The CNN Wire: Thursday, Sep. 13

Editor's Note: The CNN Wire is a running log of the latest news from CNN World Headquarters, reported by CNN's correspondents and producers, and The CNN Wire editors. "Posted" times are Eastern Time.

Sources: White House report to show slow political progress in Iraq

Washington (CNN) -- A White House update on political progress in Iraq will show meager gains have been made in 18 benchmarks established for the Iraqi government as part of a Congressional supplemental funding bill approved in May.

According to two sources outside the White House familiar with the report, President Bush will tell Congress on Friday that of the 18 benchmarks the Iraqis have been tasked with meeting -- nine are satisfactory, five are unsatisfactory, two are unsatisfactory but with some progress, and two others can not be properly assessed -- a gain of one in the satisfactory category.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino refused to comment about the specifics of the president's report when asked about it on Thursday, but said "people should not expect dramatic changes only 58 days after the president's initial assessment," which was delivered in mid-July. (Posted 2:55 a.m.)

Strong earthquake hits Indonesia, marking third day of ongoing seismic activity

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 struck Friday off the southwestern coast of Sumatra, the same area shaken by a major 8.4-magnitude temblor that killed nine people Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was "a very small possibility of a local tsunami" affecting coastal areas within about 100 km (62 miles) from the quake's epicenter. (Posted 2:30 a.m.)

Miami-Dade police shot, killed suspect after intense manhunt

MIAMI (CNN) -- Miami-Dade police shot and killed a man suspected of shooting four officers, one fatally, following a traffic stop Thursday, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez said at a news conference early Friday.

Shawn Sherwin Labeet, 25, died just before midnight after a gunfire exchange with police. The confrontation took place following an intense manhunt, the mayor said.

When police confronted Labeet at 305 Southwest 85th Avenue in Pembroke Pines, Fla. "there was an exchange of gunfire and the suspect was shot and killed," Alvarez said. "In his possession he had a firearm and an extra clip."

Police said there had been a previous warrant out for his arrest for aggravated assault from a September 2002 incident. (Posted 1:45 a.m.)

Miami-Dade police shot, killed suspect after intense manhunt

MIAMI (CNN) -- Miami-Dade police shot and killed a man suspected of shooting four officers, one fatally, following a traffic stop Thursday, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez said at a news conference early Friday.(Posted 12:40 a.m.)

Tropical Storm Ingrid forms in the Atlantic

(CNN) -- Tropical Storm Ingrid formed Thursday night over the open Atlantic about 840 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, but forecasters said the new storm is likely to weaken back into a tropical depression before it nears the Caribbean.

As of 11 p.m. ET, Ingrid's maximum sustained winds were 40 mph, barely above the 39 mph threshold to classify it as a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was moving to the west-northwest at about 6 mph.

The long-range forecast shows Ingrid continuing to the northwest through Sunday, then weakening to a tropical depression on Monday as it gets closer to the Lesser Antilles.

Most of the computer forecast models show Ingrid eventually moving in a more northerly direction, which would take it out into the central Atlantic and away from both the United States and the Caribbean. However, tropical systems can be unpredictable, and long-range forecasts can change. (Posted 11:05 p.m.)

Reed, in Dem response: 'Endless' military presence in Iraq 'not an option'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush provided neither a plan to responsibly end the war in Iraq nor "a convincing rationale" to continue fighting there, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said Thursday night.

Reed, delivering the Democrats' response to the president's speech outlining his Iraq strategy for the next nine months, noted that even Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq who recommended Bush's plan, has said that Iraq's problems must ultimately be resolved politically.

While Bush, in his speech, said that the Iraqis had asked for an "enduring relationship" with the United States that would extend beyond his presidency, Reed said that "an endless and unlimited military presence in Iraq is not an option."

Reed said that Bush's plan to reduce troop levels from 160,000 to 130,000 by July 2008 only erases the 'surge,' putting troop levels back where they were in January before that increase in troops began. (Posted 9:27 p.m.)

