Leak Severed a Link to Al-Qaeda's Secrets  —  Firm Says Administration's Handling of Video Ruined Its Spying Efforts  —  A small private intelligence company that monitors Islamic terrorist groups obtained a new Osama bin Laden video ahead of its official release last month …

Right Wing Launches Baseless Smear Campaign Against 12 Year Old Recipient Of SCHIP  —  Two weeks ago, the Democratic radio address was delivered by a 12-year old Maryland boy named Graeme Frost.  Graeme told his story of being involved in a severe car accident three years ago …

Democrats Seem Ready to Extend Wiretap Powers  —  Two months after insisting that they would roll back broad eavesdropping powers won by the Bush administration, Democrats in Congress appear ready to make concessions that could extend some crucial powers given to the National Security Agency.

Giuliani Still on Top as Republicans Prepare to Debate in Michigan  —  Latest Gallup Poll shows Thompson in second place, followed by McCain  —  PRINCETON, NJ — As the Republican presidential candidates square off in the latest in a series of debates — this time in Dearborn, Mich. tonight …

Iraq insurgency: People rise against al-Qa'eda  —  Damien McElroy spent a week in the heart of the insurgency in Anbar province in Iraq.  In the second of seven exclusive reports he describes how peace and prosperity have returned to a town formerly riven by sectarian killings.

Giuliani law firm sued by high profile Texan  —  A prominent Texas Republican has sued Rudy Giuliani's law firm and a close friend and partner of Giuliani's, Kenneth Caruso, alleging that Caruso, the firm and others "schemed and conspired to steal $10 million."

Cherrypicking Weber  —  It's just so damn much fun to read Yglesias again - I'd dropped him from my blogroll, but people I read (Crooked Timber, in this case) keep linking to things he says and I just can't help myself; his posts are a kind of intellectual pinata; a gift that just keeps giving.

The Real Clarence Thomas  —  His fidelity to the Constitution often leads to results liberals like.  —  Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas again finds himself in the crosshairs of liberals.  After 16 years of diligently avoiding the press, he has written a memoir, "My Grandfather's Son …

Iraqi Questions  —  I think Rich Lowry would agree that we both had an informative week in Iraq in and around Baghdad, Anbar, and Diyala.  Many thanks to the efforts of Major Rayburn and Col. McMaster who allowed us to accompany them on their visits in Baghdad, Anbar, and Diyala …

Aging and Gay, and Facing Prejudice in Twilight  —  Even now, at 81 and with her memory beginning to fade, Gloria Donadello recalls her painful brush with bigotry at an assisted-living center in Santa Fe, N.M. Sitting with those she considered friends, "people were laughing and making certain kinds …

The PLAN  —  I've given it a skim, and here's my conclusion: It's extremely good.  Exceptional in some places, slightly nebulous in others, perfectly in line with expectations in yet more, but also perfectly in line what we should expect from good public servants at this point, and certainly more than I expected from Obama.