Going to the Well Once Too Often  —  Photographer Wissam al-Okaili has had quite an interesting summer in Iraq, and apparently made quite a few friends.  —  In July, he published a picture carried in media around the world, as an elderly Sadr City woman held up a object that she claimed …

Pryce won't run again  —  Veteran lawmaker will announce decision Thursday  —  WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce of Upper Arlington will announce Thursday that she will not seek re-election to the congressional seat she has held since 1993.  —  Pryce has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. in Columbus.

Top general may propose pullbacks  —  Petraeus is expected to tell Congress that Iraqis can assume duties in some areas, freeing U.S. troops for other uses.  —  WASHINGTON —  Intent on demonstrating progress in Iraq, the top U.S. general there is expected by Bush administration officials …

What Said This?  —  In 1996? … That would be Rudy Giuliani, who sounded at the time a whole lot like a George Bush type on immigration.  —  And then there's this, via the Daily News: … Now you can blame this flashback game with Mitt Romney on some key issues, too, of course.

FDL Demands Apology - Calls on Collins to Fire Dutson  —  Firedoglake has issued the following press release today:  —  Collins Campaign In Sexist Attack on Leading Blog  —  Firedoglake Calls for Apology and Firing of Collins Campaign Blogger  —  Washington, DC August 15, 2007 …

A newsroom reprimand at The Times  —  Seattle Times Executive Editor Dave Boardman wrote today in one of his morning notes to staff that there had been "an awkward moment at yesterday's news meeting."  That's the meeting where editors and other staff from throughout the newsroom talk about the stories planned for the next day's paper.

U.S. to Expand Domestic Use Of Spy Satellites  —  The U.S.'s top intelligence official has greatly expanded the range of federal and local authorities who can get access to information from the nation's vast network of spy satellites in the U.S.  —  The decision, made three months ago …

UPDATED: A prelude to war: What's really behind Bush's Iran move  —  Last night's carefully managed leak from the White House that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps is being designated as a global terrorist group is a story that — while in a sense you could see it coming for months …

Gibson: "The war on Gibson is real" and "it's pursued every day" … On the August 14 broadcast of his Fox News Radio show, John Gibson said he and the show's executive producer, known on the air as "Angry Rich," are "being attacked on a liberal website," referring to Media Matters for America.

Rove: Bush's critics are 'snobs' who hate his 'common sense.'  —  In his interview with Rush Limbaugh this afternoon, Karl Rove claimed that the people criticizing Bush are "sort of elite, effete snobs who can't hold a candle to this guy.  What they don't like about him is that he is common sense, that he is Middle America."

Powerful earthquake jolts Peru  —  7.5-magnitude temblor shakes Lima, reportedly causes power outages, fires  —  LIMA, Peru - A powerful earthquake shook Peru's coast near the capital on Wednesday, toppling some houses in Lima and causing alarmed residents to flee into the street for safety.

General calls Iraq massacre 'trademark al Qaeda'  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Truck bombings that killed and wounded hundreds in northern Iraq were a "trademark al Qaeda event" designed to sway U.S. public opinion against the war, a U.S. general said Wednesday.