Citing progress, Bush announces force reductions in Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a televised address Thursday night to a war-weary nation, President Bush said conditions on the ground in Iraq have improved sufficiently to start bringing some U.S. troops home -- a development he said could also make it possible for Americans divided over the war "to come together."

Bush said he had accepted the recommendation of the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, to reduce U.S. force strength by 5,700 troops by Christmas and, by next July, reduce the number of combat brigades from 20 to 15, a decrease of roughly 30,000 troops.

The first step in that process will come later this month, when 2,200 Marines leaving Anbar province will not be replaced, the president said.

Petraeus and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, both reported to Congress this week that progress had been made on the ground in Iraq since Bush decided earlier this year to send in about 30,000 additional troops, in what administration officials termed a "surge." (Posted 9:25 p.m.)

Police working around the clock to catch suspect in officers' shootings

MIAMI (CNN) -- A man suspected of shooting four Miami-Dade police officers, one fatally, following a traffic stop Thursday remained the subject of an intense manhunt Thursday night, and authorities pledged to work around the clock until he was arrested.

The incident occurred about 11 a.m. as the officers were on a burglary detail at a housing complex in Cutler Bay, Fla., Alvarez said. They saw a vehicle driving erratically, he said, stopped it and confronted the man police believe is Labeet.

The man got out of the car and opened fire with an assault rifle, Alvarez said. "Without any remorse, Labeet left the officers there to die and fled the scene."

One of the officers did die. Alvarez said he was 37 years old and survived by a wife and two young children, and had been with the department since 2003. (Posted 9:25 p.m.)

Dems breathe new life into troop reduction strategy

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats believe they are making inroads on a strategy to force a change in U.S. policy in Iraq.

Congressional sources say they may be "close to having 60 votes" on a proposal from Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., that would give American troops more time between deployments. Senate rules require 60 votes to defeat a filibuster and bring an issue to a vote, and 67 votes to overcome a veto from the president.

Supporters say mandating more time between deployments would force a reduction in troop levels because there are not enough troops to sustain a constant level of the 130,000 expected to remain in Iraq next summer under the schedule laid out this week by Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

The Webb plan is more moderate than the mandatory withdrawal timetables Democrats have been unable to get past filibustering Republicans or the president's veto pen, but, said one source, "This has the advantage of being doable."

-- From CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley (Posted 8:10 p.m.)

MoveOn.org paid going rate for full page advocacy ad

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- MoveOn.org's New York Times ad calling into question Gen. David Petraeus' testimony before Congress drew more Republican ire Thursday -- this time over the price the non-profit political advocacy group paid for the full-page ad.

The New York Post, citing MoveOn.org, reported Thursday that the organization paid $65,000 for the ad, calling it a $116,000 discount from the Times' usual $167,000 price. That prompted a pair of GOP presidential candidates to complain.

There's just one problem. The $65,000 rate is the Times' normal rate for an advocacy ad from a non-profit group, according to newspaper spokeswoman Catherine Mathis. (Posted 6:39 p.m.)

Former Gov. Warner to seek open Senate seat in Virginia

(CNN) -- Former Democratic Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia said Thursday that he plans to run for his state's open U.S. Senate seat next year, presenting a formidable obstacle for Republicans trying to hang on to the post.

"I've decided the way I can contribute most to getting our country back on the right track is to serve in the United States Senate," Warner said in a video announcement posted on his campaign Web site. "Six years ago, we brought a bipartisan approach of change to Virginia, and it's time to bring that same approach to Washington and our nation."

Warner, 52, is running for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. John Warner, who has announced he will retire after 30 years in office. The two men are not related.

Mark Warner, a multimillionaire who built his fortune in the cell phone industry, was elected governor of the Old Dominion in 2001. Virginia law limits governors to a single term, which forced him to leave office in 2005. He considered making a bid for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination but announced last year that it was "not the right time for me." (Posted 6:24 p.m.)

Bush to announce some Iraq troop cuts, hints at long-term U.S. presence

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. successes in Iraq mean "we can begin seeing troops come home," but other American troops will remain there into 2009 and beyond, President Bush will announce Thursday night.

