U.N. Fights U.S. Help in Disarming Libya

VIENNA, Austria - U.N. inspectors do not need American help in scrapping Libya's nascent nuclear program, the chief inspector told The Associated Press on Tuesday in comments that brought to mind earlier differences with Washington over Iraq and Iran.

--NewsMax.com (AP)--

Syria Smuggled Arms to Saddam Hussein

A trading company led by the cousin of Syria's dictator, Bashar Assad, smuggled millions of dollars worth of sophisticated arms and equipment to Saddam Hussein for three years prior to the Iraqi leader's overthrow, reports the Los Angeles Times.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

N.Y. Times: No Evidence of Halliburton Profiteering

A comprehensive investigation into Halliburton's multibillion-dollar contract to restore Iraq's oil infrastructure shows “no evidence of profiteering” by the Houston-based oil services company.

--NewsMax.com--

St. Patrick's Parade Organizers Win Suit

BOSTON -- Organizers of Boston's main St. Patrick's Day parade won a court victory Monday in a dispute over whether an anti-war group should have been allowed to march at the end of this year's parade.

--Newsday (AP)--

Illinois Conservatives Say Rift in State GOP Hurts Bush

Conservatives in Illinois say the state Republican Party is disenfranchising its rank-and-file base of voters by ignoring conservative ideals and thereby threatening President Bush's chances to pick up the state's 21 electoral votes in the 2004 election.

--CNSNews.com--

Clinton-Friendly Publisher Warning Dems on Dean

Mort Zuckerman, who publishes the New York Daily News when he's not socializing with Bill and Hillary Clinton, is warning Democrats against choosing Howard Dean as their standard-bearer, calling the Vermont Democrat an “albatross” who is likely to lead his party “over the cliff.”

--NewsMax.com--

I'm coming to believe that the Democrats are using Howard Dean as a sacrificial lamb. Primary campaigns are often ugly affairs, and primary candidates throw mud at each other. Some of the mud is inevitably used by the opposition party in the general election. But since Dean is the current front-runner, all the mud is going his way, leaving the others relatively clean. If this trend goes to the convention, and Dean doesn't have it locked, he might be cast aside to allow another candidate a clear run. - Ed.

Gun-rights Group Touts New ‘Word’

A Utah gun-rights group has an eye out for “hoplophobes.”

--Deseret News--

Saddam Singing Like a Canary About Cash and Weapons

Captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is reportedly singing like a canary to U.S. interrogators, admitting that during his brutal tenure he seized as much as $40 billion from Iraq's treasury and divulging information on his regime's hidden weapons stockpiles.

--NewsMax.com--

Pro-Life Leader Says Christians Are Wasting Their Votes on Dems, GOP

A South Carolina pro-life activist claims there's virtually no difference between the two major political parties when it comes to protecting the unborn - and he is asking Christian voters to remember that in next fall's elections.

--CNSNews.com--

The most important issue confronting voters is control of the judiciary. Democrats are pulling out the stops trying to keep judges who honor the Constitution off the bench, and forcing the president to nominate judges who will impose the “liberal” agenda through judical “legislation.” If this guy thinks letting Democrats get away with this will have no effect on the rights of the unborn, he is hopelessly naive. - Ed.

Patriot Act Used to Snag Rush Limbaugh?

It was widely reported as an outrage, a use of the USA PATRIOT Act by the puritanical Attorney General John Ashcroft and his Justice Department to go after a crime that had nothing to do with terrorism.

--Insight--

Dean Still Refuses to Give Details of His Secret Energy Group

WASHINGTON - Democrat presidential hopeful Howard Dean, who has criticized the Bush administration for refusing to release the deliberations of its energy policy task force, as governor of Vermont convened a similar panel that met in secret and angered state lawmakers.

--NewsMax.com--

This story, miraculously, is now appearing in the “mainstream” media. I suspect it has something to do with Dean's slams at the Clintons. - Ed.

Dean Wants Party Leader to Slow Rivals' Attacks

AMES, Iowa, Dec. 28 - Complaining about the torrent of attacks raining down on him from his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, Howard Dean on Sunday criticized his party's national chairman, Terry McAuliffe, for not intervening to tone down the debate.

--New York Times--

French Tipped Off Terrorists

The no-shows on a Paris-to-Los Angeles flight that are now being sought by U.S. authorities may have escaped the dragnet due to French authorities quickly announcing that the cancellation of Christmas flights to Los Angeles were ordered for security reasons.

--NewsMax.com--

Gadhafi Armed al-Qaida With Bio-chem Weapons

Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi provided al-Qaida with chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction before changing heart and agreeing to destroy his arms program, Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin has learned.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Clinton Briefings Preceded Dean Gaffes

Some of Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean's worst campaign gaffes have followed briefings by former Clinton administration officials who were sought out by the Vermont Democrat to tutor him on foreign policy.

--NewsMax.com--

Malvo's Life Sentence Draws Strong Responses

A jury's decision on Tuesday to sentence convicted sniper Lee Boyd Malvo to life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of giving him the death penalty has evoked reactions that are as intense as they are varied.

--CNSNews.com--

Five U.S. Soldiers Die; Raid Nets Big Catches

BAGHDAD, Iraq - As a massive coalition operation netted dozens of enemy forces in Iraq, including a former courier for Saddam Hussein, deadly attacks against the military killed five U.S. soldiers in a 24-hour period.

--Fox News--

If you're getting your news from the “mainstream” media, you probably only heard half of this story. - Ed.

‘Saddam's Bombmaker’ Hit in Assassination Attempt

An Iraqi newspaper - Iraq of Tomorrow - along with Iraqi scientists and members of the expatriate community are reporting that U.S. emissary Khidhir Hamza, has been the victim of a bomb attack.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Iraqi Officers Describe Saddam-al-Qaida Link

Saudi nationals helped Saddam Hussein recruit and finance al-Qaida insurgents as part of preparations to confront U.S. troops in Iraq.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

ACLU Offers Help to Limbaugh

The director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida says he wants to help number one talk radio host Rush Limbaugh keep his medical records away from the prying eyes of Democratic Party prosecutors.

--NewsMax.com--

Is it possible? Could someone at the ACLU have read this? - Ed.

Howard Dean Gets Religion

Presidential candidate Howard B. Dean has described himself in a recent interview with the Bosten Globe as a committed believer in Jesus Christ, noting that he will include more references to Jesus and God in his upcoming stump speeches.

--NewsMax.com--

Is he trying to lose the nomination? This will not go well with his core constituency. - Ed.

