McCain says US succeeding in Iraq as American death toll hits 4,000

Fresh off his eighth Iraq visit, Sen. John McCain declared that "we are succeeding" and said he would not change course _ even as the U.S. death toll rose to 4,000 and the war entered its sixth year.

To underscore his view of the stakes in Iraq, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee twice referenced a recent audio tape from Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader urged followers to join the al-Qaida fight in Iraq and called the country "the greatest opportunity and the biggest task."

"For the first time, I have seen Osama bin Laden and General (David) Petraeus in agreement, and, that is, a central battleground in the …

More trouble for Parque Sox lefty could lose spot in rotation after rough night; sore foot idles Konerko

Blue Jays 8

White Sox 4

Strike or no strike, Jim Parque might have lost his opportunity tostart.

Parque had another troubled outing Monday, lasting just 21/3innings as the Toronto Blue Jays handled the White Sox 8-4 in thefirst meeting between the teams this season.

Manager Jerry Manuel said he might replace Parque in the rotationwith Rocky Biddle.

[Parque] is a guy coming off an arm injury, but we expected alittle more of him at this time," Manuel said of the left-hander, whomissed most of last season after labrum surgery and had a slowrehabilitation that forced him to open the season at Class AAACharlotte.

In four starts this season, …

Department of Defense reaches out to total force

WASHINGTON -The Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses has initiated an ambitious outreach to major military installations across the nation. Their goal is to raise awareness of the issues surrounding Gulf War illnesses among the total force - active duty, Reserve/National Guard, retired and separated military personnel, DOD civilian personnel, Gulf War veterans and their families. This outreach is part of a continuing program coordinated by Dr. Bernard Rostker, the special assistant, to listen to the concerns of veterans and service members and to communicate how the Department of Defense is applying lessons learned from the Gulf War.

"It is important to speak …

Austria is stunned by right's election gains

Austrians are struggling to understand the reasons behind a resurgence of the far right, a day after the country's two anti-immigration parties soared to almost 30 percent of the vote.

Some experts suggested the results of Sunday's election reflected a deep-seated discontent with the outgoing governing coalition rather than a sign that Austrians were becoming more extremist.

The governing coalition between the center-left Social Democrats and the conservative People's Party collapsed in July after an 18-month alliance that hit snags over tax reforms and EU policy changes.

Two rightist parties _ the Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of …

Judge pepper-sprayed in drunken-driving arrest

Lake County's top judge faced a dousing of pepper spray and a drunken-driving charge after a weekend traffic stop by Vernon Hills police.

David M. Hall, a Lake County judge since 1989 and chief judge since December 2007, was admitted to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for a "heart-related event" after his arrest, his attorney Mark Belokon said.

Hall, 55, of Waukegan, also faces charges of resisting a peace officer, failure to yield or stop at an intersection and improper lane usage, said Vernon Hills Officer Bob Lonergan.

Lonergan declined to comment on the details of the arrest or the use of pepper spray, but did say Vernon Hills police routinely carry cans …

SPORTS

Steele leaves Panthers to coach Baylor Kevin Steele, the Carolina Panthers assistant who was attacked onthe sidelines last weekend by linebacker Kevin Greene, left the teamtoday to become coach at Baylor. Steele replaces Dave Roberts, whowas fired this month after his team went 2-9 in each of his twoseasons at the school. The school would not confirm the move, butSteele told the Panthers of his decision this morning. Greene wentafter Steele during the Panthers' loss to Washington on Sunday. ThePanthers said Steele's interview with Baylor had been arranged beforethe scuffle.Seattle withdraws 2012 Olympic bidSeattle quit the race for the Olympics today. The Seattle OlympicBid …

Work to continue at Alaska mine site, despite vote

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The group promoting a massive gold-and-copper prospect near Alaska's Bristol Bay said Tuesday they plan to press on with their work, despite passage of a ballot initiative aimed at stopping the controversial Pebble Mine.

Unofficial results released by southwest Alaska's Lake and Peninsula Borough late Monday showed a vote of 280-246 in favor of a ban on large-scale resource extraction activity, including mining, that would destroy or degrade salmon habitat.

The measure was targeted at Pebble Mine, which opponents fear could fundamentally change the landscape and disrupt, if not destroy, a way of life in rural Alaska and threaten one of the world's premier …