Iran Is Found To Be a Lair of Al Qaeda  —  Intelligence Estimate Cites Two Councils  —  WASHINGTON — One of two known Al Qaeda leadership councils meets regularly in eastern Iran, where the American intelligence community believes dozens of senior Al Qaeda leaders have reconstituted …

AP Poll: GOP pick is 'none of the above'  —  WASHINGTON - And the leading Republican presidential candidate is ... none of the above.  —  The latest Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that nearly a quarter of Republicans are unwilling to back top-tier hopefuls Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson …

David Brooks' field trip to the White House  —  As George Bush has become more and more isolated, and as his presidency has collapsed around him, he has increasingly arranged White House events where like-minded admirers come and gather around him and genuflect to his greatness.

The Politico sewer  —  The Politico today is prominently touting on its front page another vapid, petty, and inane "news story" — the type of story which has, in just a few short months, become its hallmark: … Impressively, they followed up their Romney scoop with a hard-hitting …

Gen. Pace Declares Iraq 'Sea Change'  —  (RAMADI, Iraq) — In his most optimistic remarks since the U.S. troop buildup began, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday that Iraq has undergone a "sea change" in security in recent months, and that this will influence …

Islamic Creationist and a Book Sent Round the World  —  In the United States, opposition to the teaching of evolution in public schools has largely been fueled by the religious right, particularly Protestant fundamentalism.  —  Now another voice is entering the debate, in dramatic fashion.

The Salon Interview: Elizabeth Edwards  —  So in January 2009, what's the first thing John Edwards does to make life different for poor people in America?  —  Well, a lot of it is a legislative agenda that needs to pass, but some of it he can do right away.

Belabor the Point  —  Democrats find one government office they want to cut back.  It's the one that exposes union corruption.  —  The new Democratic Congress has finally found a government agency whose budget It wants to cut: an obscure Labor Department office that monitors the compliance of unions with federal law.

A Survival Imperative for Space Colonization  —  In 1993, J. Richard Gott III computed with scientific certainty that humanity would survive at least 5,100 more years.  At the time, I took that as reason to relax, but Dr. Gott has now convinced me I was wrong.

Habeas Restoration: Down To The Razor Thin Wire  —  I am told by a source who knows the head count that we are within a slim margin on the habeas restoration amendment — and that the vote could still go either way.  It is a razor thin margin right now, which means there is no Senator whose vote can be taken for granted.

Pervez Musharraf: How Good Of An Ally Is He Really?  —  Pervez Musharraf is often touted as an important ally in the war on terrorism.  With his strong control over the military, he has cracked down on Islamic militants operating in Waziristan and other parts of Pakistan.  —  Or so we've heard.

Dow Jones, News Corp. Set Deal  —  Tentative $5 Billion Pact  —  Gets Board Vote Tonight;  —  Family to Meet Thursday  —  News Corp. reached a tentative agreement for the purchase of Dow Jones & Co. at its original $5 billion offer price.  The deal will be put to the full Dow Jones board …