‘Jingle Bells’ Dispute Jangles On

It's not hard to see why balmy Savannah has a tough time selling the Christmas carol as a native creation. Or why the claim makes folks in Medford, Mass. - hometown of the song's composer - cry humbug.

--Washington Times--

Bush Might Accept Nomination in Yankee Stadium

President Bush might add another distinction to the legendary “House that Babe Ruth Built” by accepting the Republican presidential nomination at Yankee Stadium.

--NewsMax.com--

Insurance Cheats Face Army Lie Detector

Some people blush, some stutter and others become aggressive, but the insurance industry is working on the most scientific way to find out if somebody is lying or not.

--London Telegraph--

Rush Hammers Officials Over ‘Fishing Expedition’

Rush Limbaugh used his syndicated radio show today to blast a judge's decision to allow prosecutors to examine his medical records to look for anything that might suggest the talk-show host engaged in illegal "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

U.S. Has Flight Numbers of Specific Hijack Targets

Intelligence gathered by Homeland Security and Defense Department officials that caused terror alert levels to be elevated on Sunday included specific airline flight numbers targeted for hijacking by al-Qaeda as well as the names of airports involved in the plot.

--NewsMax.com--

Court Rejects Oregon Man's Appeal in President Threat Case

ST. LOUIS - A delusional, self-proclaimed prophet from Oregon who claimed he meant nothing by publicly suggesting President Bush might be set ablaze was rightly sentenced to three years in federal custody, a U.S. appeals court has ruled.

--Albany Democrat-Herald, Oregon (AP)--

Rivals Criticize Dean on Sealed Papers

WASHINGTON - Vermont's attorney general says the state should dismiss a lawsuit seeking to open the gubernatorial records of Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean on grounds the former governor's papers are not subject to the state's public records law.

--Boston Globe--

Presidential E-mail Reappears on Hillary's Web Site

E-mails urging New York Sen. Hillary Clinton to run for president next year have reappeared on her campaign Web site three months after she ordered similar e-mails removed, saying at the time that she didn't want to create the impression she might enter the 2004 race.

--NewsMax.com--

‘Racist’ Group Says Middle America Understands

White Separatists Say Professionals Hear Their Message.

--ABC News--

Don't get me wrong - I'm not defending white separatists. But I do find it curious how ABC News has no problem writing a story that is so disparaging of a group of people who, by all accounts, are operating within the law. I suspect that if it were a Muslim group, e.g., the story would have written in a completely different vein, if it were written at all. - Ed.

Thousands Will Die of Cold Warn Health Chiefs

Thousands of Brits are likely to perish from cold in the week leading up to Christmas, experts said today.

--Edinburgh Evening News--

But they still think “global warming” is a bad thing. - Ed.

Constitutional Amendment Proposed in China

BEIJING - China's leaders sent its legislature a proposed constitutional amendment on Monday to protect private property for the first time since the 1949 communist revolution a key step toward cementing the status of capitalism in a nation undergoing radical change.

--ABC News--

This is remarkable, considering that our Constitution contains no such guarantees. - Ed.

Clark Credits Clinton for Ghadafy Breakthrough

Democratic presidential hopeful Gen. Wesley Clark said Sunday that his old boss Bill Clinton - not President Bush - deserved credit for forcing Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi to abandon his weapons of mass destruction programs, even though Gadhafi's turnaround came nearly three years after Clinton left office.

--NewsMax.com--

Rush Limbaugh Blackmailed for $4 Million

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh was blackmailed by a former maid who later told law enforcement and a tabloid newspaper about his addiction to prescription painkillers, his attorney told a judge on Monday.

--NewsMax.com (AP)--

GOP Sources: Rudy ‘to Run Against Hillary’

A columnist for the Los Angeles Times indicates former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will likely challenge Hillary Clinton in 2006 for her seat in the U.S. Senate.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Beating Hillary might be more of an ego boost, but we need a candidate who can defeat Schumer and get that skunk out of the senate. - Ed.

Americans Support War in Iraq 2-to-1, Poll Finds

Americans believe 2-to-1 that going to war in Iraq was the right decision, rejecting Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean's assertion that military action was wrong and should not have been taken, according to a national survey.

--Washington Times--

Syria Trying to Stop Iraq Border Crossing

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syria is trying to stop fighters from crossing the border into Iraq to join the resistance against U.S.-led forces, the head of the Iraqi Governing Council said Sunday.

--My Way News (AP)--

Mag: ‘Elvis’ Saddam Offered Some Resistance

NEW YORK - A knowledgeable U.S. official tells Newsweek that as he was being captured, Saddam Hussein struggled, spat at soldiers and was ‘decked’ by a commando, either with a punch or a rifle butt.

--NewsMax.com--

U.S. Fails to Follow Terror Money Trail

Criminal investigators of all kinds have long believed the best route to solving crimes is by “following the money.”

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Dean Aide Denies Clark Claim

Democrat hopeful Howard Dean never offered the VP spot to Gen. Clark, his top aide said, directly contradicting a claim Clark made moments earlier.

--NewsMax.com--

Legislator: Dean Is New England's Gray Davis

Never mind Howard Dean's wild-eyed statements charging President Bush with complicity in the 9/11 attacks, his pandering to fans of the Confederate flag and his nutty claim that America is no safer now that Saddam Hussein has been captured.

--NewsMax.com--

Police Call for Remote Button to Stop Cars

After speed cameras, road humps and mobile phone bans, there could be more bad news for Britain's motorists. Police are urging Ministers to give them the power to stop vehicles by remote control.

--London Observer--

Romance Health Alert Splits Sexes

Getting married may be bad for men's health but good for women, according to a study.

--BBC News--

Dean Takes Limbaugh's Advice on Clinton Insult

In a move urged by the Democrat's talk radio nemesis Rush Limbaugh, presidential front-runner Howard Dean called former President Bill Clinton on Friday to clarify remarks that fans of the former president found insulting.

--NewsMax.com--

Bush Hero of Iraq, Claims Saudi Columnist

Despite today's widespread Arab rage over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, President George W. Bush “will go down in Arab history as the liberator of Baghdad,” writes one bold Saudi columnist.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Saddam's Capture Has Dems Nervous Over Dean

Democrats nervous that Saddam Hussein's capture has made anti-war candidate Howard Dean even less electable are now giving former Gen. Wesley Clark a second look.

--NewsMax.com--

AFSCME Official Endorses Socialism After Union Backed Dean

The New York City district council president of a union that recently backed Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean has publicly endorsed socialism at a national conference of the Workers World Party.

