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The store owner, an older man, stooped and with balding white hair, was trembling. Inside the store, so many stones, necklaces and rings gleamed in the light, like a constellation, that you wouldn't have known the store had been robbed. Detective Keefe asked the owner, whose name was Otto, if he could describe the guy to me and asked if I could make a sketch. A policewoman was looking through the store's surveillance footage, seeing if she could find the robber. [Extracted from the article]

The article examines U.S. President George W. Bush's intent to increase the number of troops stationed in Iraq. Previously Bush purported to defer to the generals with regard to numbers of troops but now is expected to order the increase, ironically at a time when generals in the field do not feel it will be helpful and the Iraq Study Group has advised a reversal of course.

In this article, the author traces the history of the Baker-Hamilton commission, also known as the Iraq Study Group. The report is expected to be delivered to President George W. Bush on December 6, 2006. After the President is informed, congress will be filled in, then there is a planned media blitz that should last at least five days. One of the Study Group's experts warned that there is no perfect solution.

This article outlines the Iraq problems facing incoming United States Secretary of Defense, Bob Gates. Bob Gates spent twenty-five years in the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He was a member of the special commission led by former Secretary of State James Baker that was looking at the U.S.'s possible next moves regarding the situation in Iraq. Current outbreaks of violence in Iraq and the new incoming Democratic legislature seem to lend a sense of urgency for the U.S. to develop new policies.

The article reports on anticipated changes in United States foreign policy on Iraq. The bipartisan Iraq Study Group, headed by James Baker, is described, and possible results of its deliberations are discussed. The views and history of Robert Gates, who is to be the new U.S. Secretary of Defence, are analyzed. The debate on strategy is between neoconservatives and pragmatists, the author says. The importance of a successful Iraq strategy to U.S. President George W. Bush and his legacy is emphasized.

The author discusses the idea that the 2006 U.S. midterm Congressional elections are a referendum on the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. It is suggested that Bush has become an isolated President and that the results of the election are likely to reshape the political atmosphere in America. Various issues related to the election are discussed, including the Iraq War, congressional opposition to Bush, and the potential for bipartisanship in a House or Congress with a Democratic majority.

The article reports that the Mark Foley sex scandal marks the end of the "Republican revolution" as the party strays far from the ideals of Ronald Reagan. The political machinery that propelled the Republicans reliably into party for the past 12 years has led to pork and heavy spending, precisely what the party claimed to be against. Failing foreign and security policy made the party vulnerable to the Foley scandal.

This article focuses on the Republican Party's chances of maintaining its majority in Congress in the 2006 mid-term elections. Six days after U.S. President George W. Bush's re-election in 2004, his political machine began an expensive, unnoticed campaign to maintain Republican control of Congress. A key part of the campaign involves money--the Republican Party is spending at least three times as much as the Democrats. Thanks to aggressive Republican redistricting, only few House seats are in serious contention.

The article considers the possibility of a U.S.-Iran war. The U.S. is already stretched thin both militarily and financially. Iran has sponsored terrorist organizations and has increased its power in the Mideast. Iran has delayed and side-stepped around demands to stop enriching uranium. It is estimated that the nation is five years away from having a nuclear bomb, but may only be a year from being a nuclear power. If Iran continues, U.S. and its allies will have to step in.

The article reports on U.S. President George W. Bush's strategy of focusing on national security for the 2006 congressional elections. After avoiding the topic in the last few elections, Democrats are now countering Bush's strategy with allegations that the Bush Administration has mishandled the Iraqi war, as well as the war on terrorism. Polls show Americans disapprove of how Bush is handling these issues.

This article provides advice for establishing peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict in the wake of battles between Israel and Lebanon in 2006. Among the actions advised are involvement from the U.S. military, the inclusion of Palestine in peace talks, a guarantee of Israel's security, the stabilization of Lebanon, and handling of political insurgency in Iraq and Iran.

The article discusses the change in U.S. President George W. Bush's stance on diplomacy. Bush is no longer the tough talker, now suggesting that the U.S. work closely with other countries to resolve issues diplomatically. Several reasons are discussed for why Bush's stance may have changed. Iran and North Korea both continue to work towards obtaining weapons of mass destruction which is the opposite of what the president wanted in response to the current war. The author states that if Bush wants to improve his legacy, he needs to attain major changes that do not involve Iraq.

