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 …

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.) …

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 …

New Frontburner Issue in Iowa: Same-Sex Marriage  —  The Nation — Iowa will in all likelihood remain the state that opens the process of nominating the Democratic and Republican candidates for president in 2008.  As such, it is a "must visit" and "must impress" state for contenders in both parties.

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.

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.)

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.

Thompson gives back cash  —  Fred Thompson, facing scrutiny for stockpiling cash while he purported to be only exploring the possibility of a presidential bid, is returning some contributions to supporters.  —  Thompson, who plans to officially enter the race for the Republican nomination Thursday …

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.

HHS Toned Down Breast-Feeding Ads  —  In an attempt to raise the nation's historically low rate of breast-feeding, federal health officials commissioned an attention-grabbing advertising campaign a few years ago to convince mothers that their babies faced real health risks if they did not breast-feed.

JUST READ THE HEADLINE; DON'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS  —  When Marines were accused of committing atrocities at Haditha, Mad Jack Murtha and many others rushed to convict them.  We have followed the story as those accusations have fallen apart, and one Marine after another has been exonerated.

"Redacted" stuns Venice  —  VENICE (Reuters) - A new film about the real-life rape and killing of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl by U.S. soldiers who also murdered her family stunned the Venice festival, with shocking images that left some viewers in tears.  —  "Redacted", by U.S. director Brian De Palma …

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.

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