Daily Briefing: 'Outlandish and Inconceivable'
•Pentagon has a tentative plan to withdraw about 50,000 troops from Iraq over the next year. [ WP ]
•For oil executives who were involved in the energy task force, the truth depends on what the meaning of "participation" is. Sen.Frank Lautenberg's (D-N.J.) definition: "If you're doing anything more than breathing in the room when you're there. Even if you're a silent observer." [ WP ]
• Bushallegedly talked toTony Blairabout bombing Al-Jazeera.Scott McClellan: "We are not interested in dignifying something so outlandish and inconceivable with a response." [ WP ]
•FEMA will extend housing subsidies for Gulf Coast evacuees. [ WP , NYT ]
•Administration formally chargesJose Padillaahead of Monday deadline; "the government has yet to settle on a consistent strategy for holding and punishing people it says are terrorists." [ NYT , NYT , WT , USAT , USAT ]
•Judge delays decision on throwing out charges against Rep.Tom DeLay(R-Texas). [ WP , LAT , NYT ]
•Rep.Jean Schmidt(R-Ohio) doesn't know what all the fuss is about: "I am amazed at what a national story this has become." [ WP ]
• Bushpardons two turkeys and sends them to Disneyland. PETA flack: "It's hard to argue with Disneyland." [ NYT ]
•White House defendsSamuel Alitoon districting issue, saying he "has told senators that he believes 'one man one vote' is bedrock principle." [ NYT ]
•Sen.Barack Obama(D-Ill.) calls for a "limited drawdown" from Iraq: "Those of us in Washington have fallen behind the debate that is taking place across America on Iraq. We are failing to provide leadership on this issue." [ WP ]