End of an Affair  —  WE'RE RELUCTANT to return to the subject of former CIA employee Valerie Plame because of our oft-stated belief that far too much attention and debate in Washington has been devoted to her story and that of her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, over the past three years.

New Enemies Demand New Thinking  —  The secretary of Defense clarifies and expands on what he said in his recent speeches about appeasing extremists.  —  IN THE LAST FEW DAYS I have had the opportunity to speak at the annual conventions of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

FBI searches offices of Alaska lawmakers  —  Legislators targeted in five locations as part of 'pending investigation'  —  JUNEAU, Alaska - Federal agents raided the offices of at least six Alaska lawmakers Thursday in a search for any ties between the legislators and a large oil field services company, officials said.

Education Dept. Shared Student Data With F.B.I.  —  The Federal Education Department shared personal information on hundreds of student loan applicants with the Federal Bureau of Investigation across a five-year period that began after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the agencies said yesterday.

Hezbollah's 'Victory'  —  "We did not think, even 1 percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude.  You ask me, if I had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it?  I say no, absolutely not.''  — Hasan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader, Aug. 27

GOP lags in key races for Senate  —  As the Labor Day weekend launches a final nine weeks of campaigning, USA TODAY/Gallup Polls in five key states show Democrats poised to gain Senate seats but facing an uphill battle to regain control.  —  Democrats seem more likely to carry the House …

What if Bush really was assassinated?  —  Held up by a Secret Service bodyguard in his dying moments after being shot in the stomach, this is President Bush being assassinated.  —  The American leader is surrounded by a crowd of panicking onlookers just seconds after being gunned …

Democrats Target Rumsfeld  —  Lawmakers to Seek a Vote of No Confidence in Defense Secretary  —  Under assault from Republicans on issues of national security, congressional Democrats are planning to push for a vote of no confidence in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld this month as part …

In Latest Push, Bush Cites Risk in Quitting Iraq  —  President Bush said Thursday that withdrawing now from Iraq would leave Americans at risk of terrorist attacks "in the streets of our own cities," and he cast the struggle against Islamic extremists as the costly but necessary successor …

Politics march into Newtown's parade  —  Democratic Town Committee rescinds accidental invitation to Lieberman, setting off firestorm  —  NEWTOWN — While the Parade Committee sees Monday's Labor Day Parade as a "hometown event," this year it is already bristling with political intrigue.

Getting Past Katrina  —  A YEAR ago this week, the entire nation caught a chilling look in the mirror.  We watched as the citizens of New Orleans, clutching their essential belongings in plastic trash bags, struggled through fetid flood waters in search of shelter.

Annan: Syria to enforce arms embargo  —  DAMASCUS, Syria - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that Syria has pledged to step up border patrols and work with the Lebanese army to stop the flow of weapons to Hezbollah.  —  Annan also said that he had asked Syrian President Bashar Assad …

Jobless Rate Dips in August  —  Hiring perked up in August as employers added 128,000 jobs, pulling down the unemployment rate to 4.7 percent, sending a Labor Day message that the economic expansion still has staying power.  —  The latest snapshot, released by the Labor Department Friday …

Where's Mao?  Chinese Revise History Books  —  When high school students in Shanghai crack their history textbooks this fall they may be in for a surprise.  The new standard world history text drops wars, dynasties and Communist revolutions in favor of colorful tutorials on economics, technology, social customs and globalization.