Morning Brief: Bin Laden driver gets light sentence

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A U.S. military panel gave Osama bin Laden's former driver, Salim Hamdan, the surprisingly light sentence of five and a half years for the crime of "material support for terrorism." Since Hamdan is already credited for serving 61 months, that could give him about half a year left before he goes free. A Pentagon spokesman, however, said he "would not speculate on that." The military might try to hold Hamdan as an "enemy combatant."

Characterizing himself Thursday as "a simple Bedouin who changed the oil," Hamdan apologized for September 11, saying, "I don't know what could be given or presented to these innocent people who were killed in the U.S." He claimed to have no prior knowledge of the attacks.

Wall Street Journal reporter Jess Bravin called the sentence "an embarrassing blow to the Bush administration's first war-crimes prosecution." Jerry Markon and Josh White of the Washington Post said it was "a stunning rebuke to prosecutors," who had been seeking to put Hamdan behind bars for at least 30 years.

Americas

Accused anthrax mailer Bruce Ivins "took several hours of administrative leave" on a key day in September 2001, the Washington Post reports. The New York Times tells of how Ivins allegedly sought to mislead investigators while pretending to help them.

Northeastern University is hiring Kaplan to acclimate its foreign students.

Asia

The Beijing Olympics begin today under gray skies. USA Today predicts that China will win the most gold medals, though the United States will come home with the most medals overall. George W. Bush will be there to watch the opening ceremony; he'll be the first American president to attend an Olympics outside the United States.

Bush hasn't pulled too many punches in talking about freedom of speech and religion in Beijing, though China's reaction seems muted so far.

The bigger question: Will it rain?

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wants to double the size of the Afghan army.

Middle East and Africa

Through a spokesman, radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr vowed to dissolve his militia if the United States carries out a timetable for withdrawal.

Random House pulled a novel about the Prophet Mohammed out of fear that it would incite violence.

Europe

Intense fighting has broken out in South Ossetia, a Russian-backed renegade region of Georgia. Russian PM Vladimir Putin threatened a response to what he said were "aggresive actions" by Georgia.

Britain's economy is staring at the abyss.

Decision '08

Barack Obama is vacationing in Hawaii, where he grew up.

John McCain is visiting the Iowa state fair.

Bill Clinton will speak at the Democratic Convention on Wed., Aug. 27.

A Florida man apparently threatened to kill Obama and Bush. Who says bipartisanship is dead?

Weekend Agenda

Pakistan's top generals are pondering Pervez Musharraf's fate.

South African President Thabo Mbeki heads to Harare Saturday to meet with Zimbabwe's political leaders.

U.S. readers: NBC will broadcast the opening ceremony at 7:30 p.m. ET.