Powell endorses efforts to block Bush's terrorist plan  —  WASHINGTON - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday endorsed efforts by three Republican senators to block President Bush's plan to authorize harsh interrogations of terror suspects.  —  The latest sign of GOP division …

Inside the Oval Office  —  President Bush gives journalists a "heads up" about the mid-term elections, among other things.  —  WE NOW KNOW WHY the Bush administration hasn't made the capture of Osama bin Laden a paramount goal of the war on terror.  Emphasis on bin Laden doesn't fit …

Ney to plead to criminal charge  —  Bob Ney, R-Ohio discusses his bid for re-election, during a campaign rally at the Tuscarawas County GOP headquarters in Dover, Ohio.  Ney has agreed with the Justice Department to plead guilty to at least one criminal charge.

Muslim Leaders Assail Pope's Speech on Islam  —  As Pope Benedict XVI arrived back home from Germany, Muslim leaders strongly criticized a speech he gave on his trip that used unflattering language about Islam.  —  Some of the strongest words came from Turkey, possibly putting in jeopardy Benedict's scheduled visit there in November.

AL-DURA: THE TRIAL (PART ONE)  —  Starting September 14, three Frenchmen go on trial in Paris for questioning the veracity of the 2000 videotape of the putative murder of Palestinian child Mohammed Al-Dura by Israeli soldiers.  This tape - promulgated by the French state-run channel France 2 …

Democrats Hold Solid Lead; Strong Anti-Incumbent, Anti-Bush Mood  —  Terrorism Focus Increases, But No GOP Boost  —  Summary of Findings  —  As the congressional midterm campaign begins in earnest, the mood of the electorate is sharply drawn.  Voters are disappointed with Congress and disapproving of President Bush.

Sen. Reid: The Specter bill will NOT be enacted.  Period.  —  (updated below)  —  Sen. Harry Reid participated in a conference call with a dozen or so bloggers this afternoon.  For the first question, I asked him about the Specter bill — specifically, what the Democrats' strategy …

Lebanon - a reassessment  —  Anyone following the war in Lebanon in the Israeli media could not but come away engulfed in deep depression.  Israelis and their media tend to focus obsessively on themselves, their own losses and failings, remaining largely oblivious to what is happening on the other side of the divide.

THE GLENN AND HELEN SHOW: BILL FRIST ON PORKBUSTING, THE BOLTON CONFIRMATION, AND THE JOYS OF THE BLOGOSPHERE  —  The House and Senate have passed landmark legislation imposing transparency on earmarks in the appropriations process.  The Senate is also looking at the John Bolton confirmation …

Stuart Buck and Megan McArdle: Media map gives wrong directions on incomes  —  WASHINGTON - It often gets dicey for readers when journalists, who are rarely math majors, play with numbers and then publish misleading or mistaken conclusions.  It happened Labor Day when the Detroit Free Press published …

U.S. passes up chance to strike Taliban  —  Predator had suspected fighters in its sights, but military passed on shot  —  This undated photo obtained by NBC News, reportedly taken by an unmanned U.S. aircraft, shows a Taliban gathering in Afghanistan that the U.S. Army wanted to attack.  —  NBC VIDEO

Analyst predicts plunge in gas prices  —  WASHINGTON — The recent sharp drop in the global price of crude oil could mark the start of a massive sell-off that returns gasoline prices to lows not seen since the late 1990s — perhaps as low as $1.15 a gallon.  —  "All the hurricane flags are flying" …

Al-Qaida joins Algerians against France  —  PARIS - Al-Qaida has for the first time announced a union with an Algerian insurgent group that has designated France as an enemy, saying they will act together against French and American interests.  —  Current and former French officials specializing …