Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel  —  Brian Ross Reports:  —  Senior U.S. intelligence officials tell ABC News new intelligence suggests a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here.  —  The White House has convened …

Madam: Vitter a client at Canal Street brothel  —  U.S. Senator David Vitter visited a Canal Street brothel several times beginning in the mid-1990s, paying $300 per hour for services at the bordello after he met the madam at a fishing rodeo that included prostitutes and other politicians …

POLITICS: Next Week's Wire Story  —  News flash: not being a party man not the best way to become the party's man  —  After today's news, I have to look down the road to next week's headline: … It's sad, actually.  John McCain is a patriot and a true American hero, and for all his flaws …

White House Is Accused of Putting Politics Over Science  —  Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional committee today that top officials in the Bush administration repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.

President Bush Visits Cleveland, Ohio  —  Fact Sheet: A Day in Cleveland: President Bush Calls on Congress to Act to Fund Vital Priorities  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Fred.  Thanks for coming.  Thanks for having me.  It's a smart marketing tool — you know, all the cameras.  (Laughter.)

Lieberman Launches Unprovoked Attack On Harry Reid On Right-Winger Bill Bennett's Show  —  What a guy.  This morning, Joe Lieberman went on right-winger Bill Bennett's syndicated radio show — and in those safe conservative confines, Lieberman went out of his way to bash Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.

Opinion: Osama's Army of Doctors, Engineers  —  A one-time jihadi looks at why so many radical Islamic groups include doctors and engineers—and how their involvement threatens the religion itself.  —  WEB-EXCLUSIVE GUEST COMMENTARY  —  Britain is a nation in shock.

Pope says Protestants cannot have churches  —  John Hooper in Rome and Stephen Bates  —  Protestant churches yesterday reacted with dismay to a new declaration approved by Pope Benedict XVI insisting they were mere "ecclesial communities" and their ministers effectively phonies with no right to give communion.

Presidential Candidates In First Ever Gay Debate  —  (Los Angeles, California) For the first time the leading candidates for the presidency will hold a televised debate devoted solely to LGBT issues.  —  The one-hour event will be held on August 9 and broadcast on gay network LOGO at 9:00 pm ET …

Bush jokes.  Crowd laughs.  Girl cries.  —  A question for President Bush on immigration rose up like a ghost from the grave this afternoon in Ohio.  —  Only the questioner was a 13-year old blonde-headed girl, Jessica Hackerd, from Brecksville, Ohio, who immediately broke into tears after making her inquiry.

In GOP, Growing Friction On Iraq  —  Senate Dissenters Chafe at Tactics Of Party Leaders  —  Facing crumbling support for the war among their own members, Senate Republican leaders yesterday sought to block bipartisan efforts to force a change in the American military mission in Iraq.

Fairy Tales  —  The war in Iraq is notable not because it is against guerillas or terrorists, but because of the large number of armed opposition groups that are, for all intents and purposes, criminal gangs.  Such organizations have been around here for thousands of years …