Bush is scheduled to deliver a national address on the war at 9:01 p.m. ET, touting what he says are the achievements of the troop "surge" he launched in January.

"Our success in meeting these objectives now allows us to begin bringing some of our troops home," Bush will tell viewers, according to excerpts released by the White House.

But he acknowledges that Iraqi political leaders have not taken the expected steps toward reaching a political settlement of the 4-year-old conflict, and said the success of Iraq's government "will require U.S. political, economic, and security engagement that extends beyond my presidency." (Posted 5:21 p.m.)

Bush says 'surge' success means some troops can come home

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush will announce Thursday night that U.S. successes in Iraq mean "we can begin seeing troops come home," according to excerpts released by the White House. (Posted 5:08 p.m.)

Bush to stress 'bottom-up' progress in Iraq speech

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush is expected to emphasize what his administration calls "bottom-up" political progress in Iraq when he addresses the nation Thursday night, senior administration officials said.

One official said Bush will argue that grass-roots efforts are "laying the groundwork for national reconciliation" even though Iraq's national government has not achieved the goals set when the president ordered nearly 30,000 additional troops into the fight in January.

"They need to be met. And, when they are met, that will be tangible signs of progress," one official told reporters. "There are other, however, tangible signs of progress that matter. And the fact is, we put the emphasis on the national element of this, but there is a very important reconciliation going on at the local level."

Bush's speech, which aides said would highlight a "return to success," is scheduled for 9:01 p.m. ET. (Posted 4:22 p.m.)

Leading Formula One team faces fine, sanctions in spy scandal

PARIS (CNN) -- Leading Formula One racing team McLaren was fined $100 million and barred from competing in the 2007 world championship Friday by a governing board investigating accusations of espionage against the team.

The World Motor Sport Council of the FIA (Federation Internationale de L'Automobile) levied the sanctions at a hearing Friday in Paris.

McLaren's chief designer was found to have a 780-page document on his computer detailing technical data about rival Ferrari's Formula One car. That designer was dismissed, along with a Ferrari official -- who denied being the source of the leak.

McLaren was found guilty of fraudulent conduct in July, but the FIA said there wasn't enough evidence to penalize the team. However, the FIA earlier this month scheduled the Paris hearing, saying new evidence had come to light. (Posted 4:12 p.m.)

Beijing envoy holds third parties accountable for China product problems

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A top Chinese official blames importers, exporters and illegal companies for problems with certain products sent from his country to the United States, and declined Thursday to directly express government regret for the incidents.

Vice Minister Wei Chuanzhong (prono: way chu-ahn) said his government is working with American regulators to establish responsibility for contaminated and possibly defective Chinese goods, including toys, toothpaste, pet food, and automobile tires.

Given the enormous amount of trade between the two countries, Wei said, "some individual cases related to product quality and food safety emerging from the bilateral trade, it is a normal thing now."

Communicating through an interpreter, he told reporters at a news conference that "we are facing the task to further clarify the responsibility of both sides." --From CNN's Paul Courson (Posted 4:05 p.m.)

One of four wounded Miami police officers dies

MIAMI (CNN) -- One of four Miami-Dade County police officers wounded Thursday while conducting robbery surveillance at a housing complex in Cutler Bay, Fla., has died, Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez said.

A manhunt is under way for the suspect in the shootings, who is considered armed and dangerous, said Commander Linda O'Brien, a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade police.

Miami-Dade police originally said the suspect was Kevin Wehner, 30, but they later said Wehner was not involved in the shooting and that the suspect's name is actually Shawn Sherwin Labeet.

One of the officers is in good condition at Baptist Hospital in Miami and could be released later in the day, officials said. The conditions of the other two injured officers were not released. (Posted 3:58 p.m.)

Mexican government credited with decrease in cocaine, meth supply into U.S.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A significant drop in the flow of cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States in the last several months is largely the result of more determined and effective action by the Mexican government, U.S. anti-drug officials said Thursday.