--CNSNews.com--

Civil Rights Leader Blasts Dean for ‘N-word’ Fund Raiser

A Washington, D.C.-based civil rights leader is blasting Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean for presiding over a fund raiser where blacks were derided as “n----rs,” a gay female referred to as “a big lezzie” and presidential rival Joe Lieberman made fun of for being an Orthodox Jew.

--NewsMax.com--

Nader weighs another run for the White House in 2004

WASHINGTON - Ralph Nader, accused by some Democrats of helping elect President Bush by seeking the presidency as a Green Party candidate three years ago, said yesterday he wants to make another White House bid in 2004 and will announce a decision next month.

----

Democrats' New Campaign Funding Groups May Face Regulation

WASHINGTON - Democrats who have been forming groups to avoid spending restrictions in the campaign finance law may face bad news: The government's new chief election regulator is warning that their activities could be reined in.

--Boston Globe--

Sept. 11 Panel Chief Clarifies Remarks

WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of a federal commission looking into the Sept. 11 attacks said Thursday that mistakes over many years left the United States vulnerable to such an attack, but he resisted pinning blame on either of the last two presidential teams.

--Las Vegas Sun (AP)--

Bush Fights Courts' Attacks on War Against Terrorism

SAN FRANCISCO - Two federal courts ruled that the U.S. military cannot deny prisoners access to lawyers or the American courts by detaining them indefinitely, dealing twin setbacks to the Bush administration's strategy in the war on terror.

--NewsMax.com--

The administration can probably get the ACLU to be an ally if he can just convince them that the his anti-terrorism efforts can be used against pro-lifers. - Ed.

AP Poll Finds Majority Back War in Iraq

WASHINGTON - Americans think the war in Iraq was the right decision by a 2-1 margin and are more inclined to approve of the job done by President Bush in foreign policy and terrorism following the capture of Saddam Hussein, an Associated Press poll found.

--ABC News--

‘What Happens Here, Stays Here’ Ad Campaign Criticized

A panel of industry experts on Wednesday blasted Las Vegas' “What happens here, stays here” advertising campaign, claiming its risqué themes are “repulsive” and have damaged the city's growing reputation as a leading business travel market.

--Las Vegas Review-Journal--

When I first saw one of these ads, I couldn't help thinking that after what happened to Bill Bennett, it sounded more like a bad joke. - Ed.

Taxpayer Watchdog Demands Ethics Probe of Republican Senator

A taxpayer watchdog group wants Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to resign from as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and it also wants the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate alleged conflicts of interest involving Stevens.

--CNSNews.com--

Trial Lawyers Question Jurors' ‘Strong Religious Beliefs’

A new guide for trial lawyers advises them to be wary of Americans with “extreme attitudes about personal responsibility” when selecting jurors in personal injury lawsuits. The author of the guide says such jurors typically “espouse traditional family values” and often “have strong religious beliefs.”

--CNSNews.com--

Polls Emphasize Growing Religious Gap in Politics

WASHINGTON - Regular attendees of religious services are more likely to vote Republican while those who infrequently attend services or belong to no assembly at all are more likely to vote Democrat, a growing body of polling indicates.

--Fox News--

Saddam Rants

WASHINGTON - A defiant, deranged Saddam Hussein is making outrageous statements to CIA interrogators, claiming his government never surrendered - and that he would win by a landslide in new Iraqi elections, The Post has learned.

--New York Post--

Bush's WMD Interception Initiative ‘Accelerating’

President Bush's initiative aimed at intercepting and seizing non-conventional weapons in transit is steadily winning more international support, with another five countries in Asia and the West joining the original line-up of 11.

--CNSNews.com--

9/11 Commission Set to Blame Bush, Clinton Gets a Pass

The chairman of the independent commission investigating the 9/11 attacks is hinting that he's prepared to place blame at the doorstep of the Bush White House for not acting on evidence that could have prevented the catastrophe.

--NewsMax.com--

The timing and lack of specificity of this statement make me suspicious that politics may be behind this in a way you might not suspect. Following Howard Dean's speculation that Bush might have had prior knowledge of the attacks, this elevates Dean's stature, which may be just what the administration wants. Isn't it curious that this report came out on the heels of harsh attacks on Dean by other Democrats! - Ed.

Court OKs Law Banning Late-Term Abortion

CINCINNATI - An Ohio law that bans a controversial late-term abortion procedure is constitutionally acceptable and the state can enforce it, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

--Newsday--

Albright Thinks Bush Hiding bin Laden

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told Fox News Channel analyst Morton Kondracke yesterday she suspects President Bush knows the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and is simply waiting for the most politically expedient moment to announce his capture.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

She also believes there is a ‘mother ship’ hiding on the back side of the moon, waiting to beam her up. - Ed.

Anti-Dean Ad Is Criticized

Howard Dean's campaign demanded yesterday that his Democratic presidential rivals repudiate an independently financed commercial that uses a picture of Osama bin Laden in attacking the former Vermont governor.

--Washington Post--

The New York Times story about this ad called it “Republican-like.” They just can't stop themselves from reflexive Republican-bashing. - Ed.

Hillary Prediction: No Election in 2008

“I cannot even imagine four years of a second term of this administration, with no accountability and no election at the end,” Clinton, D-N.Y., said.

--1010 WINS--

All About the Anti-American Cardinal Who Sobs for Saddam

The virulently anti-American Cardinal Renato Martino, who whined about the capture of poor widdle Saddam Hussein, “has not ceased being an embarrassment to his superiors” at the Vatican, a top American Catholic and Vatican insider says.

--NewsMax.com--

Democrats Glance Warily at Rise of ‘Security Mom’

WASHINGTON - Laura Coker-Garcia is the kind of suburban mom presidential campaigns love to woo: She votes, she cares about education and she worries about national security.

--Houston Chronicle--

Judge Who Freed Hinckley Is a Clintonista

So who appointed U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman, the guy who wants would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley Jr. to run around loose? Bill Clinton, of course.

--NewsMax.com--

CIA: Death of Arafat Could Bring Peace

Report says leader's demise likely to cause positive chain of events.

--Ha'aretz--

Sounds like a good plan. - Ed.

Heat High for 2003 but No Record

Provisional data from the UK Met Office suggest it will prove to have been only the third warmest year globally, and the fifth warmest recorded in the UK.

--BBC News--

If it's cooler than it was in 1998, doesn't that mean we're experiencing global-cooling? - Ed.

Iraq Official: U.N. Failed us and Should Help Now

UNITED NATIONS - Iraq's foreign minister accused the United Nations on Tuesday of failing his country by leaving Saddam Hussein in power for decades and appealed to the world body to assume a leading role in Baghdad immediately.

