JERUSALEM – Israeli leaders warned Syria on Wednesday that it bears the blame for a double homicide bombing byHamas (search)militants because it harbors the group’s leadership, and they hinted at possible retaliation. In a first response to Tuesday’s attack that killed 16 people in a southern Israeli city, Israeli troops …

Defense SecretaryDonald Rumsfeld (search)told lawmakers Friday he was sorry for not informing them about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison and he offered a personal apology to those Iraqis who had suffered abuse. “These events occurred on my watch as secretary of defense, I am accountable for …

NEW YORK – Defense SecretaryDonald Rumsfeld (search)authorized the expansion of a secret program that encouraged physical coercion and sexual humiliation of Iraqi prisoners to obtain intelligence about the growing insurgency in Iraq, The New Yorker reported Saturday. The Defense Department strongly denied the claims made in the report, which cited …

Tonight…”The O’Reilly Factor” is on! Bill’s back from vacation with the biggest stories and the No Spin analysis you’ve come to rely on… Here are just some of the stories we’ll bring you this evening. • Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh discusses his latestarticle in this week’s edition of the magazine. …

RICHMOND, Va – Families of those killed in the Virginia Tech massacre would receive $100,000 each under a settlement the state is proposing to prevent lawsuits, according to a victim’s relative who received a copy of the proposal. Medical and counseling expenses would be provided to the families of the …

WASHINGTON – The Smithsonian Institution is returning to its academic roots after becoming embroiled in financial scandals under the leadership of a businessman. The museum complex announced Saturday it has picked Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough as its new chief. Clough, an engineer by training, will become the 12th …

SAN FRANCISCO – In a sour economy like this, entrepreneurs inevitably dream up new ways to turn lemons into lemonade. At least that’s the motive behind a free software program called Layoff Tracker. Layoff Tracker can be planted on a Web site or a computer desktop to provide a running …

STAMFORD, Conn. – The brother of a woman mauled by a 200-pound chimpanzee last week was appointed her conservator Tuesday as she remains in a medically induced coma. Michael Nash was named temporary conservator of his twin sister, Charla Nash, who was critically injured Feb. 16 when a chimp owned …

JERUSALEM – The Israeli military says Gaza militants have launched two rockets into Israel, violating an informal cease-fire. The military says Friday’s rockets hit near a communal farm and the town of Sderot. No one was injured. Israel ended its punishing Gaza offensive on Jan. 18, and Hamas declared a …

This is a rush transcript of “Special Report With Bret Baier” from February 20, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I’m not on Wall Street, but I think it is very safe to …