It used to be a showcase of American manufacturing muscle. But lately the North American International Auto Show, the annual auto-industry pilgrimage to Detroit, has illustrated how far the American automakers have fallen.
After less than two years in a job that many in Washington considered thankless, John Negroponte, the nation's first director of national intelligence, will be returning to his longtime home in Foggy Bottom as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's top deputy. The appointment of the veteran diplomat would fill a critical gap at the State Department, particularly with President Bush preparing to roll out a new Iraq strategy. Before becoming DNI, Negroponte served as the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
AP - President Bush is shaking up the team responsible for carrying out his military and diplomatic strategies in Iraq as he prepares to outline a new direction for the war that has raged for nearly four years.
AP - Somali government troops backed by Ethiopian soldiers battled about 600 Islamic militiamen Thursday on the southern tip of this Horn of Africa nation, and U.S. Navy forces prevented the militants from fleeing by sea, authorities said.
AP - In a day of ceremony and historic change, Rep. Nancy Pelosi became the nation's first female House speaker on Thursday as Democrats eagerly took control of Congress for the final two years of President Bush's term.
The head of the U.S. nuclear security agency has been forced to resign over management and security issues. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said problems included a "serious security breach" at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Linton Brooks, who will leave the job in the next two or three weeks, said: "This is not a decision that I would have preferred."
Four decapitated bodies were among the 47 bullet-riddled bodies found around Baghdad Thursday, as car bombs and mortar attacks killed 20 more in and around the city.
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