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Quote of the Day. "No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens." Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (New York Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

At National Prayer Breakfast, Obama warns against 'erosion of civility' "President Obama bemoaned the 'erosion of civility' in the nation's political debate Thursday, telling an audience at the National Prayer Breakfast that there is a growing sense that 'something is broken' in Washington." National Prayer Breakfast Draws Controversy "The objections are focused on the sponsor of the breakfast, a secretive evangelical Christian network called The Fellowship, also known as The Family, and accusations that it has ties to legislation in Uganda that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals."

Obama's spirituality is largely private, but it's influential, advisers say "Yet close advisers to the president said the role of faith, while subtle, has been noticeable in and around the Obama White House. One senior official described the president as 'a prayerful guy.'"

Haitian Bishop Warns Against 'Militarization' of U.S. Aid "A Haitian Catholic bishop said the United States 'can do much more' to help his earthquake-stricken country, and warned against an 'excessive militarization' of American relief efforts."

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Obama suggests Republicans could have a role in health-care bill "President Obama urged congressional Democrats on Wednesday 'to finish the job on health care,' but amid tentative signs of bipartisan outreach on Capitol Hill, he suggested that Republicans could be enlisted to play at least some role in negotiating a final bill." Health Official Can't Guarantee Openness in Talks "Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, told Congress on Wednesday that she could not guarantee greater openness in negotiations over legislation to remake the nation's health care system." Soaring cost of healthcare sets a record "In a stark reminder of growing costs, the government has released a new estimate that healthcare spending grew to a record 17.3% of the U.S. economy last year, marking the largest one-year jump in its share of the economy since the government started keeping such records half a century ago."

Community Development. Treasury offers loans to banks funding community development "The Treasury Department said Wednesday that it will offer up to $1 billion in low-cost loans to banks that focus on funding development in lower-income communities, part of the administration's new emphasis on helping smaller banks."

New Conservative Thinktank. G.O.P. Group to Promote Conservative Ideas "A group of prominent Republicans is forming an organization to develop and market conservative ideas, copying a successful Democratic model and hoping to capitalize on the fund-raising and electioneering possibilities opened up by a recent Supreme Court ruling."

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Haiti. 2 U.S. centers open to treat badly injured Haitian evacuees "After a five-day suspension of medical evacuation flights from Haiti that threw the fates of hundreds of gravely injured earthquake victims into doubt, new Federal Coordinating Centers are now open for business at airports in this city and in Atlanta." Americans questioned over Haiti children "Five of the American Baptists arrested while attempting to take a busload of Haitian children out of the country were questioned in Port-au-Prince yesterday, as the authorities decided whether to charge them with child-trafficking." Haiti: black market in food aid emerges "Blocks from where US and UN soldiers distribute sacks of rice to Haitian women in earthquake-shattered Port-au-Prince, street vendors are openly selling rice by the cup from bags stamped with US flags." Rebuilding Effort in Haiti Turns Away From Tents "Shifting tactics in the race to shelter an estimated one million Haitians displaced by the earthquake, aid groups on Wednesday began to de-emphasize tents in favor of do-it-yourself housing with tarpaulins at first, followed by lumber."

Pakistan. Soldier Deaths Draw Focus to U.S. in Pakistan "The deaths of three American soldiers in a Taliban suicide attack on Wednesday lifted the veil on United States military assistance to Pakistan that the authorities here would like to keep quiet and the Americans, as the donors, chafe at not receiving credit for."

Afghanistan. Military Officials Say Afghan Fight Is Coming "NATO and the Afghan military are about to launch their biggest joint offensive of the war, and they appear to be making sure the Taliban know they are coming." Nato readies for assault on Taliban "Thousands of Nato and Afghan troops are gearing up to launch a massive offensive in southern Afghanistan -- the largest the country has seen since the 2001 US-led invasion." Karzai's Taliban reconciliation strategy raises ethnic, rights concerns at home "Political resistance is building in Afghanistan to President Hamid Karzai's two-track plan to end the war by negotiating with Taliban leaders while enticing their foot soldiers with the promise of jobs and development projects."

Israel-Palestine. PM: Peace talks could resume in weeks "'I have reason to hope, realistically, that in the next few weeks we will renew the peace process with the Palestinians, without preconditions,' Netanyahu said. 'I have been saying now for a long time that among the international community there is recognition that Israel wants and is prepared to renew the diplomatic process.'" Israel: Peace talks to resume soon "The Israeli prime minister has said he expects peace talks with the Palestinians, which have been stalled for more than a year, to resume in the coming weeks."

Iran. Iran Opposition Leaders Urge Rally on Anniversary "Throwing up a challenge to the increasingly violent tactics of Iran's ruling elite, the country's two leading opposition figures are urging protesters to defy the government and take to the streets in an antigovernment rally on Feb. 11." China warning over Iran sanctions "China has said talks of fresh sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme would 'complicate the situation' and could derail diplomatic efforts."

Colombia. Colombian Paramilitaries' Successors Called a Threat "Criminal armies that emerged from the ashes of the Colombian government's attempt to disband paramilitary groups are spreading their reach across the country's economy while engaging in a broad range of rights abuses, including massacres, rapes and forced displacement."

Poverty & Health. Poor nations face cancer burden "The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that around one-third of cancer deaths are preventable, through education programmes, better detection and treatment. As a result, the disease hits hardest in developing countries, where such programmes are rudimentary, if they exist at all."

OPINION

The Defense Budget (Editorial, New York Times) "Congress now gets to poke, prod and, we hope, seriously debate the budget and the defense review. It must start with another post-cold-war notion: The country cannot afford to write the Pentagon a blank check. And that means that Congress will have to spend less time listening to defense lobbyists and more time thinking about the country's real strategic needs."

The death penalty -- it's unworkable (Michael Traynor, president emeritus of the American Law Institute, Los Angeles Times) "The withdrawal of the model death penalty statute recognizes that it is impossible to administer the death penalty consistently and fairly, and it therefore should not remain a punishment option in this country. The institute could no longer play a role in legitimizing a failed system. How much longer can any of us?"

The message is clear: Israel must not strike Iran (Gideon Levy, Haaretz) "In the sea of brainwashing, intimidation and cliches surrounding us, it's sometimes worthwhile to listen to a voice from the outside, a voice no less proficient than the Israeli "experts" on security matters and Iran. The voice of reason. Such was the voice of the senior European diplomat who had served as an ambassador in Tehran for about five years and was visiting Israel this week."

Sojourners' Daily Digest is a compilation of the top news related to our commitments of life and peace, economic and racial justice, and care of creation, with a special focus on news of the engagement of faith in public life.