The Drug Enforcement Administration cited a decision by President Felipe Calderon to send about 3,000 troops to northern Mexico to cripple two violent drug cartels battling for supremacy in the lucrative Mexican drug-smuggling trade. The move was viewed as crucial because 90 percent of cocaine and 80 percent of meth smuggled into the United States come from Mexico, DEA officials said.

DEA intelligence analysts disclosed Thursday that they first began to detect around March a noticeable decline in the cocaine and meth supplies to more than two dozen U.S. cities identified as distribution centers for illegal narcotics.

The declassified DEA analysis reveals the decline in supply during the past several months has produced an average increase in meth prices of 37 percent, and an increase in cocaine prices of 24 percent. Meanwhile, purity in meth sold dropped 24 percent and purity in cocaine sold dropped 12 percent. --From Justice Producer Terry Frieden (Posted 3:57 p.m.)

Gonzales: 'All of us make mistakes'

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- It may be his last week in his position, but embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said he wasn't about to cancel a scheduled trip to Iowa. He met Thursday with local partners of a group that combats sexual abuse and exploitation of children, because he said it's an issue he and his wife view as "very important."

Asked at a press conference immediately following how he views tenure, he said, "With a great deal of pride, quite frankly. It's a great privilege to serve in this position, and when you serve in these positions, obviously sometimes there are tough decisions and tough times that occur, but I think we did a lot of good things."

He cited an infrastructure that's been put in place to "protect our kids" as one of those positive things. He also said he thinks that under his watch a "lot of good things" have been done toward protecting the United States from another terrorism attack.

Asked if there was anything he regrets, Gonzales said, "Well of course, we're all human and all of us make mistakes, and the thing that's important is to identify when those mistakes are made, acknowledge the mistakes, correct the mistakes, and then you move on. ... So that's what I've endeavored to do as attorney general." --From CNN Iowa Producer Chris Welch (Posted 2:57 p.m.)

U.S. Air Force bases to 'stand down' Friday

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The safety "stand down" that the U.S. Air Force announced after a B-52 bomber mistakenly carried six nuclear warheads from North Dakota to Louisiana in late August will be held Friday at all of its U.S. fighter and bomber bases.

The stand down, which is a routine procedure after an unexpected incident, means crews will stay on base and review procedures, especially for handling nuclear weapons.

The order applies to all bases under the Air Force's Air Combat Command. Bases that have essential missions scheduled have already had the stand down or will schedule it for another day, an Air Force spokesman said.

Any essential missions for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or for homeland security, will still be flown, according to the U.S. Northern Command. --From CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr (Posted 2:49 p.m.)

Pentagon edits audio of 9/11 mastermind's hearing, fearing propaganda

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon said it cut most of captive al Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's personal statement from a recording of a military tribunal hearing it released Thursday, fearing the audio would be used as terrorist propaganda.

Though transcripts of his full statement were released shortly after the March hearing, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said, "There is an obvious difference between the potential impacts of the written, versus the spoken word."

It was determined that the release of Mohammed's words "would enable enemies of the United States to use it as a way to recruit or encourage future terrorists or terrorist activities," Whitman said in a statement accompanying the release of the recording. "This could ultimately endanger the lives and physical safety of American citizens and those of our allies."

About 10 minutes of sound was cut from the recording, the Pentagon said. (Posted 2:28 p.m.)

One of four injured Miami police officers dies

MIAMI (CNN) -- One of four Miami-Dade County police officers injured Thursday while conducting a robbery surveillance at a housing complex in Cutler Bay, Fla., has died, Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez said.

A massive manhunt is under way for the suspect in the shootings. (Posted 2:04 p.m.)

Fossett search directed to California site

MINDEN, Nev. (CNN) -- Ground crews and flight teams involved in the search for famed aviator Steve Fossett are being sent to eastern California, where a woman camping in Alpine County has said that she heard some kind of explosion and saw puffs of smoke in the area over the Labor Day weekend.

She didn't report the explosion and smoke until Wednesday, which is when she returned from her trip, authorities said.

The area is within the 50-mile radius from the ranch where Fossett, a 63-year-old billionaire adventurer, left on his trip Sept. 3.

