense system work — give it a try.