•Bush stands by Rumsfeld, criticizes Iraqi troops, and blames car bombings in Iraq for dashing hopes: "No one can predict every turn in the months ahead, and I certainly don't expect the process to be trouble-free, yet I am confident of the result." [WP, NYT, WSJ, USAT, BG]
•Bush on Rumsfeld: "Beneath that rough and gruff, no-nonsense demeanor is a good human being who cares deeply about the military and deeply about the grief that war causes." Rumsfeld issues defense in USAT. [NYT, WT]
• Majorities in two polls believe Rumsfeld should go and war was a mistake; 70% say casualties are "unacceptable"; Bush disapproval rating at 49%. [WP, USAT]
•Brownback, Coburn named to Judiciary Committee. [WP, WT]
• 9/11 Commission members urge restructuring of Congress for better oversight of intelligence. Cox: "If Congress insists on treating them forever as separate entities answerable to separate Congressional committees under separate authorizing legislation, they will be forever segregated." [NYT]
• FBI memos detail abuses in Iraq. Mueller was warned lit cigarettes were placed in detainees' ears in June 24th "Urgent Report." [NYT]
•Bush turns hawkish on deficits: "It's going to be a tough budget, no question about it, and it's a budget that I think will send the right signal to the financial markets and those concerned about our short-term deficits." [WSJ]
•Bush mastered the dodge at yesterday's presser. [WP]
•Bush intends to stay friendly with Putin. [WP, USAT]
• U.S. aid to Ukraine considered bankroll of government's opponents. [NYT]
• New intelligence chief faces deep bureaucratic challenges; Hamilton, Franks, Goss, Loy mentioned; Loy resigns from DHS. [WSJ, USAT]
• Wall Street quietly lobbies for private Social Security accounts. AFL-CIO director: "Our sense is there is a lot of activity behind the curtain. There is a dangerous confluence between the industry and the ideologues of the right. These groups can't do it by themselves - they need the covert and overt support of the financial services industry." [NYT, USAT]
• GAO assails federal book-keeping. [WP]
• FAA to hire 12,000 new air-traffic controllers over next decade. [WSJ]