The article discusses the death of Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi by U.S. forces. The leader of the terrorist group Al Qaeda in Iraq was killed by two 500 pound bombs on Wednesday June 7, 2006. The article discusses the impact that al-Zarqawi's death may have on the Iraq War and an eventual reduction in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

The article discusses revelations that the U.S. government, with approval by President George W. Bush, secretly collected telephone records of millions of Americans. It also discusses the nomination of General Michael Hayden to Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Some Democrats have been critical of the program, whereas most Republicans support it but are concerned that goals and limits have not been clearly defined.

The article discusses the economic implications of skyrocketing gasoline for U.S. politicians, consumers and oil companies. More than any issue, gasoline has the potential of turning the 2006 congressional elections into a national referendum. Republicans are turning on the oil industry and ineffectual remedies for pulling down prices are being proposed by both parties. High energy prices are hurting workers and devastating certain industries, in particular the airlines. Yet a number of analysts argue that the best way to encourage conservation may be to raise gas prices, not lower them.

The article discusses the hiring of Josh Bolten, White House chief of staff in the United States, who is attempting to reform a damaged President George W. Bush administration after several scandals. Bolten is utilizing a five-point plan to rehabilitate the White House's image, which includes courting the favor of Wall Street and the mainstream press and reclaiming security credibility. INSET: TEAM BUSH GETS A MAKEOVER.

The article reports on illegal immigrants in the United States. Politicians like Arizona Senator John McCain have attempted to change the nation's immigration laws and help the estimated 11 million illegal aliens become United States citizens, but have given up, deeming the task insurmountably difficult. INSET: LET THEM STAY, BUT GET TOUGH.

The article considers how close to U.S. President George W. Bush's administration Congressional Republican nominees want to be seen in the 2006 mid-term election year. A complicated health care plan, a poor response to Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005, ethics scandals and the war in Iraq are all potential political liabilities for Republicans. Several close state senatorial races are highlighted. INSETS: RICK SANTORUM VS. BOB CASEY;HEATHER WILSON VS. PATRICIA MADRID;WILL BUSH BRING DOWN THE HOUSE?;CLAY SHAW VS. RON KLEIN

The article discusses United States President George W. Bush's decision to allow a Dubai-owned company to operate terminals at major U.S. ports and the disagreement it is causing within the Republican party. Several congress members including Senator James Inhofe, Governor George Pataki, and Representatives Peter King, Dennis Hastert, and Sue Myrick have publicly spoken out against the president's decision.

The article reports on the roots of the violence encountered in Iraq during the Iraq war. Riotous mobs are springing up in response to terrorist bombings of mosques, with no end in sight. The long-standing hostility between Iraq's two main sects, the Shi'ites and the Sunnis, is threatening to become a civil war. INSET: A Nation Divided.

The article discusses how United States Vice President handled the release to the media of news that he had accidentally shot Harry Whittington on a hunting trip. Despite pressure from President George W. Bush and members of the cabinet, Cheney refused to go public with the incident after it happened. The incident has wasted days on the political calendar, and Cheney and Bush have only slightly more than 1,000 days to get the administration back on track. INSETS: HOW AMERICA SEES DICK CHENEY;DOING THINGS HIS OWN WAY.

This article focuses on the scandal involving the Republican Party, started by former House majority leader Tom DeLay's indictment. DeLay announced he would not seek to resume his post as majority leader, which set the state for others seeking leadership positions. Among them is Ohio's John Boehner, who promises renewal for the Republican Party. The vote on the new majority leader takes place on Feb. 2, two days after U.S. President George W. Bush's state of the union address. Republicans fear losing 15 seats in the 2006 midterm elections, which would give Democrats control of the house, or losing the House, the Senate and the White House in 2008 if the scandal continues.

The article offers a look at Judge Sam Alito, the nominee for the United States Supreme Court. Alito worked at the Justice Department during the administration of former President Ronald Reagan. He became a deputy in the department's Office of Legal Council after promoting himself as a conservative who favored limits to affirmative action and abortion rights. Now Alito has been nominated by President George W. Bush to the Supreme Court. Some colleagues claim Alito is more focused on legal reasoning than on political doctrine. But following revelations that Bush allowed the secret surveillance of Americans without warrants, Democrats are concerned with Alito's support for Executive power. INSET: HOT-BUTTON ISSUES.

This article focuses on the scandal involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff and Michael Scanlon, a one-time press secretary for Tom DeLay, conned the Coushattas Indians of Louisiana to give them money in exchange for political influence, but much of the $32 million that the Coushattas paid Abramoff and Scanlon went to lining the two partner's pockets. Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and a conspiracy to bribe public officials. The Abramoff scandal has taken down Tom DeLay, whose office had been Abramoff's biggest claim to access and influence on Capitol Hill. INSETS: JACK'S PLAYERS;RAKING IN THE CASH.

