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The federal government is about to select several U.S. firms to oversee the rebuilding of Iraq. Some say it's unseemly for American firms to earn a profit repairing damage inflicted by the U.S. military. European companies were shut out from the bidding process. NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports.

In the southern Iraqi city of Kerbala, U.S. soldiers are still welcomed by the locals, a rare example of things going right in America's troubled occupation of Iraq. But even in Karbala, anti-American discontent is growing, as are attacks against U.S. forces there. NPR's Kate Seelye reports.

Iraqis can't get their hands on fuel despite the nation's abundant oil supplies, and the situation continues to drive frustration and even recent rioting. U.S. and British officials say production facilities have been crippled by sabotage. They're also battling a smuggling operation that has sent oil to neighboring Kuwait. NPR's Ivan Watson reports.

Months before war in Iraq began, there was a fierce turf battle in Washington, D.C., over who would write the final script for the nation's reconstruction: the State Department or the Pentagon. The Pentagon won, but the political fallout hurt U.S. efforts to restore postwar order. NPR's Jacki Lyden reports.

The first 400 recruits for the new Iraqi army begin basic training under U.S. supervision at a base east of Baghdad. The recruits are under heavy guard for fear that Iraqi resistance fighters might attack. U.S. officials say they hope to have a division of 12,000 troops within a year. NPR's Anne Garrels reports.

Members of Iraq's American-appointed governing council are unhappy about the way the United States is awarding contracts for reconstruction. They say the process excludes potential Iraqi contractors, who would charge much less for the work, and favors huge American companies and their foreign sub-contractors. And council members say the process is riddled with bribery and kickbacks. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

A suicide car bombing at an Iraqi police station in Baghdad leaves the bomber and eight Iraqis dead and dozens wounded. In a separate incident, a Spanish embassy employee is killed in Baghdad. Northwest of the Iraqi capital, a U.S. soldier dies in an ambush on his convoy. NPR's Tom Bullock reports.

A new poll for NPR shows that among likely voters, a majority believe the country is on the wrong track. Americans also say they are less confident in President Bush's job performance. Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg and Republican pollster Bill McInturff asked people for their views of President Bush, the war in Iraq and the state of the country. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

President Bush's top strategist, Karl Rove, agrees to testify a fourth time before a grand jury investigating the unauthorized release of CIA operative Valerie Plame's name to reporters. This time, federal prosecutors will not grant Rove immunity -- which could pave the way for an indictment.

The situation in New Orleans continues to deteriorate, with widespread flooding and looting. The evacuation of thousands of people from the Superdome in the city was halted early Thursday when shots were fired at military helicopters. There are also reports of armed carjackings.