A ground search of the rugged area could take four to five days, officials said. An overhead search is also under way.

Meanwhile, the aerial search on the western Nevada side of the search area has been suspended for 24 hours because of high winds over rough terrain, organizers said Thursday. Ground searches will continue in the area, officials said. (Posted 1:49 p.m.)

At least 12 Pakistani soldiers killed in blast in army mess

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- At least 12 soldiers were killed in a blast in an army mess inside Terbella Ghazi cantonment area, 100 km northeast of Islamabad, according to an intelligence source.

The source said more than 25 soldiers were wounded.

The company to which the soldiers belonged was one of the army units that took part in the week-long siege of Islamabad's Red Mosque -- a bloody standoff between security forces and Islamic extremists who hoped to a Taliban-style rule across the capital. More than 100 people, including militant leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi, died when troops stormed the mosque compound in July. --From CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi (Posted 1:02 p.m.)

Strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake hits southern Sumatra

(CNN) -- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck late Thursday in the Indian Ocean west-northwest of the Sumatran province of Bengkulu, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The Indonesian Bureau of Meteorology and Geophysics issued a tsunami alert as a precautionary measure.

The quake's center was 141 km (87 miles) west-northwest of Bengkulu, and about 55 km (34 miles) deep.

A major 8.4-magnitude quake hit the same area of western Indonesia Wednesday, killing nine people. (Posted 1 p.m.)

At least 10 Pakistani soldiers killed in blast in army mess

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- At least 10 soldiers were killed in a blast in an army mess inside Terbella Ghazi cantonment area, 100 km northeast of Islamabad, according to a Pakistan army spokesman. The spokesman said more than 16 soldiers were wounded. --From CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi (Posted 12:39 p.m.)

High winds suspend air search for Fossett

(CNN) -- An aerial search for famed aviator Steve Fossett has been suspended for 24 hours because of high winds over rough terrain, search organizers said Thursday.

Ground searches will continue, and they hope to resume the air searches Friday morning.

In addition, they said Fossett's wife, Peggy, has notified officials that her husband was not wearing his watch, which has an emergency transmitter, when he left on his flight Sept. 3. (Posted 12:22 p.m.)

Jury chosen for trial of polygamist sect leader

ST. GEORGE, Utah (CNN) -- A jury of seven women and five men was chosen Thursday for the trial of polygamist sect leader Warren Steed Jeffs, and opening statements are to start at 1:30 p.m. MT (3:30 ET). (Posted 12:10 p.m.)

One dead as Humberto slams into Texas, Louisiana

HOUSTON (CNN) -- An 80-year-old Texas man was killed Thursday morning when an aluminum roof collapsed on him while he watched Hurricane Humberto, which rushed ashore overnight.

The man, whose wife is an at-home hospice patient, was standing on the back patio of his Bridge City home when the metal roof fell on top of him, said police Chief Steve Faircloth in Bridge City, about 25 miles east of Beaumont.

Humberto surprised forecasters early Thursday by quickly gaining strength and then bringing its heavy rain into southeastern Texas, making landfall just north of Galveston, the National Hurricane Center reported.

It was downgraded to a tropical storm late Thursday morning after its top sustained winds dropped to 65 mph. (Posted 10:49 a.m.)

Key Sunni leader in Anbar who stood against al Qaeda assassinated

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A key Sunni sheikh who united with U.S. forces to fight al Qaeda militants in Iraq's Anbar province was assassinated Thursday by a roadside bomb planted near his home in Ramadi, a spokesman for the Anbar Salvation Council and Iraqi officials told CNN.

The bomb struck a convoy carrying Sheikh Sattar Abu Risha around 3:45 p.m. (7:45 a.m. ET), about a mile (2 km) from his home, a Ramadi police official and an Interior Ministry official said. At least two of his bodyguards were killed and five other escorts were wounded, the officials said.

Abu Risha, 39, was head of the Anbar Salvation Council -- also known as the Anbar Awakening -- a coalition of tribes that has been working with the U.S. military to counter al Qaeda militants in the Sunni-dominated province. The council, funded and supported by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, was formed last year.

