Former Bush Aide Will Answer Some Questions  —  Sara Taylor, the former White House political director, has agreed to answer some questions as a "willing and cooperative private citizen," during testimony about the United States attorney firings last year when she appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee later today.

Thought for the day  —  Shouldn't it concern us that Republicans are constantly talking about how people will all wise up when the next terrorist attack at home comes?  —  I mean, they really seem to be looking forward to it, and they take great delight in the thought that, by God, people will see things differently when it happens.

Bush will have to pull out of Iraq, or face historical obliteration  —  Are they traitors or prophets, these Republicans who have jumped ship and called for Bush to begin pulling out of Iraq — Sens. George Voinovich (Ohio), Richard Lugar (Ind.), John Warner (Va.), and Pete Domenici (N.M.)?

Ex-Surgeon General Says White House Hushed Him  —  Former surgeon general Richard H. Carmona yesterday accused the Bush administration of muzzling him on sensitive public health issues, becoming the most prominent voice among several current and former federal science officials who have complained of political interference.

Moving Forward in Iraq  —  The "surge" is working.  Will Washington allow the current progress to continue?  —  In Washington perception is often mistaken for reality.  And as Congress prepares for a fresh debate on Iraq, the perception many members have is that the new strategy has already failed.

Gonzales Knew About Violations, Officials Say  —  Two senior Justice Department officials said yesterday that they kept Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales apprised of FBI violations of civil liberties and privacy safeguards in recent years.  —  The two officials spoke in a telephone call arranged …

From Barack Obama, Two Dangerous Words  —  PHILADELPHIA — Barack Obama has the teachers cheering.  The National Education Association is meeting here, and Obama— like the Democratic candidates who have spoken before him — is telling the crowd everything it wants to hear.

Pope says Protestants cannot have churches  —  John Hooper in Rome and Stephen Bates  —  Protestant churches yesterday reacted with dismay to a new declaration approved by Pope Benedict XVI insisting they were mere "ecclesial communities" and their ministers effectively phonies with no right to give communion.

Marine Investigator Recommends Dropping Charges in Haditha Killings  —  SAN DIEGO — An investigating officer has recommended dismissing murder charges against a U.S. Marine accused in the slayings of three Iraqi men in a squad action that killed 24 civilians in the town of Haditha, according to a report.

'08 money race: Some nickel-and-diming it  —  WASHINGTON — Presidential candidates are using low-cost tickets to fundraisers, online contests and concerts featuring pop stars to lure a group they hope will give them an edge: donors who contribute in small amounts.

Al-Qaeda on the Run: Feasting on the Moveable Beast  —  "No al Qaeda Zone": Hefty Buhriz Policeman smoking in public.  —  The last major mission I did while in Baqubah in early 2005 was into Buhriz.  That mission had begun with our artillery firing some 155mm shots into a palm grove on the banks of the Diyala River.

Giant badgers terrorise Iraqi port city  —  Decrease Increase -  —  From correspondents in Basra  —  THE Iraqi port city of Basra, already prey to a nasty turf war between rival militia factions, has now been gripped by a scary rumour - giant badgers are stalking the streets by night, eating humans.