--My Way News (Reuters)--

Why would he want help from an organization with such a history of failure? - Ed.

Websites Encourage Foreign Donation$ to Liberal Advocacy Group

By law, foreigners cannot vote in U.S. elections and they cannot contribute money to a particular candidate's campaign. But the Internet is making it easier for foreigners to exert their influence on U.S. politics - by donating to a liberal (nonprofit) advocacy group that supports Democratic candidates.

--CNSNews.com--

McDermott in Hot Water for Saddam Quip

WASHINGTON - Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., who earned headlines across the globe last year for criticizing President Bush while in Baghdad, is enmeshed in a new controversy over remarks he made about the capture of Saddam Hussein.

--Las Vegas Sun (AP)--

Lieberman: Dean Makes All Democrats Look Like Untrustworthy Weaklings

Democrat front-runner Howard Dean's rivals continued today to lash out at his grumbling about the capture of mass-murdering former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

--NewsMax.com--

Is Joe insinuating that they're not untrustworthy weaklings? - Ed.

Cardinal pities Saddam, criticizes U.S.

A top Vatican official says he felt pity for Saddam Hussein as he watched video of the deposed Iraqi dictator in captivity and thinks the U.S. treated him like an animal.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

If anyone can find information confirming that this cardinal ever criticized the actions that filled the mass graves in Iraq, please send me a note. - Ed.

Congresswoman Invites a Terrorist

We're giving Saddam ally Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee exactly what she wanted, but will she thank us?

--NewsMax.com--

George Soros' Atheism Fuels Conservative Rage

Conservatives are fuming over the $15.5 million that billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros has pledged to defeat President Bush. But they're also anxious to fight back and expose what they consider to be Soros' “immoral” beliefs and atheist leanings.

--CNSNews.com--

Hillary Praises Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, praising the former Soviet Union yesterday for its 1979 invasion of Afghanistan, said that the attack helped bring women's rights to the fundamentalist Muslim country.

--NewsMax.com--

Chinese Christians Continue to Face Persecution for Their Faith

Millions of Christians in China continue to live and worship in fear and uncertainty, despite the communist government's denials that persecution is taking place.

--CNSNews.com--

Saddam Could Reveal Arms Cache in Deal

ATHENS - Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein could be offered a deal in which he would give his captors information on if and how he hid weapons of mass destruction and if he smuggled some of them into Syria. In exchange, he would face life imprisonment and not be executed for war crimes, senior Iraqis attending a conference here on the future of the region have hinted.

--Ha'aretz--

Saddam‘s Briefcase Yielding ’Intelligence Windfall'

Less than 48 hours after he was taken into custody, U.S. military officials say that Saddam Hussein's capture has already produced an “intelligence windfall” of new information on Iraq's insurgent movement.

--NewsMax.com--

New Iraqi Leaders Want War Crimes Trial

The interim Iraqi government said it wants to try Saddam Hussein before a special tribunal.

--Ananova--

Despite Capture, Poll Indicates Wariness on Iraq

Americans greeted the news of Saddam Hussein's capture with measured optimism while acknowledging the breadth of the challenges still facing the United States in Iraq, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted yesterday.

--Washington Post--

Isn't it typical of the “mainstream” media to try to put a negative spin on this good news? - Ed.

Taco Bell Ad Creator Joins President's Media Team

WASHINGTON - President Bush's re-election campaign has quietly recruited a large media team, featuring some of the GOP's most renowned ad makers, in preparation for spending tens of millions of dollars on television advertising next year.

--Chicago Sun-Times--

Dean Supporter in Tears Over Saddam's Capture

Though Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean was relatively magnanimous in his reaction to Saddam Hussein's capture yesterday, his supporters aren't taking the news nearly as well.

--NewsMax.com--

Dean: Saddam's Capture Doesn't Change His Iraq Stance

WASHINGTON - Anti-war Democrat Howard Dean said Monday the capture of Saddam Hussein doesn't alter his opposition to President Bush's policies on Iraq as he outlined plans to repair alliances, bolster U.S. forces and fight “catastrophic terrorism” carried out by weapons of mass destruction.

--Fox News (AP)--

Breaux Says He'll Retire From Senate

WASHINGTON - Louisiana Sen. John Breaux (search), a leading Democratic centrist during three terms in office, has told fellow lawmakers he intends to retire next year rather than seek re-election, officials said Monday.

--Fox News--

Saddam Capture Leads to Other Arrests

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's capture is already reaping dividends for the U.S. military, providing intelligence that allowed U.S. soldiers to capture several top regime figures and uncover rebel cells in the capital, a U.S. general said Monday.

--Fox News (AP)--

Britain Wants Saddam Trial In Iraq, Opposes Death Penalty

LONDON - Britain has joined calls for Saddam Hussein to be tried in a court in Iraq, with Prime Minister Tony Blair hailing a “time of great opportunity” in the country.

--CNSNews.com--

This is a case when swift implementation of the death penalty is essential and appropriate. As long as he's in captivity, there's the possibility of hostage situations seeking his release. Keeping him alive would be dangerous. - Ed.

Iraq's Illegal Weapons Are Clear, Bush Says

The White House said in a year-end report released yesterday that the invasion of Iraq had produced "clear evidence of Saddam's illegal weapons program" and new intelligence about his ties to terrorist organizations.

--Washington Post--

Saddam Little Help in First Interview

Although Saddam Hussein gave himself up without a fight, he has been defiant in his first interrogation sessions.

--Washington Times--

Do you think use of unconventional interrogation techniques, such as torture and “truth serum,” would be acceptable in this case? Sound off on our open forum, or send a letter to the editor. - Ed.

Palestinians Saddened By Saddam Capture, American Victory

JERUSALEM - Palestinians were saddened by the capture of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and even more so because it represented a victory for the Americans, a Palestinian analyst said on Monday.

--CNSNews.com--

Hillary Write-in Campaign Kicks Off

MANCHESTER, N.H. - TV ads urging New Hampshire voters to write in Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's name have hit the airwaves - seeking to pump up speculation she'll run for president, despite her steadfast denials.

--Boston Herald--

Lieberman: Dean Would Have Kept Saddam in Power

Hours after news broke of Saddam Hussein's capture, Democratic presidential hopeful Joseph Lieberman slammed his party's front-runner, Howard Dean, as a defacto ally of the Iraqi dictator because of his long-term opposition to the war.

