"With the conflict in Afghanistan entering its seventh year , the United States has now been at war without resorting to a draft for longer than any time since the American Revolution." Meanwhile, Congress plans to, uh, work less . Thanks guys and gals! Interesting read: Andrew Sullivan looks at things from Cheney's point of view . SATURDAY NEWS: * On the ground in the abandoned streets of Sadiyah . (Bonus: in pictures .) * Where did the CIA's 'ghost prisoners' go? * The State Department will have to force its diplomats to work in Iraq, since no one is volunteering. * Analysis: the california fires can't erase the stain of Katrina , despite what the administration wants you to think. Also, FEMA apologizes for its fake news conference . * Why didn't anyone do anything about the subprime lending crisis before it was too late? * Sure would love to hear Congress, the President, the candidates, or, really, anyone, talking about the effects of rising gas prices on the citizens' wallets. * National Review offers its nemesis, New Republic , advice on how not to handle a scandal. However, the Army is far from blameless. * Those wacky earmarks: how much for a Woodstock museum ? * Hollywood stumbles into the post-summer box office . Vox populi: do you believe in ghosts ? Oh, wow : "It was the perfect brew — an African-American entrepreneur promoting a Polish vodka owned by a French corporation using Chinese performers practicing an Afro-Latin influenced art form that originated in the inner cities of the United States."