AP - Whether he's before a friendly West Virginia audience, a Cleveland club proud of its interrogation skills or a White House news conference, President Bush is drawing on his plainspoken manner in freewheeling venues to defend his Iraq strategy.

AP - The only spot up for grabs in Cleveland's bullpen became a three-way race on Wednesday when the Indians optioned right-hander Andrew Brown to Triple-A Buffalo.

AP - Gerald Wallace was inactive for the Charlotte Bobcats' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night because of a sore left calf.

Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice officially turned her back on Wednesday on her dream job -- commissioner of the National Football League.

AP - Three weeks of relative peace and tranquility ended for the Cleveland Indians.

AP - Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points to lead Rutgers to an 82-48 victory over TCU in the second round of the Cleveland Regional on Tuesday night.

AP - Lance Palmer, a 140-pound high school wrestler and four-time state champ, taps into his substantial skills whenever he takes on Ceaser Jr. Skill comes in handy when your opponent is a 650-pound black bear.

AP - Pete Rozelle made one mistake the last time the NFL was looking for a commissioner. It led to a seven-month stalemate, something Paul Tagliabue won't let happen again.

Reuters - President George W. Bush, trying to regain Americans' confidence in his Iraq war strategy, will hold a news conference on Tuesday.

Reuters - U.S. President George W. Bush has briefed Australian Prime Minister John Howard on a U.S. nuclear deal with India in a move seen as groundwork by Canberra for a possible policy change to allow uranium exports to India.

AP - Beginning the fourth year of an unpopular war, President Bush defended his Iraq record on Monday against skeptical questioning. He said he could "understand people being disheartened" but appealed to Americans to look beyond the bloodshed and see signs of progress.

AP - Paul Tagliabue is retiring as commissioner of the NFL, a league that evolved during his 16-year tenure into the nation's richest and most powerful sports empire.

AP - In September, 5,000 Iraqi troops backed by a 3,500-strong U.S. armored force, drove insurgents out of Tal Afar, one of their strongholds and staging areas near the Syrian border.

AP - Some Baghdad residents voiced anger and dismay when asked about their lives as the U.S.-led war in Iraq entered its fourth year Monday, when insurgents and sectarian gangs killed at least 38 more people.

AP - President Bush is known as a plainspoken man, a straight-talker. So how did a word like "kerfuffle" come out of his mouth?

Reuters - Dozens of U.S. anti-war protesters were arrested on Monday in demonstrations marking the third anniversary of the Iraq war, while others denounced President George W. Bush during an appearance in Cleveland.

AP - Safety Chris Crocker was traded Monday by the still-busy Cleveland Browns, who sent him to Atlanta for the Falcons' fourth-round pick in April's NFL draft.

AP - POINTED QUESTIONS: President Bush fielded tough questions for nearly an hour in Ohio, tackling topics from the war in Iraq to his domestic priorities.

Julie Farby - AHN Staff Writer Cleveland, OH (AHN)—As the fourth post-invasion year of Iraq begins, President George W. Bush remains steadfast in his case for war, pledging the United States will not abandon the violence-plagued country. In a speech to the City Club of Cleveland,...

Reuters - President George W. Bush said on Monday he understands that unrelenting violence in Iraq has shaken Americans' confidence but pledged the United States will not abandon the country as the fourth post-invasion year begins.