NATIONAL
Bush stands firm on Iraq
President Bush, responding to a scathing bipartisan assessment of the Iraq war, rejected the idea that deteriorating conditions there require the United States to scale back its goals. He said he remains committed to victory in Iraq. pg 1A
A GOP push for drilling bill
As the curtain prepared to fall on the Republican-controlled Congress, GOP leaders last pushed for approval of what is likely to be the last major pro-drilling bill during the Bush presidency - a measure that would open a large swath of the Gulf of Mexico to energy exploration. pg 3A
WORLD
Hezbollah vows downfall
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah promised thousands of supporters that they would eventually bring down Lebanon's Western-backed government, but the prime minister vowed to stand firm against protesters. pg 32A
Latin America's left turn
Latin America's leftward swing, cemented by Hugo Chavez's landslide re-election in Venezuela and Daniel Ortega's return in Nicaragua, doesn't necessarily reflect a yearning for Cuban-style communism. pg 29A
MARYLAND
Police seeking caller with lead
Baltimore police pleaded for a man who called 911 and gave promising leads about a shooting of a city police officer to get in touch with them again. Two calls were received on Wednesday, a day after Officer Momodu Gondo was injured. pg 3B
BUSINESS
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6 ports' cargo to be screened
The Department of Homeland Security said yesterday that it would begin screening for nuclear and radiological material in containers of cargo at six foreign ports before it leaves for U.S. gateways, including the port of Baltimore. pg 1E
Stem cell funding requests in
With a month left to apply for funding from the newly formed Maryland Stem Cell Commission, more than 100 projects have been proposed, all of them looking for a piece of the $15 million fund. pg 1E
SPORTS
Navy coach due for raise
Navy's Paul Johnson is due for a raise that will increase his salary by about $500,000 to nearly $1.8 million per year, sources close to the coach said. PG 1F
TODAY
On holiday, at the movies
Holiday, a movie with Cameron Diaz, lives up to its name. pg 1C.
Grammy nominations
Nominations for the 49th annual Grammy Awards are in. Mary J. Blige received eight. The Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way, Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds, Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium, and John Mayer's Continuum are competing for best album. pg 1C.