The article questions whether President George W. Bush has gone too far by authorized secret wiretaps of terrorism suspects on United States soil. The government has disregarded many legal norms in the war on terror. In such an open-ended endeavor with no concrete national enemy to defeat, these practices are not short-term measures, but permanent changes to U.S. laws. INSET: Caught in the Net?.

The article discusses U.S. President George W. Bush's plans to reverse his second-term slump. Recalibration and retrenchment do not come naturally to Bush. Advisers and friends say he has not let go of his faith in himself or his upbeat style. The public's trust in Bush's judgment and character has sunk, threatening both his legacy and the Republican hold on Congress. The plan is to make January a critical month in what Bush's aides hope will be a turning-point year. The agenda for 2006 is in flux. Bush's team seems tired and short on inspiration. Whatever shifts are taking place, the Bush operation remains insular to its Republican allies outside the White House.

The article focuses on U.S President George W. Bush's immigration reform initiatives. The author suggests that it is curious and even a little dangerous for White House officials to have selected the immigration issue as the issue meant to smooth out the recent political turmoil faced by the Bush Administration related to the Iraq War and the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. The details of Bush's guest-worker initiative are discussed. The author suggests the political challenges facing Bush's immigration views, which entail his having to convince both Democrats and fellow Republicans that his policy will prove effective.

This article reports on Samuel A. Alito Jr., U.S. President George W. Bush's nominee for the Supreme Court. Alito has spent the past 15 years as a judge on the Third Circuit Appeals Court. Goodwin Liu, a professor of constitutional law at the University of California, Berkeley, characterized Alito's approach to the law as formulistic and mechanical. The author compares Alito to current Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

The article focuses on U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who recently resigned following his indictment for perjury and obstruction in the C.I.A. leak case. Libby's career as a novelist and his career in government are reviewed. The allegations levied by special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald are also discussed. The author presents an analysis of how the case involving the leaked identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame unfolded and also reviews the details of the indictment brought against Libby by Fitzgerald.

The article looks at how the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is planning on recovering from the recent political turmoil caused by the indictment of Vice President chief of staff I. Lewis Libby, the indictment of Republican House majority leader Tom Delay, the failed Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers and ongoing criticisms related to the war in Iraq. The article suggests that the recent problems have awakened the administration from its sense of infallibility. According to the author, the Bush administration will implement a "back-to-basics" strategy that will focus on traditional Republican issues.

Focuses on reactions to U.S. President George W. Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court. Criticism aimed at Miers from conservatives, who was labelled a crony because she is Bush's former personal lawyer and White House aid; Comments from Ann Coulter, who says Bush should not be appointing his personal lawyer for the Supreme Court position.

Focuses on the threat posed to the U.S. by avian influenza. Declaration from the World Health Organization that millions of deaths from the flu are inevitable; Tactics that U.S. President George W. Bush might use in response to an epidemic; Explanation that all influenzas start in birds and only periodically mutate to infect humans; Reasons why this avian flu, H5N1, is so deadly; Indications that the H5N1 virus is spreading and has potential to become a pandemic.

This article focuses on the indictment of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. DeLay was accused of conspiring with political associates to funnel $155,000 in illegal corporate campaign contributions into Texas legislative races. After the indictments were announced, DeLay called it a weak, baseless indictment from a partisan fanatic, and hinted that Travis County district attorney Ronnie Earle has engaged in a conspiracy of his own. By Republican Party rules, DeLay must relinquish his position of Majority Leader, and there is much speculation that his days in the House are over. DeLay may not have seen the worst yet; a federal investigation into the scandal surrounding the lobbyist Jack Abramoff, is also closing in around DeLay.

Focuses on U.S. President George W. Bush's tendency to appoint people to vitally important jobs in the Federal Government based on their political connections, and not on their qualifications to perform competently in their jobs. Appointment of Michael Brown to the Federal Emergency Management Agency when his past experience revolved around horses, which lead to a government failure in the response to Hurricane Katrina; Plans of Vice President Dick Cheney to stock the government with people sympathetic to the administration during the Florida recount in 2000; Details of various Bush appointments based on political connections, including Julie Myers, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, David Safavian, chief procurement officer, and Scott Gottlieb, the deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs at the Food and Drug Administration.

Discusses the massive rebuilding effort following Hurricane Katrina. The challenge to keep track of the billions of dollars required to rebuild; Efforts to curtail unnecessary spending; How many groups--form hard-hit farmers to federal contractors--are angling for a piece of the action; Efforts of both Democrats and Republicans to propel their own ideological agendas; Plans of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to send 30 auditors to the Gulf to follow the money.