Top News Roundup

Russian President Vladimir Putin drew an historical parallel today, comparing the U.S. missile shield of today with the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s, when the world came its closest to nuclear war: "For us, technologically, the situation is very similar. On our borders such threats to our country are being created."

Did Syria raze a bombed building to conceal a nuclear reactor site? David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security, analyzed new commercial satellite images of the Israeli-bombed building. He said Syria "took down this facility so quickly it looks like they are trying to hide something."

President Bush visited a fire-ravaged California on Thursday, promising to do everything in his power to help. Some 30,000 people have been evacuated from the South Bernardino Mountain area.

CNN says Iran is becoming a hot campaign issue. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman dismisses U.S. sanctions of Iran are "worthless and ineffective" and "doomed to fail." Condoleeza Rice defends the sanctions: "The international community cannot just sit idly by until we face unpalatable choices." Experts say they may upset the oil market.

Barack Obama is running as a uniter, but an analyst said he might need to change his tone: "Democrats are tired of being bullied. They want a candidate who will punch bullies in the nose."

GOP candidates aren't pulling punches. In the last GOP presidential debate, Rudy Giuliani quoted Hillary Clinton: "'I have a million ideas. America can't afford them all.' No kidding, Hillary -- America can't afford you." Mitt Romney had his say, too: "She hasn't run a corner store. She hasn't run a state. She hasn't run a city. She has never run anything.'' (Listen to WoW's audio pick for Townhall commentary.)

Congress decides to keep the Internet tax-free for another seven years. Bush says it's time for Congress to "stop wasting time" on some other issues: appropriations bills and emergency war funding.