U.S. President Bush has repeatedly cited successful efforts to bring Anbar tribesmen over to the coalition's side in the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq as evidence of overall success by the U.S. military in Iraq. Since the Sunni sheikhs began cooperating with the U.S. military, violent attacks have significantly decreased in Anbar. -- From CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Mohammed Tawfeeq (Posted 9:52 a.m.)

Edwards to offer his own rebuttal to Bush's Iraq speech

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Sen. John Edwards, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, has purchased two minutes of advertising time on MSNBC Thursday night following President Bush's prime time address on Iraq, an Edwards' aide tells CNN.

The former North Carolina senator, along with his rivals for the Democratic nomination, have been very critical of Bush's strategy in Iraq.

The ad will run in the first ad break following Bush's address and the official Democratic rebuttal by Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island.

In the ad, Edwards argues that Bush was wrong to push for more U.S. troops in Iraq, and calls for a "firm timeline for withdrawal," according to excerpts of the ad provided to CNN. --From CNN Political Editor Mark Preston (Posted 9:37 a.m.)

U.S. general: Rocket used in attack on major U.S. base has links to Iran

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Shiite militants armed with an Iranian-made rocket ignored a pledge from their leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, and attacked a U.S. military base in Baghdad on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding 11 soldiers, a U.S. military spokesman said Thursday.

The person killed was a "third-party national," according to a statement from the U.S. military.

The attack on Camp Victory, located on the grounds of Baghdad International Airport, involved a 240-millimeter rocket, which Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Bergner described as "a weapon that these groups have received from Iranian sources in the past and recently used in other attacks against coalition forces."

Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr recently ordered a freeze to the activities of his Mehdi Army militia for six months. That move was made in the aftermath of fighting between Shiite militias that officials said involved the Mehdi Army. (Posted 8:41 a.m.)

Roadside bomb kills 6 in Shiite neighborhood; start of Ramadan for Sunnis

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A roadside bomb exploded Thursday in a crowded square in a Shiite neighborhood in Baghdad, killing six people and wounding eight others, an Iraqi interior ministry official said.

The attack happened in the Talbiya neighborhood, on the edge of Sadr City in eastern Baghdad. Thursday marks the start of the holy month of Ramadan for Sunni Muslims in Iraq. -- From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq (Posted 8:15 a.m.)

Hurricane Humberto hits SE Texas: 'It snuck up on us'

HOUSTON (CNN) -- A water-soaked Hurricane Humberto surprised forecasters early Thursday by quickly gaining strength and then plowing into southeastern Texas, making landfall just north of Galveston, the National Hurricane Center reported.

The storm, which had grown in a matter of hours from a tropical depression to a Category 1 hurricane, came ashore near High Island in Galveston County around 2 a.m. (3 a.m. ET) with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. Five hours later, its top winds decreased slightly to 80 mph as the slow-moving storm headed into southwestern Louisiana.

Humberto drenched Galveston, flooding its streets with water and debris, while the strong winds knocked down power lines and cut electricity. "Once it came through, it came through hard and it flooded most everything over here," Galveston Sheriff Deputy Kyle Cavness said onCNN's "American Morning."

Forecasters originally thought Humberto would make landfall closer to Galveston on Wednesday night, but the storm took a turn to the northeast, giving it more time over the warm Gulf waters and bumping it up to hurricane status.

"The intensity surprised everybody, especially the amount of rain and wind," Cavness said. "It snuck up on us, to be honest with you. It wasn't something we were expecting." (Posted 8:09 a.m.)

Bush to highlight 'bottom-up' political progress in Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush is expected to emphasize what his administration calls "bottom-up" political progress in Iraq in a major address to the nation Thursday night on Iraq.

As his press secretary hinted on Wednesday, Bush will argue that progress has been made in Iraq and now is the time to build on it. Amid Democratic criticism and Republican concerns that the troop surge has failed to produce national reconciliation at the top levels in Baghdad, the official says the president is expected to argue that the grass-roots efforts by the Iraqis are "laying the groundwork for national reconciliation."

