Israel has reportedly expressed its belief to Washington that Iran and several of its Arab allies are preparing for a full-scale war against the Jewish state, possibly following the expected US withdrawal from Iraq in 2006.Israeli military intelligence reported earlier in the month that the Lebanese terrorist organization Hizballah is already planning a major offensive along Israel's northern border, likely at the behest of Tehran -israelinsider IL

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has voiced a powerful apology for Japan's wartime record, while speaking at an Asia-Africa summit.Mr Koizumi has told the conference that Japan "squarely" acknowledges the damage and suffering caused by colonial aggression across Asia with "deep remorse" -ABC News AU

In the past few years, expanding global liquidity has fueled global economic growth.However, the party may just be coming to an end as global growth is likely to decelerate significantly this year.Why? It's US Federal Reserve Board chairman Alan Greenspan again, who is tightening the tap on global liquidity through interest rates that will eventually result in slower growth for the world this year -Rohit Chawdhry/Asia Times

The United States and its NATO allies ventured into the former Soviet Union yesterday, where Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice clashed with her Russian counterpart at the close of a tough trip that contrasted sharply with her February visit to Europe.The public spat between Miss Rice and Mr. Lavrov contrasted with the warm reception Miss Rice received in several Western European capitals in February -Nicholas Kralev/Washington Times

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on Thursday dismissed growing criticism about the Supreme Court's use of international law in its opinions, saying it makes sense for justices to look at foreign sources when a point of law is unclear.O'Connor, a Reagan appointee, participated in a lively one-hour discussion at the National Archives with Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen G. Breyer.She said if there is no controlling U.S. precedent or the viewpoint of states is unsettled, ``of course we look at foreign law.''

French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has said Paris will continue to push for the lifting of the European Union's arms embargo on China.He also said France had no objection to China's anti-secession law, authorising the use of force against Taiwan should it move to declare independence -BBC

Don't people realize what they are doing when they accept unconstitutional grants, loans and money from the federal government?Since there is no money in the people's treasury, every penny unconstitutionally appropriated is added to the national debt through borrowing by Congress.That $35,000 SBA microloan has to be borrowed from the privately owned"Federal" Reserve Banking System -Devvy Kidd/WorldNetDaily

ACLU says federal department's policy violates free speech, puts public at risk.--WorldNetDaily

Border Patrol union website Local 2544, encompassing the Tucson, Ariz. area – a hotbed of illegal immigration activity proudly and publicly stated:We have not had one single complaint from a rank-and-file agent in this sector about the Minutemen.Every report we've received indicates these people are very supportive of the rank-and-file agents, they're courteous, many of them are retired firefighters, cops and other professionals, and they're not causing us any problems whatsoever -Jon Dougherty/WorldNetDaily

Here are major provisions of the energy bill passed 249-183 by the House on Thursday.--FOX News

Apologists for the nature of the Chavez revolution should carefully read this link(internal to article) and the three accompanying ones, where Marxist activities and proselytizing are described in detail and in plain language.In the first link Chavez's brother and intellectual alter ego, his brother Adan, declares himself a Marxist and calling to reclaim Marxism in the revolution in the same way they have reclaimed the ideas of others.The other three links show how Venezuela has become a hotbed for the spread of the type of Marxist ideas that have proven to fail everywhere -Salon

North Korea said Thursday that the international standoff over its nuclear ambitions could be resolved if the United States gives up what Pyongyang alleges are its plans to overthrow the communist regime by a nuclear attack.Meanwhile, a North Korean diplomat insisted Thursday in an interview that Pyongyang would treat U.N. sanctions over its nuclear weapons ambitions as tantamount to a declaration of war -Guardian UK

A Democratic congressman on Thursday demanded an investigation of the State Department's decision to stop releasing annual data on terrorist attacks and accused it of keeping vital information from the public.U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman of California suggested the Bush administration was selectively disclosing favorable elements of the data, which are sensitive because they are one measure of whether it is winning the war on terrorism

In what might be an underestimate, a University of California study concludes that 14 million white-collar jobs are vulnerable to being outsourced offshore. Paul Craig Roberts, along with Ron and Anil Hira, two brothers who are authors of the book, OUTSOURCING AMERICA, note that despite the enormity of the stakes for all Americans, a state of denial exists among policymakers and outsourcing's corporate champions about the adverse effects on the United States.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday solidly approved an $8 billion energy bill, brushing aside Democratic criticism that the legislation is a giveaway to big energy companies while motorists face record-high gasoline prices.

The Senate moved toward approving $81 billion for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on Thursday in a measure that would push the total cost of combat and reconstruction past $300 billion.

The Senate approved John Negroponte Thursday to be the nation's first national intelligence director, a post fraught with tough challenges to improve the government's much-criticized spy agencies.--FOX News