Bush claims oversight exemption too  —  The White House says the president's own order on classified data does not apply to his office or the vice president's.  —  WASHINGTON — The White House said Friday that, like Vice President Dick Cheney's office, President Bush's office is not allowing …

Press Briefing by Dana Perino  —  White House Conference Center Briefing Room  —  MS. PERINO: Happy Friday.  One quick announcement.  Today the governor of Wyoming appointed John Barrasso to fill the vacancy caused by the unfortunate death of U.S. Senator Craig Thomas.

White House Defends Cheney's Refusal of Oversight  —  The White House defended Vice President Cheney yesterday in a dispute over his office's refusal to comply with an executive order regulating the handling of classified information as Democrats and other critics assailed him for disregarding rules that others follow.

TPM Reader SM writes in ...  I don't know if SM's claim is accurate in the particular.  But it's very true as a general matter.  —  I've long been amazed at how freely reporters accept it when this or that Arab or Muslim with a gun is labelled as "al Qaida."

Militants Said to Flee Before U.S. Offensive  —  The operational commander of troops battling to drive fighters with Al Qaeda from Baquba said Friday that 80 percent of the top Qaeda leaders in the city fled before the American-led offensive began earlier this week.

17 Insurgents Killed Near Baqubah  —  Most Al-Qaeda in Iraq Leaders Have Fled Offensive, U.S. General Says  —  U.S. and Iraqi forces continued a new offensive against the Sunni extremist group al-Qaeda in Iraq in and around the city of Baqubah on Friday, killing 17 insurgents in a helicopter attack …