--NewsMax.com--

What Lieberman didn't say was that, most likely, Saddam Hussein would still be in power if he were vice president today. - Ed.

Terrorist Behind September 11 Strike Was Trained by Saddam

Iraq's coalition government claims that it has uncovered documentary proof that Mohammed Atta, the al-Qaeda mastermind of the September 11 attacks against the US, was trained in Baghdad by Abu Nidal, the notorious Palestinian terrorist.

--London Telegraph--

Clintons Funneled Millions to Halliburton

With the news that Vice President Dick Cheney's old firm Halliburton may have overcharged for gasoline it sold in Iraq, the nine Democratic presidential hopefuls are having a field day charging that President Bush allowed the company to engage in so-called “war profiteering” in return for its campaign

--NewsMax.com--

Memos Outlining Abortion Strategy Land in Congressional Record

Abortion rights activists tried - but failed - to stop a pro-life group from publicizing memos outlining its controversial strategies. The documents are now part of the Congressional Record.

--CNSNews.com--

Lt. Col. West Fined $5,000

An officer in Iraq who used shock interrogation tactics to thwart an impending attack on American soldiers was punished with forfeiture of two month's pay, according to his lawyer.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Officials Say Clinton's ‘Badwill Tour’ Plays Into Hands of Enemies

“Our enemies all have satellite television and they are watching,” Kerik recalls Ibrahim saying. “When they hear this kind of thing, they think they are winning.” Such delusions cost American lives.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Critics Snap at Dean's Heels Over Sealed Records

In his last news conference as governor of Vermont, Howard Dean chatted jovially with about a dozen members of the local press corps who knew he had bigger goals on his mind.

--Washington Post--

I have a theory about what's in those sealed records. It could be records of conversations with fat-cat campaign contributors asking for, and receiving special favors from Gov. Dean. I don't have any proof, but it is an interesting theory. Sound familiar? - Ed.

Nader Authorizes 2004 Exploratory Committee

WASHINGTON - Ralph Nader has not yet decided whether to make another run for the White House, but he's authorized a new exploratory committee to raise money for a potential bid.

--NewsMax.com--

My advice to Nader would be to run as hard as he can. If Dean is the Democrats' nominee, and it looks as if that will be the case, Nader could hardly be blamed for Dean's loss if Bush wins in a landslide, which is a real possibility. People are not likely to consider a Nader vote “wasted” if it looks like Dean isn't going to win anyway. So this is Nader's chance to make his party a legitimate third party, with the possibility of knocking the Democrats out of the number two spot. - Ed.

Bush Refuses to Wallow in Mud

President Bush will try to remain above the political fray for longer than usual leading up to next year's election because of what his handlers see as a significant "stature gap" between Mr. Bush and his challengers.

--Washington Times--

Trailing by 27 Points in New Hampshire: Howard Dean

The media have given gobs of publicity to polls showing Howard Dean leading his Democrat rivals in crucial New Hampshire by 23 to 32 points. Yet they're strangely quiet about a poll showing him lagging 27 points ... behind President Bush, of course.

--NewsMax.com--

McCain-Feingold Ruling Angers Activists on Both Left and Right

It's not every day the National Rifle Association and the American Civil Liberties Union are outraged by the same Supreme Court decision.

--Washington Post--

Regarding the ACLU's position, all I can say is that even a stopped watch is right twice a day. - Ed.

‘Civil Rights’ Group Backs ‘Right’ to Invade

TUCSON, Ariz. - A monastery official and a human rights advocacy group sued a southern Arizona ranch family Wednesday, accusing them of impersonating federal agents and violating the rights of ‘undocumented immigrants.’

--Las Vegas Sun (AP)--

Climate Change Price Tag Set at $60 Billion

A UN conference on climate change has been warned about the growing impact of global warming on mankind.

--BBC News--

Jimmy Carter: Zell Miller ‘Betrayed’ Me

Failed former president Jimmy “Malaise” Carter says the appointment of popular Georgia Democrat Zell Miller to the U.S. Senate was a mistake because his fellow ex-governor “betrayed all the basic principles that I thought he and I and others shared.”

--NewsMax.com--

Carter seems to have no sense of how he betrayed his country and his president. Don't forget how he eagerly accepted the Nobel Peace Prize which he knew to be intended as a slap at President Bush. - Ed.

Charlie Rangel: Gore, Dean are Harlem Hypocrites

When Al Gore said during his endorsement of Howard Dean on Tuesday that it was “good to be back in Harlem,” Congressman Charlie Rangel and his staff wondered what the ex-VP meant by “back.”

--NewsMax.com--

Dean in New ‘N-word’ Flap

Two days after using Harlem as his backdrop to showcase Al Gore's decision to endorse him, Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean is under fire because supporters at a recent Dean event were heard using anti-black racial slurs.

--NewsMax.com--

Florida Faith-Based Prison Plan Lambasted by Liberal Group

A plan to turn a Florida prison into a faith-based program is raising the ire of a liberal watchdog group.

--CNSNews.com--

Indonesian Christians Once Again Living in Fear

As Christmas approaches, Christians in Indonesia's Sulawesi province are worried that despite an influx of troops and police, the deteriorating security situation of the last two months may worsen.

--CNSNews.com--

Supreme Court Upholds First Amendment Assault

Besides allowing restrictions on “soft money,” the court also upheld restrictions on political ads in the weeks before an election. The television and radio ads often feature harsh attacks by one politician against another or by groups running commercials against candidates.

--Las Vegas Sun (AP)--

This allows the media to have unprecedented power. Editors will still be free to editorialize without restriction, but other voices will be silenced. The Supreme Court upheld the precedent that the Constitution is no longer constitutional. - Ed.

‘Great News’ for Soldier Charged in Assault Case

An Army hearing officer has recommended administrative punishment ? but not a criminal court-martial ? for Lt. Col. Allen B. West, who is charged with assault for firing a gun to scare a confession from an Iraqi detainee.

--Washington Times--

Ridge: Give Illegal Entrants ‘Status’

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Tuesday that he believes the vast majority of illegal immigrants in the United States are not a threat to national security and should be “given some kind of legal status.”

--Miami Herald--

US Sentry Saves Troops by Killing Suicide Bomber

Hundreds of American soldiers owe their lives to the prompt action of a 23-year-old sentry.

--London Telegraph --

Lieberman Basks in the Spotlight

Sen. Joe Lieberman said Wednesday that Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean has sent money streaming into his own coffers.

--CNSNews.com--

Gore Upstaged Hillary After Sunday TV Appearances

Al Gore may have slapped Hillary and Bill with his unexpected endorsement of Howard Dean - he literally upstaged the former first lady.

