Line In The Sand. Tom Hicks has announced a new final deadline: "[General manager] John Hart has been forced to work in two directions. I've told John if we don't have a deal by [Tuesday at 5:00 pm (est)], he's to move forward with Alex as part of our team. We've got to have some finality."

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is arguing over ground rules for her upcoming appearance before the 9/11 Commission because she does not want to testify under oath or in public. Having seen her on the Sunday morning talk shows and speaking at press conferences, I can't say that I blame her. Her ability to lie is actually worse than her boss's. Her eyes dart quickly to the sides: left, right, left; she even shakes a little bit. I've seen 5-year-olds fib more convincingly. Still, it is awfully nice of the Commission to start conducting these incredibly important sessions as its time to investigate dwindles to mere weeks. ... The Los Angeles Times reports that the Justice Department has inflated the number of terrorism-related prosecutions. For example, at least 20 men caught in a driver's license scam are included on a list of more than 280 cases that has been cited as evidence that the US is winning the war on terrorism.