Daily Briefing: 'Theater of the Absurd'

* Administration and Sen.Frist(R-Tenn.) agree on 45-day review of Dubai port deal.Scott McClellan: "We believe, however, the additional time and investigation at the request of the company will provide Congress with a better understanding of the facts, and that Congress will be comfortable with the transaction moving forward once it does." [ WP , NYT , NYT , W$J , USAT ]

* States make decisions on the "morning-after" pill as the FDA wavers. [ WP ]

* Army will reimburse Halliburton subsidiary for nearly $2.4b despite findings of overcharges. [ NYT ]

*Bushsets off on whirlwind two-day tour of India. [ NYT ]

*Mike McCurryon the White House press briefings: "It has turned into a theater of the absurd."Ari Fleischer: "The public perceives the press not as watchdogs but as attack dogs." [ NYT ]

* American Red Cross dropped $500,000 on public relations expenses over the past three years. [ WP ]

* Sen.McCain's vote to extendBushtax cuts is viewed as strategic move for '08 -- and a "political flip-flop." [ WT ]

* Governors complain the administration has reduced the effectiveness of the National Guard. [ NYT ]

* Texas nonprofit critical of Rep.DeLayis cleared by the IRS. [ WP ]

* RNC begins e-mail blitz against Sen.Clinton. [ WT ]