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A staff report from the Sept. 11 commission says the Pentagon's air-defense command wasted precious time and missed a chance to intercept at least one of the hijacked planes used in the 2001 attacks. The report largely blames inadequate emergency procedures that didn't account for a response to suicide hijackings. Hear NPR's Mary Louise Kelly and NPR's Steve Inskeep.

The Supreme Court dismisses on a technicality a lawsuit seeking to drop the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, sidestepping the issue of whether the phrase violates the separation of church and state. The ruling relieved both conservatives and civil liberties groups. Both sides of the debate feared that a win would have triggered a divisive fight to amend the Constitution. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

The United States and Britain circulate a revised draft U.N. resolution on Iraq that gives the new Iraqi government complete control over its own security forces, and sets an approximate timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. Meanwhile, the interim Iraqi government named Tuesday begins setting its governing priorities, but some question how truly independent it will be from U.S. authorities. Hear NPR's Emily Harris.

President Bush addresses the graduating class at the United States Air Force Academy, telling them the war on terror is the modern equivalent of World War II or the struggle against Communism. The speech in Colorado Springs, Colo., also made it clear that the president considers the fighting in Iraq to be the central front in the war on terror. NPR's White House Correspondent Don Gonyea reports.

A United Nations announces the appointment of an eight-member Iraqi election commission, which will direct preparations for a January 2005 vote on a constitutional assembly. NPR's Emily Harris reports.

Author Christiane Bird shares her experience with the people from the mythical and actual land of Kurdistan in the Middle East. She speaks with NPR's Tony Cox about the history of the Kurds and their views on the war in Iraq.

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks to Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith. They discuss recent developments in the war in Iraq, and the plan for Iraq's transfer to civilian control outlined in President Bush's speech on Monday. Feith also responds to a recent Day to Day segment that featured Slate writer Chris Suellentrop, who severely criticized Feith's work.

Family, friends and U.S. and foreign dignitaries pay homage to President Ronald Reagan at a memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The 40th president will be buried Friday night at the Reagan presidential library in California. Former President George H.W. Bush spoke emotionally of his predecessor's warmth and humanity. President George W. Bush, who has used Reagan as a political model, lauded his economic and defense policies. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel.

The declaration releases emergency funds to recovery efforts in three counties in northeastern New Mexico.

A top official at Iraq's foreign ministry is killed in Baghdad during an ambush by unknown gunmen. Bassam Kubba, who had been a career diplomat, is the first member of Iraq's new interim government to lose his life amid continuing violence and security problems. Hear NPR's Linda Wertheimer and NPR's Emily Harris.