Rumsfeld praises soldiers doing extra duty in Iraq

FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- In a lively but polite give-and-take, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld fielded questions Saturday from family members of Alaska-based soldiers whose combat tours in Iraq were abruptly extended just as they prepared to return home this month. The unit's deployment to Iraq was extended by up to four months to bolster U.S. firepower in the Baghdad area. Rumsfeld said in an interview that the 172nd Brigade was an effective force during its nearly one-year deployment to northern Iraq.

NASA delays launch of space shuttle Atlantis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA officials decided Saturday to delay the launch of space shuttle Atlantis by 24 hours to give engineers more time to determine whether one of the most powerful lightning strikes ever at a Kennedy Space Center launch pad caused any problems. The launch, planned for Sunday, now won't happen until at least Monday.

-- From wire reports