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President Bush defends the U.S. mission in Iraq, saying that calls for American troops to leave the country are premature. The president warned that the situation would only worsen without U.S. troops -- and that "chaos in Iraq would be very unsettling in the region."

The Food and Drug Administration approves over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill, called Plan B by its maker, to those 18 or older. The FDA's decision ends a contentious 3-year effort to make it available without a prescription. But women 17 and younger will have to obtain a doctor's prescription to get the pills.

President Bush holds a White House press conference Monday, describing calls for a pullout of Iraq "absolutely wrong." He also urged the rapid deployment of United Nations peacekeepers to help maintain the cease-fire in Southern Lebanon.

No longer restrained by a a government gag order, the Army Reservist who turned over pictures of inmate mistreatment at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison to military investigators is discussing publicly his decision to disclose the abuse.

Robert Siegel talks with NPR's Julie Rovner about the Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve sales of the so-called morning-after pill without a prescription. The new rules allow women over 18 to buy the "Plan B" drug over the counter. The decision comes after three years of national debate over access to emergency contraception.

Commentator Jack Staub rhapsodizes about his favorite herb, basil, which is abundant at this time of year. He also offers hints about what to do with all of it, including a recipe for handy and easy-to-use pesto cubes.

The U.S. national basketball team, led by coach Mike Krzyzewski and NBA stars such as Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, loses to Greece in the semifinals of the world basketball championships. The team was unbeaten in its first seven games before falling to a veteran Greek team.

Planked salmon has long been a regular menu item in the Pacific Northwest, and its popularity has now spread to the lower states. There's no easier way to impress guests than to grill fish on a wooden plank, which yields a delightful, smoky sweetness.

NASA has announced that Lockheed Martin will build America's new space capsule, called Orion. Expected to orbit Earth by 2014, Orion is expected to reach the moon by 2020. Although the capsule design has not been deemed to be especially exciting, unlike earlier capsules, Orion will be reusable. Melissa Block talks with U.S. Air Force Chief Scientist Mark Lewis about the spacecraft.

This week the Senate is debating whether to pass a bill that would both raise the minimum wage for the first time in almost a decade, and permanently cut the estate tax. It's a compromise that would give both Democrats and Republicans something each side wants. The House has already passed the bill. Don Gonyea talks to David Wessel of The Wall Street Journal.