[Washington Post: Nation and Politics]CRAWFORD, Tex., Dec. 26 -- President Bush went around Congress on Friday and installed 12 people to government posts after their nominations stalled in the Senate.

The nominations had languished in the Senate for periods ranging from six weeks to 22 months. By approving them during the congressional recess, Bush bypassed the Senate confirmation process.

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Independent: "Fresh controversy about Donald Rumsfeld's personal dealings with Saddam Hussein was provoked yesterday by new documents that reveal he went to Iraq to show America's support for the regime despite its use of chemical weapons.

The formerly secret documents reveal the Defence Secretary travelled to Baghdad 20 years ago to assure Iraq that America's condemnation of its use of chemical weapons was made 'strictly' in principle.
The criticism in no way changed Washington's wish to support Iraq in its war against Iran and 'to improve bi-lateral relations ... at a pace of Iraq's choosing'." [Heli's Heaven and Hell Radio]

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[Washington Post: Nation and Politics]By Mike Allen and Dana Milbank

The Justice Department has added a fourth prosecutor to the team investigating the leak of an undercover CIA officer's identity, while the FBI has said a grand jury may be called to take testimony from administration officials, sources close to the case said.

Administration and CIA officials said they have seen signs in the past few weeks that the investigation continues intensively behind closed doors, even though little about the investigation has been publicly said or seen for months.

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