--NewsMax.com--

Fla. Democrats worry as Gore supports Dean

In Florida, some Democratic leaders say they're worried that nominating Howard Dean - who is staunchly opposed to the Iraq war - risks turning off centrist voters who decide close races.

--Miami Herald--

Hillary Fund-raiser Pleads Guilty to Mail and Wire Fraud

LOS ANGELES - A charity fund-raiser known for organizing events for Hollywood stars pleaded guilty Tuesday to mail and wire fraud for bilking more than $1 million from wealthy donors. Aaron Tonken, 38, told U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer his intent was to defraud.

--NewsMax.com (AP)--

Hillary Clinton Joins Fight for National Seatbelt Law

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has joined Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) in sponsoring a bill that would establish a national seatbelt law.

--CNSNews.com--

Global Warming on Mars - Without SUVs!

Though not subject to pollutants of human habitation, Mars appears to be undergoing global warming, with new data suggesting the planet is possibly emerging from an ice age.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Gore's Dukakis Rerun

In 1988, Gore, who vied for the Democratic nomination, ended up endorsing the man who defeated him, Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis.

With Gore backing another New Englander for the 2004 nomination, his endorsement from 1988 comes to mind.

--MSNBC--

Survey: Saddam Killed 61,000 in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's government may have executed 61,000 Baghdad residents, a number significantly higher than previously believed, according to a survey obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

--Yahoo! News (AP)--

Military Support Group Decries ‘Leftist’ Tour of Iraq

The Blue Star Mothers of America-- a military support group -- is blasting what it calls a “leftist-led” tour of Iraq by the parents of some U.S. service members.

--CNSNews.com--

Gore ‘Proud and Honored’ to Endorse Dean

“In a field of great candidates, one candidate clearly now stands out,” former Vice President Al Gore said Tuesday morning. “And so I'm asking all of you to join in this grassroots movement to elect Howard Dean president of the United States.”

--CNSNews.com--

Clark Eyes Hillary for VP Spot

In a bid to reclaim some of the spotlight after Al Gore endorsed his rival Howard Dean Tuesday morning, Democrat presidential candidate Wesley Clark said he was considering asking U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton to be his running mate in 2004.

--NewsMax.com--

Teens More Conservative on Some Issues

It may surprise some people to learn that today's American teenagers have more conservative views than older generations on prayer in schools and abortion.

--Fox News--

Bush Poll Numbers Virtually Unchanged After Iraq Trip

President George W. Bush's surprise Thanksgiving Day trip to visit the troops in Iraq has had relatively little impact on his job performance rating, which remained about the same from mid-October to early December, a new Zogby International poll said.

--CNSNews.com--

Federal Gun-law Cases Set Record in Colorado

Second Amendment advocate: “In modern America, it is virtually impossible for a gun owner not to be in violation of one or more federal or state gun laws.”

--Denver Post--

Iraqi Troops Given Chemical Arms, Claims Ex-Colonel

Saddam Hussein's front-line units were provided with rocket-propelled grenades armed with chemical or biological weapons for use against allied troops, a former Iraqi colonel claims.

--London Telegraph--

1500 Students Stage Anti-regime Demo in Tehran

TEHRAN - About 1,500 Iranian students gathered at Tehran University on Sunday, shouting slogans against the Islamic regime and its clerical leadership, and demanding the freeing of political prisoners, an AFP journalist at the scene said.

--Agence France-Presse--

World Court May Weigh In on Israeli Security Barrier

JERUSALEM - It would set a “dangerous precedent” for the International Court of Justice to address Israel's construction of a security barrier between Israel and the West Bank, Israel said on Monday.

--CNSNews.com--

Hillary and Newt Blast W.'s Policy

Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday charged that President Bush is clueless about running postwar Iraq, echoing a complaint from ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

--New York Post--

Hillary Blanches at Being Branded as Un-American

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday called it “so sad” that she is being criticized as un-American for questioning Bush administration war policies while visiting troops in Iraq over the Thanksgiving holiday.

--Washington Times--

Wasn't it her husband who said "politics stop at the water's edge?" If that's the American way, then what she did was “un-American” - by her husband's standard. - Ed.

Dean Defends Theory That Bush Knew of 9/11 Plot

Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean insisted on Sunday that "we don't know" whether President Bush was warned in advance about al-Qaeda's plot to hijack airplanes and drive them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon two years ago.

--NewsMax.com--

Does the term “loose cannon” come to mind when the subject of Howard Dean arises? - Ed.

Spinmeister Defends John F-word Kerry for Using Profanity

A spokeswoman for lagging Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry said Sunday that it was appropriate for her boss to use the “F”-word in reference to President Bush's handling of the Iraq war, because he'd served in Vietnam and Bush hadn't.

--NewsMax.com--

U.N. Control of Web Rejected - for Now

GENEVA - The United States, backed by the European Union, Japan and Canada, has turned back a bid by developing nations to place the Internet under the control of the United Nations or its member governments.

--Washington Times--

Al-Qaida's Plan to Nuke London

Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network plotted to detonate a dirty nuke bomb floated into London on one of its armada of mystery ships, but the plan was foiled by security forces, says an official.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Kerry Uses F-word in Anti-Bush Tirade

Democrat presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry launches an X-rated attack on President Bush over Iraq and uses the F-word in a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Dean Ripped for Bush-9/11 Smear

Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie blasted Democratic presidential frontrunner Howard Dean on Friday for suggesting that President Bush may have been warned in advance about the 9/11 attacks.

--NewsMax.com--

Clinton Blasts Bush for Trying to ‘Undo New Deal’

AUSTIN - U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Friday blasted President Bush and his “radical” administration for attempting to dismantle the “central pillars of progress in our country during the 20th century.”

--Houston Chronicle --

Unfortunately, she's wrong - as usual. - Ed.

Geneva Plan Has No ‘Safety Net’ for Israel, Military Expert Says

Jerusalem - The Geneva Initiative signed this week between Israeli left-wingers and Palestinians offers no “safety net” to Israel should the Palestinians renege on their obligations, a military expert here said.

--CNSNews.com--

See Charles Krauthammer's commentary on this agreement. - Ed.

Report: Abercrombie Unfair to Some Clerks

NEW YORK - Trendy retailers Abercrombie & Fitch, already facing a lawsuit charging racist hiring practices, discriminates against its salespeople based on their attractiveness, according to a report on Sunday's CBS news magazine “60 Minutes.”

