October Surprise in February? A British Sunday newspaper claims Osama bin Laden is currently "boxed in" by US special forces in a mountainous area to the north of the Pakistani city of Quetta. His movements are being monitored by an NSA satellite and special forces are "absolutely confident" there is no chance of escape. ... The White House denied the report. ... A second report says bin Laden's location was pinpointed after the CIA studied the background in a recent OBL video and found it matched rocks in the Toba Kakar ranges. "CIA agents, working with Pakistani guides, went from Afghanistan to the region to take photographs and bring out rock and soil samples. These were flown to Washington where the CIA analysts electronically matched them to the video background." Oh, you have got to be kidding me!

John Kerry has released a open letter challenging George W. Bush to a face-to-face debate on the Vietnam era and the impact of their experiences on their approaches to presidential leadership. "I'd like to know what it is Republicans who didn't serve in Vietnam have against those of us who did. ... We're not going to let them make this about a war 34 years ago, when we need to talk about the war today." Kerry cannot allow the Republicans to define the terms of debate or hope any accusations simply vanish. He must be the anti-Dukakis (and anti-Gore, for that matter).

Headlines: "Disenchanted Bush Voters Consider Crossing Over" ... "Security Efforts Turning Capital Into Armed Camp" ... "CIA Admits Didn't Give Full Weapons Data To UN" ... "Why Bush Stopped Flying in Guard Unclear" ... As someone who has had to put two dogs down, I can understand the sadness the Bush family must feel about 15-year-old Spot, but I wonder why Bush still refuses to attend the funeral of even one 18- or 19-year-old American solider.