Daily News Digest

The latest news on Obama trip, Detainee trial, Faith & politics, U.S. Highways, Education, Colombia, Death by mistake, Brown & Israel, Iran, Zimbabwe, The next war, India, Anglicans, Editorial, and Opinion.

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Obama trip. Obama sticks to his goal of swift Iraq withdrawal "As Sen. Barack Obama headed to Iraq for his first visit as a presidential candidate, his plan for bringing the war to a swift conclusion was triggering a political furor abroad and at home, with a U.S. military leader declaring Sunday that setting a hard deadline for withdrawing troops is risky." Obama's Visit Renews Focus on Afghanistan "Senator Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan, on a high-profile foreign trip in a country that is increasingly the focus of his clash with Senator John McCain over whether the war in Iraq has been a distraction in hunting down terrorists." Obama, Karzai Share a 'Working Lunch' "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met here Sunday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and later reiterated his call for additional U.S. forces to deal with conditions in Afghanistan that he described as "precarious and urgent," Obama Gets Look At Afghan War Zone "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama got his first look at deteriorating conditions in war-torn Afghanistan on Saturday, meeting with U.S. military commanders and local officials and touring part of the country by helicopter on the first day of a highly anticipated visit abroad that drew a fresh rebuke from Republican rival John McCain."

Detainee trial. Detainee's Trial in Military System Begins Today "Nearly seven years after President Bush declared an "extraordinary emergency" that empowered him to bring terrorists before military judges, Osama bin Laden's former driver is scheduled to go on trial Monday" Historic first terror trial opens at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba "The historic action comes nearly seven years after President Bush first moved to establish military commissions to try suspected Al Qaeda terrorists."

Faith & politics. McCain and Obama Agree to Attend Megachurch Forum "The Rev. Rick Warren has persuaded the candidates to attend a forum at his Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, Calif., on Aug. 16." Evangelical leader Dobson shifts positions, may endorse McCain despite misgivings "Conservative Christian leader James Dobson has softened his stance against Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, saying he could reverse his position and endorse the Arizona senator despite serious misgivings."

U.S. Highways. U.S. highway trust fund veers toward crisis "As motorists cut back on their driving and buy more fuel-efficient cars, the government is taking in less money from the federal gasoline tax. The result: The principal source of funding for highway projects will soon hit a big financial pothole."

Education. With No Frills or Tuition, a College Draws Notice "BereaCollege, founded 150 years ago to educate freed slaves and "poor white mountaineers," accepts only applicants from low-income families, and it charges no tuition."

Colombia. Millions Rally for Colombian Hostages "The worldwide condemnation of the rebels' tactics has helped solidify President Álvaro Uribe's hard-line position against the group." Betancourt in plea to Farc rebels "The recently freed French-Colombian politician, Ingrid Betancourt, has urged her former captors, the Marxist Farc rebels, to release all hostages."

Death by mistake. U.S. Forces Kill Relatives of Iraqi Governor "American Special Operations forces shot to death the son and nephew of the governor of Salahuddin Province during a raid on Sunday in the northern city of Bayji, the latest in a series of operations that have resulted in the deaths of civilians or close associates of Iraqi government officials" U.S. and NATO Forces Kill 13 Afghans in Strikes Said to Be Mistakes "United States and NATO missile and mortar strikes continued to exact a heavy toll on Afghans over the weekend, killing at least 13 in two attacks that Afghan officials said were mistakes."

Brown & Israel. Brown vows to stand by Israel"Gordon Brown today recalled the Holocaust in a blunt warning to Iran to end its "totally abhorrent" threat to destroy Israel and abandon plans to develop nuclear weapons." Brown issues Iran nuclear warning "Britain is determined to prevent Iran developing nuclear arms, Gordon Brown has warned in an address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset."

Iran. Rice calls Iran's nuclear position 'small talk' "U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today dismissed Iran's recent response to a proposed solution to Tehran's nuclear program as "small talk" meant to buy time and warned that sanctions would be forthcoming if Iran did not comply with international demands to halt or slow its production of enriched uranium." U.S. fails to sway Iran at 7-nation nuclear talks "U.S. and Iranian envoys Saturday had their highest-level diplomatic contact in 29 years, but the seven-nation gathering in Geneva on Tehran's nuclear program was quickly brought to a halt by Iran's refusal to say whether it would suspend uranium enrichment."

Zimbabwe. Deal on Zimbabwe power- sharing talks 'imminent' "Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai are reportedly close to signing an agreement to hold power-sharing talks in what would be the first step towards forming a unity government in Zimbabwe, according to officials in Harare." Zimbabwe leaders 'to sign deal' "South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki is also in Harare to witness the deal. UN envoy to Zimbabwe Haile Menkerios said the pact could clear the way for talks."

The next war. A battle over 'the next war' "Many military officers are pushing back against Defense Secretary Gates' focus on preparing for more 'asymmetric' fighting rather than for a large, conventional conflict."

India. Indian lawmakers' confidence vote to determine fate of US nuclear deal "Indian lawmakers gathered Monday to debate a vote of confidence in the government that will likely determine the fate of a landmark civilian nuclear deal with the United States." Indian MPs hold confidence debate "The Indian parliament is debating a vote of confidence in the Congress party-led government that could decide the fate of a nuclear deal with the US."

Anglicans. Anglican wounds exposed at summit"Hundreds of bishops from around the world took more than half an hour to file into Canterbury Cathedral for their most important gathering in 10 years yesterday." Anglicans Face 'Severe Challenge' "The head of the Anglican Communion said Sunday that the global fellowship faces "one of the most severe challenges" in its history, and he urged bishops at their once-a-decade Lambeth Conference to do the hard work of finding solutions." Anglican Bishops Meet in Canterbury "The gathering, the Lambeth Conference, takes place once every 10 years. This year's meeting, centered on two weeks of debate that begin Monday, is taking place only a few weeks after a group of bishops from the church's traditionalist and evangelical wings, meeting in Jerusalem, founded a new group, the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans,"

Editorial. Pushing Back on Immigration (New York Times) "There is nothing good about the country's ever more merciless campaign of immigration enforcement. But at least there are emerging signs of resistance, from one of the most important, yet curiously disengaged, players in the debate: employers."

Opinion.

A double-scoped vision of religion and liberalism (James Carroll, Boston Globe) "The Anglican communion is moving forward with one eye on this uncertain terrain, and one eye on what the biblical tradition actually reveals. The religious imagination is at stake - and more."

Reconciling evil with faith (Michael Novak, USA Today) "One of the oldest accusations against God in the Bible and in every generation since has been that there is too much evil in this world for there to be a good God. The pain is so intense. The irrationality and seeming cruelty at times seem unendurable."