--Excite.com (Reuters)--

Briton arrested as police break up human organs ring

A british man accused of helping to run a multi-million pound international trade in human organs bought from poor Brazilians and sold for huge profits appeared in a South African court yesterday.

--The Scotsman--

If you found the above story interesting, you might find this commentary by Thomas Sowell to be interesting also. - Ed.

Women Natural Born Liars: Study

LONDON - According to a survey by That's Life magazine, women are very suspicious by nature and almost one woman in two has searched her husband's pockets or read his mobile telephone messages without his knowledge.

--Times of India--

Another 57,000 Jobs Added

(CNSNews.com)- The U.S. jobless rate fell to 5.9 percent in November, down a tenth of a point from October, as the economy added another 57,000 jobs for the month, the Labor Department announced on Friday.

--CNSNews.com--

Iran Forces Quell Massive Uprising

Iranian Supreme Revolutionary Guard forces under the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly killed a 10-year-old boy in the country's minority Baloch region yesterday, touching off a massive uprising against the Islamic regime countered by a deadly crackdown and imposition of martial law, according to sources on the scene.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Reagan ‘Unable to Walk or Talk’

Patti Davis told a US magazine most people were not aware of the true condition of her father, who is 92 and suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

--BBC News--

Return to Moon May Be on Agenda

President Bush's aides are considering a new lunar exploration program and other unifying national goals, including a campaign to promote longevity or fight childhood illness or hunger, as they sift ideas for a fresh agenda for the final year of his term, administration officials said yesterday.

--Washington Post--

The nay-sayers will tell us that we shouldn't be wasting money on projects like this, but this may be essential to our national security. We need to make sure that we maintain preeminence in space, and if we don't, the Chinese could soon present a grave threat. - Ed.

Advocacy Group Targets Howard Dean's Tax Record

A free-market advocacy group is running a new television ad focusing on Howard Dean's “abysmal” record on taxes.

--CNSNews.com--

Bill Seen as Threat to Civil Liberties

Tucked inside a intelligence spending bill awaiting the president's signature is a provision that allows the FBI to obtain an individual's financial records from pawn shops, casinos, car dealers and travel agents without a court order.

--Washington Times--

Still, nobody's too concerned about the law that requires banks to submit information on withdrawals, i.e., the law that Rush Limbaugh is being accused of skirting, which I noted previously. - Ed.

Dems want inquiry into reports of Medicare bribe

WASHINGTON - Democrats and a legal watchdog group have asked Attorney General John Ashcroft to investigate allegations that Republicans offered a House member $100,000 in contributions for his son's election campaign if he would vote for a Medicare prescription drug benefit passed by Congress last month.

--USA Today--

UK Medical Journal Calls For Total Ban On Smoking

LONDON - A leading U.K. medical journal called Friday for a complete ban on tobacco, prompting outrage from smokers' groups.

--CNSNews.com--

If you ask them, I'm sure they'll say they're “pro-choice.” - Ed.

Circus Court: Fighting Terrorism Unconstitutional

SAN FRANCISCO - In a potential blow to the Bush administration's legal strategy in the war on terror, a federal appeals court has overturned part of a sweeping law the government has increasingly used to arrest or prosecute suspected terrorists.

--NewsMax.com--

U.N. Court: Hateful Words a War Crime

NEW YORK - With a trio of guilty verdicts yesterday, the U.N. tribunal for Rwanda has established that men armed only with words can commit genocide.

--Washington Tiems--

This is troubling, considering recent comments by a Supreme Court justice regarding foreign decisions being used as precedents in U.S. decisions. - Ed.

Mexican Troops Kidnap Texas Family

As many as eight armed Mexican soldiers crossed the border near a tiny Texas hamlet and kidnapped an American family of five last week, and are still holding one of them, sources tell NewsMax.

--NewsMax.com--

British Minister Attacked For Urging Muslims To Follow ‘British Way’

London - British Muslim leaders repeated calls for a junior member of Prime Minister Tony Blair's administration to resign on Thursday despite an apology he issued for stating that Muslims need to loudly condemn the use of terror.

--CNSNews.com--

Islamic Advocacy Group Sues Congressman

A group that defends the civil rights of Muslims is suing a U.S. congressman for defamation, after the lawmaker described the group as a fund-raising arm for the terrorist group Hezbollah.

--CNSNews.com--

Left Picks on Bush's Turkey

President Bush's Baghdad turkey was for looking, not for eating.

--Washington Post--

Why should the Washington Post write a story like this? Do you memember the Clinton photo-op on Normandy Beach where he picked up stones and placed them in the shape of a cross? Did the Washington Post write a story exposing the fact that there are no stones on Normandy Beach, and the stones Clinton “found” were planted there for the event? - Ed.

Rush: Clinton Stealing Credit for Bush AIDS Effort

With his $15 billion commitment to fight AIDS in Africa, President Bush has done more by far to battle the dreaded disease than any other president in U.S. history. But his predecessor, Bill Clinton, is getting the credit, No. 1 talk show host Rush Limbaugh noted yesterday.

--NewsMax.com--

Schwarzenegger Repeals Law Allowing Drivers' Licenses for Illegals

California's new Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Wednesday signed the repeal of a law that would have allowed the state's illegal immigrants to begin lining up for drivers' licenses Jan. 1.

--CNSNews.com--

Limbaugh: Florida Investigators Have Seized My Med Records

Investigators with the Florida state attorney's office have seized the medical records of America's No. 1 talk radio host, Rush Limbaugh, in connection with a probe into a Florida drug ring.

--NewsMax.com--

I'll bet you always thought medical records were sacrosanct. You might even have thought the ACLU stood up to this kind of invasion of privacy. Don't count on them defending Limbaugh, though. - Ed.

Anti-Abortion Extremist Convicted in Anthrax Hoax

PHILADELPHIA - A self-described “terrorist” who told jurors that people who provide abortions should be shot was convicted Wednesday on charges that he mailed envelopes of fake anthrax to women's clinics in an attempt to shut them down.

--Fox News--

Clinton Accuser Tonken in Plea Flip-Flop

Hollywood fund-raiser Aaron Tonken reversed course on Monday, changing his plea in a case involving charges that he defrauded several charities tied to some of the biggest names in Hollywood and Democratic Party politics.

--NewsMax.com--

This sounds suspiciously as if he may have gotten an “offer” from the Clintons that he couldn't refuse. - Ed.

Bimbos Portray Bush As A ‘Bozo’

A group of women in southeastern Michigan say they'll use pictures of scantily-clad “babes” in an effort to “smash” George W. Bush's re-election hopes.

