Sources: Craig resignation likely soon  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Several well-placed GOP sources in Washington and Idaho have told CNN that embattled Republican Sen. Larry Craig is likely to resign soon, possibly as early as Friday.  —  A GOP source with knowledge of the situation told CNN's Dana Bash …

Panel Will Urge Broad Overhaul of Iraqi Police  —  An independent commission established by Congress to assess Iraq's security forces will recommend remaking the 26,000-member national police force to purge it of corrupt officers and Shiite militants suspected of complicity in sectarian killings …

Thompson to make White House bid official next week  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Fred Thompson ended the suspense on Thursday and said he would formally launch his 2008 run for the White House next week with a webcast and a five-day tour of early voting states.

Iowa Judge Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage  —  Polk County Judge Robert Hanson struck down Iowa's prohibition on same-sex marriage Thursday.  —  In his 63-page decision, Hanson wrote that the statute excluding same-sex couples from marriage "violates Plaintiff's due process and equal protection rights …

Lawmakers Describe 'Being Slimed in the Green Zone'  —  The sheets of paper seemed to be everywhere the lawmakers went in the Green Zone, distributed to Iraqi officials, U.S. officials and uniformed military of no particular rank.  So when Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) …

Surge working: top US general  —  THE US troop surge in Iraq has thrown al-Qa'ida off balance and produced a dramatic reduction in sectarian killings and a drop in roadside bombings.  —  David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, said the build-up of American forces in Baghdad since late January had produced positive outcomes.

More Realism, Less Spin  —  A new report from Congress's investigative arm provides a powerful fresh dose of nonpartisan realism about Iraq as President Bush tries to spin people into thinking that significant — or at least sufficient — progress is being made.

Reid Opens Door to Pact With Antiwar Republicans  —  LAS VEGAS — Saying the coming weeks will be "one of the last opportunities" to alter the course of the war, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said he is now willing to compromise with Republicans to find ways to limit troop deployments in Iraq.

Budget Crunch Hits U.S. Attorneys' Offices  —  Amid Antiterror Focus,  —  Prosecutions Decline;  —  Rep. Lewis Probe Slowed  —  LOS ANGELES — Whoever succeeds Alberto Gonzales as attorney general will face a long list of challenges at the Justice Department, from unfilled senior positions to sagging morale.

Democrats Turn From Big Donor Who's Fugitive  —  From $62,000 for Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York, to $10,000 for the Tennessee Democratic Party, the full extent of fund-raising by Norman Hsu came into focus yesterday, as campaigns across the country began returning his money in light of revelations that he is a fugitive in a fraud case.

What Women Want  —  How the GOP can woo the ladies.  —  Hillary has herself.  Barack has Oprah.  John Edwards has his wife, Elizabeth.  And what secret weapon do Republican presidential candidates have to curry the all-important "women's vote"?  —  (Cue silence.)

Plane carrying U.S. lawmakers fired fired upon  —  (CNN) — A U.S. military plane carrying three U.S. senators and one member of the House of Representatives came under rocket fire Thursday night and had to make evasive maneuvers as it left Baghdad for Amman, Jordan.

Taliban vows more abductions as hostages freed  —  The seven remaining South Korean hostages taken captive last July by the Taliban have been released, and insurgents have vowed they will abduct more foreigners.  —  "We will do the same thing with the other allies in Afghanistan …

How life returned to the streets in a showpiece city that drove out al-Qaeda  —  An American 'martyr' is being hailed in the Sunni Triangle for restoring peace to a town where soldiers now fight only water leaks  —  Watch Martin Fletcher's report from Ramadi

Bush Will Offer Relief for Some on Home Loans  —  President Bush, in his first response to families hit by the subprime mortgage crisis, plans to announce several steps Friday to help Americans who have credit problems meet the rising cost of their housing loans, administration officials said Thursday.