Selected and fresh photos from around the web.
Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks during a campaign rally in the rain at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 27, 2008.
A puppy stands on a truck carrying people to be evacuated from the area in preparation for the approach of Hurricane Gustav in Batabano, on the southern coast of Cuba, August 30, 2008. Powerful Hurricane Gustav roared toward western Cuba on Saturday with 125 mph (205 kph) winds on its way to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico after a deadly pass through the Caribbean.
BANGKOK, THAILAND - AUGUST 30: A member of Anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stands behind barbed wire outside Government on August 30, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. The protesters want to unseat the seven-month old coalition government lead by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
Georgian soldiers run near a blazing building after a Russian bombardment in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008. A Russian warplane dropped a bomb on an apartment block in the Georgian town of Gori on Saturday, killing at least 5 people, a Reuters reporter said. The bomb hit the five-story building in Gori close to Georgia's embattled breakaway province of South Ossetia when Russian warplanes carried out a raid against military targets around the town.
Bangladesh cricketers Mohammad Ashraful, left, and Tamim Iqbal celebrate the dismissal of New Zealand batsman Jamie How, unseen, during their second one-day international cricket match in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (R) visits a military unit at an undisclosed location in North Korea in this recent picture released by North Korea's official television network KRT and grabbed by South Korea's Yonhap October 11, 2008. North Korea's state TV broadcast pictures of Kim on Saturday as the reclusive country stepped up its campaign to show its leader was healthy after reports surfaced last month he may have suffered a stroke.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 10: Pitcher Justin Masterson #63 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with teammates after the double play that ended the eighth inning of game one of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field on October 10, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Red Sox defeated the Devil Rays 2-0 to take a 1-0 series lead.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting with Russia's Communist Party in Moscow, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008. Vladimir Putin said Thursday the wide-ranging financial crisis has irreparably damaged the image of the U.S. as the leader of the free world and the global economy.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin smiles as he poses with a tiger cub on October 10, 2008 which was presented to him on his bithday on October 7, in Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow.
U.S. Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) listens to questions from supporters as his vice presidential running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) looks on during a town hall meeting in Waukesha, Wisconsin October 9, 2008.
Director Ridley Scott and girlfriend Giannina Facio attend the world premiere of 'Body Of Lies' at the Rose Hall Theater on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008 in New York.
There was no realistic, comprehensive plan to end our involvement — at least in combat operations ... In any military operation, there needs to be some sort of desired ends date and this goal needs to be made clear to the troops and the citizens of the country. There was no strategy in place that would allow that to happen. There was no leadership on the ground pointing troops in the direction of what needs to be done. 
When you have an all-volunteer force, their service needs to be treated with respect in order to maintain a strong, capable military force ... We have had to invest a large amount of money in enlistment and reenlistment bonuses to bring new people into the military and to retain those who have already fulfilled their initial commitment.
Sen. McCain is a veteran and uses that as part of his resume, which is completely reasonable, but what is shocking is that he neglected his responsibilities to his fellow veterans
We are a pro-military organization, and we are in favor of a winnable, feasible strategy, but the definitions need to be specifically defined by the candidates
We have endorsed Republicans and Democrats for Congress ... We have held politicians and candidates on both sides accountable for what they say and do. When we have been critical of Republican candidates, the Republican Party has attempted to paint us as a Democrat-leaning organization, but they are not going to argue with us when we are critical of Democrats.
Obviously we are against any attack on someone’s honorable military service, so we will be the first organization to come to the defense of any candidate whose record is unjustly attacked
