• Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) is expected to win desired concessions on torture ban. [NYT]
• Some Democrats worry recent antiwar statements by Rep. Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Howard Dean will backfire in midterm elections; GOP leaders rush to attack “wrong message to our troops.” [WP, LAT]
• Christians are disappointed by non-religious White House “holiday” card; presidential pets are pictured on the front. [WP]
• Condoleezza Rice encounters a skeptical Europe. [NYT]
• Rice admits mistaken detention of innocent German. [WP, NYT]
• Rep. DeLay (R-Texas) is unlikely to regain a leadership role, though a leadership election is not scheduled. [WP, NYT]
• Congress opens inquiry to determine if the administration downplayed prewar information that predicted chaos in occupied Iraq. [WSJ]

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