Tonight on Countdown

President Bush flirted with the idea that U.S. troop strength in Iraq could be reduced during a whirlwind visit to Anbar Province on his way to an Asia-Pacific summit at which the debate over the war seemed sure to follow him. Bush arrived here on a rainy Tuesday night after an unscheduled detour to the dusty war zone and the province that was once rife with insurgents. He arrived ahead of a summit of 21 Asia-Pacific countries. The president told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday night that his strategy sessions with U.S. and Iraqi leaders and chats about morale with soldiers and Marines at an air base in western Iraq left him hopeful that positive change is starting in the 4-year-old conflict. Despite military successes, political progress - especially at the national level - is lagging and Democrats and some prominent Republicans want troops called home. Crocker and Petraeus are to testify before Congress next week. Their assessment of the conflict, along with a progress report the White House must give lawmakers by Sept. 15, will determine the future course of the war. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20585305/

In Book, Bush Peeks Ahead to His Legacy. For now, though, Mr. Bush told the author, Robert Draper, in a later session, "I'm playing for October-November." That is when he hopes the Iraq troop increase will finally show enough results to help him achieve the central goal of his remaining time in office: "To get us in a position where the presidential candidates will be comfortable about sustaining a presence," and, he said later, "stay longer." But fully aware of his standing in opinion polls, Mr. Bush said his top commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, would perhaps do a better job selling progress to the American people than he could. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/washington/02book.html?ref=books

Keith's Special Comment on the President's surprise visit to Iraq and his intent... "playing for October-November".

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Parliament reconvened Tuesday after a monthlong summer break but took up none of the key benchmark legislation demanded by Washington ahead of a report to Congress on progress in Iraq. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20582773/

Bill Clinton has delivered 30 years' worth of campaign stump speeches as a political candidate, governor and president. His latest effort is his shortest yet at about eight minutes long, and perhaps his most challenging: boiling down, in the pithiest and warmest way, why his wife should be in the White House. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20581383/

Kicking off the fall campaign season with her famous husband at her side, Senator Hillary Clinton yesterday portrayed herself as both a reformer and an experienced insider, telling a rapt audience of more than 3,000 that the next president needs both qualities to reverse the damage from eight years of what she called "government of the few, and by the few and for the few." http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/03/clinton_launches_fall_campaign_with_nh_stop/

Brad Pitt had a bit of a nervous moment when a crazed fan got too close for comfort at the Venice Film Festival taking place in Italy.

Tucker said some horrible stuff last week, and he needs to be called out for it.

MSNBC won't allow it. If they did allow it KO would have wiped the floor with Tweety dozens of times by now.

There's an alert about that over at Clark's web site.

A special comment and a special visitor.

Waiting for some Count Down.