White House to Offer Iraq Plan of Gradual Cuts  —  The White House plans to use a report next month assessing progress in Iraq to outline a plan for gradual troop reductions beginning next year that would fall far short of the drawdown demanded by Congressional opponents of the war, according to administration and military officials.

A CBS Reality Show Draws a Claim of Possible Child Abuse  —  The ads promoting "Kid Nation," a new reality show coming to CBS next month, extol the incredible experience of a group of 40 children, ages 8 to 15, who built a sort of idealistic society in a New Mexico ghost town, free of adults.

McCain: 'I Was The Greatest Critic' Of The Iraq War Over The Last Four Years  —  Yesterday on CNN, host Kiran Chetry suggested to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) that he's been unfairly "painted as being a huge supporter of the president's Iraq strategy.  Is that an accurate portrayal?" she asked.

Turkish plane hijacking ends peacefully  —  ANKARA, Turkey - Two men who hijacked a Turkish passenger plane in an apparent protest against the U.S. surrendered to authorities Saturday after holding some crew members and passengers hostage for more than four hours.  No one was hurt.

Fred Thompson...He looks terrible..Oh, and he may get in when he gets in...  I can understand why he hasn't announced yet.  He looks nothing like the Aqua Velva man Tweety called him...I hope it's just because he lost some weight.  The fact that he's doing so well in the polls without doing …

A Plan for Iraq  —  Next month, Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will report to Congress on the situation in my country.  I expect that the testimony of these two good men will be qualified and nuanced, as politics requires.

Qualified to Serve  —  BEFORE BEING nominated by President Bush to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, Leslie H. Southwick served for almost 12 years on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, where he participated in thousands of cases spanning the gamut of civil and criminal law.

Obama to turn down additional fall debates  —  Inundated by dozens of invitations, Sen. Barack Obama will turn down requests to join future debates and forums this fall, his Democratic presidential campaign announced Saturday.  —  Obama will honor his commitment to eight more debates …

Panic on Wall Street  —  You've heard about the home-loan bust, but do you know your derivatives from your tranches?  Read Salon's easy guide to understanding the current market freakout.  —  Gerard Petti, right, directs trading from his post at the New York Stock Exchange, Aug. 16.

Recruiting For Iraq War Undercut in Puerto Rico  —  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The political activists, brown envelopes tucked under their arms, staked out the high school gates just after sunrise.  When students emerged from the graffiti-scorched streets of the Rio Piedra neighborhood …

Padilla Case Offers a New Model of Terrorism Trial  —  There were two perfectly predictable schools of thought being expressed after the conviction of Jose Padilla on Thursday on terrorism-related charges.  Supporters of the Bush administration said the conviction justified the more than three years …

Half a World Away: Soldiers in Iraq Don't Hear Deliberations Back Home (and Often Don't Care)  —  TIKRIT, Iraq — It never even hits the radar screen.  For the troops on the front lines and the colonels in the rear—and just about everyone in between—the big news in Iraq every day is that they're still alive and healthy.

RYE BARCOTT: A GREAT AMERICAN  —  My daughter Eliana returned from a visit to Africa during which she made the acquaintance of Rye Barcott (above with his colleague Matt Bugher) in Nairobi, Kenya.  For reasons that will become obvious, Rye made a great impression on Eliana.

Lawmaker apologizes for Muslim remarks  —  BOISE, Idaho - Rep. Bill Sali has apologized to a Muslim colleague for remarks suggesting the nation's founders never intended for Muslims to serve in Congress.  —  In an Aug. 8 interview with the conservative Christian-based American Family News Network …