At the same time, a senior administration official said, the president will also point to the "long haul and tough work ahead." On the heels of congressional testimony by his top commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Bush will reiterate familiar themes during his prime-time address to the nation, trying to connect success in Iraq to security in the United States, and recapping security progress in the al-Anbar province of Iraq, according to the official. -- From CNN's Elaine Quijano (Posted 7:51 a.m.)

Preliminary 6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck off the northern tip of Sulawesi island in Indonesia Thursday afternoon, a day after three major earthquakes struck the region, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake struck underwater at a depth of about 13 miles some 180 miles northeast of Bitung at 5:48 a.m. ET. The area is 2445 km (1520 miles) east northeast Jakarta.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami threat following the earthquake.

"Based on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected," a NOAA statement said. (Posted 6:55 a.m.)

Poll: Bush approval holds at 36 percent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Ahead of a national address on the war in Iraq, Americans remain deeply skeptical about the policies President Bush is pursuing and unhappy with his job performance, according to a CNN poll released Thursday.

The president's approval rating in the survey, conducted Friday through Sunday by Opinion Research Corp., was 36 percent -- unchanged from an August survey and barely above where it was in January.

But 61 percent of Americans disapprove of Bush's performance in office, the poll found -- and the same number said they believe his policies are taking the country in the wrong direction.

Pollsters interviewed 1,017 American adults for the survey, which has a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. (Posted 6:04 a.m.)

Outgoing Japanese PM hospitalized for exhaustion, stress

TOKYO (CNN) -- Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was hospitalized for gastrointestinal inflammation caused by exhaustion and stress Thursday, a day after announcing his resignation following a sound electoral beating and the resignations of several government ministers.

Toshifumi Hibi, a doctor at Keio University Hospital, told reporters he recommends that the 52-year-old prime minister remain hospitalized for at least three days to receive treatment, depending upon how his condition progresses.

"He is suffering from extreme exhaustion," Hibi said, adding Abe has lost about 5 kg (11 pounds) in recent months.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis -- or gastrointestinal inflammation -- include vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and abdominal cramps, according to a Web site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (Posted 5:52 a.m.)

Scores of Taliban insurgents killed in southern Afghanistan

(CNN) -- Dozens of Taliban insurgents were killed Wednesday after attacking a joint Afghan National Army-coalition patrol in Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan Province, a statement from the U.S.-led coalition said.

No coalition or Afghan forces were hurt, but more than 45 insurgents were killed after firing on the patrol with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire, the statement said.

Afghanistan security forces "immediately returned fire and called for coalition close air support after confirming the enemy was drawing large amounts of reinforcements from areas across the Helmand River," the statement said.

Once the Afghan soldiers cleared the Taliban militants from their "multiple firing positions," a coalition airstrike using precision guided munitions wiped the positions out completely, the coalition said. (Posted 5:50 a.m.)

Hurricane Humberto smacks Texas packing 85 mph winds

HOUSTON (CNN) -- A soggy Hurricane Humberto plowed into southeastern Texas early Thursday, making landfall near High Island, the National Hurricane Center reported.

The storm that had quickly grown from a tropical depression to a Category 1 hurricane came ashore around 2 a.m. (3 a.m. ET) with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. (Posted 5:30 a.m.)

Indonesia hit by second and third powerful quakes

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Less than a day after being rocked by a deadly earthquake, people on the Indonesian island of Sumatra were jolted again Thursday morning by a pair of powerful tremors that prompted the Indonesian government to issue additional tsunami warnings.

Residents in other Indian Ocean nations were also put on notice about the possibility of tsunami waves. Most of those watches were later dropped, although a watch remained in effect for Indonesia.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck about 6:45 a.m. (7:45 p.m. Wednesday ET), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was about 115 miles south-southeast of Padang and about 125 miles northwest of Bengkulu.

About four hours later, the USGS reported that a 7.1-magnitude quake had rocked the region. Sandwiched in-between were half a dozen temblors measuring 5.0 and above. (Posted 5:07 a.m.) E-mail to a friend