--CNSNews.com--

Clintons Behind L.A. ‘Hate Bush’ Event

The invitations to the gathering labeled a “Hate Bush” strategy session by the Drudge Report may have come from Seinfeld producer-spouse Laurie David. But the agenda for the event held Tuesday night at Los Angeles' Beverly Hilton was scripted by Bill and Hillary Clinton.

--NewsMax.com--

Dean: Bush May Have Been Tipped to 9/11 Attacks

It looks like ex-congressional nutball Cynthia McKinney has picked up some new support for her conspiracy theory that President Bush had advance word of the 9/11 attacks - from none other than Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean.

--NewsMax.com--

If a Republican presidential candidate ever said something this irresponsible, the media firestorm would force him to withdraw from the race. - Ed.

Bush ‘Honored’ to Sign Healthy Forest Restoration Act

President Bush signed a “healthy forests” bill into law on Wednesday, saying uncontrolled growth stemming from years of neglect has made America's forests a breeding ground for insects, disease, and ultimately, devastating wildfires.

--CNSNews.com--

Suppressed Anti-Semitism Report Posted On Web Sites

London - Attacks on Jews in Europe have increased as violence in the Middle East has escalated, according to a report on anti-Semitism that European officials have refused to officially release.

--CNSNews.com--

Utah Polygamist Invokes Ruling on Gay Sex

SALT LAKE CITY - A lawyer for a Utah man with five wives argued Monday that his bigamy convictions should be thrown out following a Supreme Court decision decriminalizing gay sex.

--Las Vegas Sun (AP)--

Based on the rationale for the sodomy ruling, this guy has a solid case. - Ed.

Bagram GI: Troops Waited While Hillary Chowed Down

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton forced U.S. troops stationed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to wait for their Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday while she and her entourage arrived late, then cut in line and were served first.

--NewsMax.com--

Dean Lies About Bush Records

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Lieberman criticized rival Howard Dean for sealing dozens of boxes of records from his years as Vermont governor - a practice common for those who held the state job.

--The Mercury News--

Dean claimed Bush's records are sealed in his father's library, and that he'd unseal his records if Bush would unseal his. But the story notes, "Bush's gubernatorial documents are in the custody of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and are open under Texas public record laws." - Ed.

108 Nations Decline to Pursue Terrorists

NEW YORK - A U.N. monitoring committee complained yesterday that 108 nations have failed to file required reports on their actions in the war against terrorism, such as freezing assets and reporting the names of suspected terrorists.

--Washington Times--

These are nations that the left wants in charge of our national security. - Ed.

U.N. Planning Grab for Internet Control

WASHINGTON - A global summit set for next week in Geneva is expected to provide the venue for a plan to put the Internet under United Nations control.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Kyoto Treaty - R.I.P.

MOSCOW - A senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia could not ratify the Kyoto Protocol limiting emissions of greenhouse gases, dealing a mortal blow to the pact that required Russia's ratification to take effect.

--NewsMax.com--

Pentagon Delays Plans to Acquire Tankers

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon will delay plans to acquire 100 air refueling tankers from Boeing in light of a scandal at the aerospace giant that has led to the dismissal of two executives and the resignation of Chairman and CEO Phil Condit.

--My Way (AP)--

There's something missing from this story. It talks about a contract for leasing tankers which was called a waste of money and materially altered. But it doesn't mention that a person largely responsible for the boondoggle was Sen. Tom Daschle's wife, Linda. - Ed.

Clintonista Whines About Tripp Interview

Linda Tripp is back in the news, and one former member of the Clinton administration is not happy about it.

--CNSNews.com--

Cowardly Supremes Avoid Gun Rights Case

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court disappointed gun owner groups Monday, refusing to consider whether the Constitution guarantees people a personal right to own a gun.

--Mercury News (AP)--

They're probably waiting for precedent from “foreign” courts. - Ed.

For the Iraqis, a Missile Deal That Went Sour

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 - It was Saddam Hussein's last weapons deal ? and it did not go exactly as he and his generals had imagined.

--New York Times--

Canadian Teen to be Released From Gitmo

A teenager who allegedly killed an American special-operations soldier will be among more than 100 men and boys at the U.S. prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who are scheduled to be released from American custody in the next two months.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Security Guard Found Dead Inside U.N.

A U.N. security guard was found dead inside U.N. headquarters at midday on Monday with a gunshot wound to the head, the head of U.N. security said, and sources told Newsday that it appears to be a suicide.

--Newsday--

Kucinich Headlines Muslim Fund-raiser

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich headlined a fund-raiser for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group with ties to the Mideast terrorist organization Hamas and an agenda for an Islamic USA.

--WorldNetDaily.com--

Lieberman Defends Hillary for Demoralizing Comments to Troops

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph Lieberman defended Sen. Hillary Clinton on Sunday after she made politically toxic comments predicting possible U.S. failure in Iraq during what was supposed to be a morale-boosting visit to the troops on Friday.

--NewsMax.com--

Panetta Warning Reveals Widening Dean-Clinton Rift

Yet another Clinton insider is openly criticizing his party's presidential front-runner, Howard Dean, warning Democrats that the ex-Vermont governor is far too liberal to defeat President Bush in next year's election.

--NewsMax.com--

Employees' Health Benefits, Pensions Squeezing Cities' Budgets

Cash-strapped cities are cutting staff and increasing fees, and there's no immediate fix on the horizon, according to a survey of 328 cities.

--CNSNews.com--

The solution, obviously, is to extend benefits to more people who don't deserve them, such as partners of homosexuals, and to pay for more things that people don't need, such as Viagra and cosmetic surgery. - Ed.

Oliver North: Hillary Security Zone Boast Doubtful

A claim that New York Sen. Hillary Clinton ventured beyond Baghdad's security zone on Friday to visit U.S. troops in the combat zone is being challenged by Fox News Channel military reporter Oliver North.

--NewsMax.com--

Kyoto Pact Clouds U.N. Climate Conference

ROME - Indications that Russia will reject the Kyoto pact on greenhouse gas reduction has participants at a U.N. conference worried that the global treaty might never get off the ground.

--Wichita Eagle--

Stroke Survivor Backs Terri Schiavo's Struggle

A woman who knows better than most what Terri Schiavo is going through, says the disabled Florida woman's husband should stop treading in God's territory by seeking her death.

--CNSNews.com--

American Spirit Far From Sagging, Survey Reveals

Americans are pretty chipper these days, despite dire predictions from partisan pundits and hand-wringing news media that the country is on the verge of collapse.

--Washington Times--