Petraeus won't join bandwagon for Iraq withdrawal timetable  —  BAGHDAD — The top U.S. military commander in Iraq isn't buying the increasingly popular idea of a publicly stated timetable for American troop withdrawal.  —  Gen. David Petraeus, the Iraq commander, said in an interview …

Worried Banks Sharply Reduce Business Loans  —  Banks struggling to recover from multibillion-dollar losses on real estate are curtailing loans to American businesses, depriving even healthy companies of money for expansion and hiring.  —  Two vital forms of credit used by companies …

Obama sees doctor for sore hip  —  CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - Just back from an eight-day trip to the Middle East and Europe, Barack Obama went to see a doctor Sunday night at the University of Chicago Medical Center to examine a sore hip.  —  “His hip has been sore from basketball for a few weeks …

For Obama, Hurdles in Expanding Black Vote  —  MACON, Ga. — Amanda Bass, a volunteer for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, had already tried once to get Wilmer Gray to register to vote.  But when she glimpsed him in a black T-shirt and White Sox cap again on a recent weekday …

Docking Paychecks for Politics  —  The mighty Service Employees International Union (SEIU) plans to spend some $150 million in this year's election, most of it to get Barack Obama and other Democrats elected.  Where'd they get that much money?  —  That's a question the Departments of Labor …

Be Afraid.  Please.  —  Life is full of disappointments.  —  Early Friday, I went to the Real Clear Politics Web site, as I do every morning, for my fix of political news and commentary.  I perked up when I saw the third entry on the list of that day's notable articles — “No. 44 Has Spoken.”

McCain Says Obama Plays Politics on Iraq  —  Some Fellow Republicans Question Tactics  —  In his most direct challenge yet of his Democratic presidential rival's Iraq policy, Sen. John McCain suggested yesterday that Sen. Barack Obama had crafted a war strategy designed to further his own political advancement.

McCain Supports Ariz. Proposal to Ban Affirmative Action  —  Sen. John McCain said today that he supports a proposed initiative on the November ballot in Arizona that would ban preferential treatment on the basis of race or sex in public education, jobs and contracting, an apparent change …

Rights Issue Looms as Bush Heads to China  —  Diplomacy During Games Is Subject Of Intense Debate  —  With President Bush set to leave next week for the Olympics in Beijing, the White House is coming under increased pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups to make a public statement …

Rwanda's Women Are Leading the Way  —  I have recently returned from Rwanda.  I was last there in 1994, at the height of the genocide that claimed the lives of more than 800,000 Rwandans.  The memories of what I saw haunt me still.  —  I wasn't sure what to expect all these years later …

U.S. Says Contractor Made Little Progress on Iraq Projects  —  The U.S. government paid a California contractor $142 million to build prisons, fire stations and police facilities in Iraq that it never built or finished, according to audits by a watchdog office.

Democratic convention brings challenges to Denver  —  Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, front center, tours the arena where the convention will be held.  Fundraising for next month's event is off by $10 million.  —  Fundraising for next month's event is off by $10 million …