Apparently, the Islamists didn't get the memo that they should confine their activities to fighting the American occupation of Iraq. So at least some were plotting to blow up Americans in Germany, a plot which was foiled by German police.

In case you forgot, Bill Clinton committed America to a war, without UN authorization, to protect Kosovo Albanians from displacement and possible genocide by Serbian nationalists and the Serb armed forces, then under the control of Slobodan Milosevic (who died before he could be found guilty by an international tribunal). Since then, the UN has been in charge in Kosovo, and their has been some talk of independence for the Kosovars. It seems the Serbs, despite the fact that they are no longer ruled by Milosevic, still don't want to see that happen. Some are now threatening to use force to prevent it from happening. What would Bill Clinton do?

Democrats in Congress are talking compromise (which will, no doubt, infuriate their anti-war base) with their Republican colleagues on the issue of Iraq, even as a new report casts doubt on the ability of the Iraqi Army to stand up to the many challenges that face it. Some experts are also calling into question the statistics being used to measure progress in Iraq. Meanwhile, that country's Prime Minister journeys to see its most influential cleric.

New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner gets a nice piece in the New York Times.

Fred Thompson is finally in. But, he decided to skip a debate here in New Hampshire. John McCain gets the most positive reviews, at least in this article and this one from the Weekly Standard. I did not get a chance to see the debate, but I am not surprised that McCain is vigorously supporting the surge and attempting to slap down anyone who seems to be wishy-washy on the issue (see Mitt Romney). Those things that irritated the GOP base about McCain, including his stands on immigration and campaign finance reform, are fading into the background. Meanwhile, his hard and steadfast position on the Iraq War and his status as a genuine war hero are beginning to make a comeback. Can it carry him all the way back? Time will tell.