Daily News Digest

Faith and politics. Poll: Frustrated social conservatives increasingly opposed to mixing church and politics "Social conservatives are growing more wary of church involvement in politics, joining moderates and liberals in their unease about blurring the lines between pulpit and ballot box, a new study found." Survey: More Americans Question Religion's Role in Politics "Some Americans are having a change of heart about mixing religion and politics. A new survey finds a narrow majority of the public saying that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters and not express their views on day-to-day social and political matters."

Convention prayer. Young evangelical accepts, then declines, invitation to say prayer at Democratic convention "Cameron Strang, the 32-year-old editor of edgy and hip Relevant Magazine, had second thoughts and pulled out of delivering the benediction on the convention's first night."

Back-to-school. In a weak economy, back-to-school shopping gets tougher for some parents "With cash tight and fuel and food prices high, many parents are eyeing back-to-school lists warily, looking for bargains and buying used clothes. In some cases, they're even thinking about sending their children to school without all the supplies they need." Bush education law: shift ahead? "This could be the last back-to-school season for No Child Left Behind.... the debates over how best to measure proficiency and close the gaps have been fierce - to the point that they've delayed the act's reauthorization, which was due last year. Changes to the law - and perhaps even its name - are now expected to wait until after a new president and Congress settle in next year."

Latino platform. Latino groups call for end to wars in Iraq, Afghanistan "A coalition of Hispanic groups offered its recommendations for both party's platforms, including calls to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Immigration raids. RI bishop wants US to halt mass immigration raids "Rhode Island's Roman Catholic bishop is calling on US authorities to halt mass immigration raids and says agents who refuse to participate in such raids on moral grounds deserve to be treated as conscientious objectors."

Peace Corps. Peace Corps to Pare Ranks of Volunteers "The Peace Corps, the popular service program that President Bush once promised to double in size, is preparing to cut back on new volunteers and consolidate recruiting offices as it pares other costs amid an increasingly tight budget, according to agency officials."

Execution stay. Accomplice in 1996 slaying gets execution delay "In a blistering opinion that labeled state court proceedings "an insane system," a federal judge Thursday halted the execution of Jeffery Wood to allow mental health experts to determine whether the killer is sane enough to be put to death."

US-Iraq agreement. U.S., Iraqi Negotiators Agree on 2011 Withdrawal "U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have agreed to the withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces from the country by the end of 2011, and Iraqi officials said they are "very close" to resolving the remaining issues blocking a final accord that governs the future American military presence." U.S. and Iraq close to a troop withdrawal deal "American and Iraqi officials are close to a draft agreement to see U.S. forces conditionally withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011, though both sides warned that political hurdles to a final settlement remain."

Iraq. Iraq Takes Aim at Leaders of U.S.-Tied Sunni Groups "The Shiite-dominated government in Iraq is driving out many leaders of Sunni citizen patrols, the groups of former insurgents who joined the American payroll and have been a major pillar in the decline in violence around the nation."

Afghanistan-Canada & UK. Taliban blast kills three in worst attack on Forces this year "An explosion that killed three troops and wounded another west of Kandahar marked a devastating strike against the Canadian Forces by insurgents whose recent attacks have come in rapid succession." 3 more Canadian soldiers killed "Sgt. Eades, Sapper Stephan Stock and Cpl. Dustin Wasden, combat engineers based out of Edmonton, were killed in Afghanistan in the deadliest attack on Canadian forces in more than a year. Their deaths bring the toll in Afghanistan to 93 soldiers and a Canadian diplomat." Olympians will salute you, Gordon Brown tells troops "Gordon Brown told British soldiers serving in Afghanistan yesterday that their achievements surpassed even those of the country's Olympic stars in China." Brown warns on Afghan troop levels "Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, has said he believes the Afghanistan army will have to more than double in size if it is to overcome the Taliban."

Israel. Livni: World pressure on Israel, PA could spark third intifada "Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni - the leading candidate to replace Ehud Olmert as leader of Kadima and as prime minister - met with the foreign press in Israel and called for a national unity government that would be able to pursue the creation of Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel." From Israel, a Call for Patience "Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni warned against outside efforts to pressure Israel and the Palestinians to come up with a peace agreement this year, saying violence could erupt if they fail to meet international expectations." 'We won't place missiles in Syria' "Russia has no intention of placing the advanced Iskander missile system in Syria, acting Ambassador Anatoly Yurkov told The Jerusalem Post."

India nuclear talks. India says no to new provisions in NSG draft "A proposed provision in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group draft seeking to halt all nuclear commerce between the Group and India if it conducted further tests seemed to have become the sticking point as the 45-member NSG went into the second round of its meeting here Friday."

War resisters. Youth jailed for refusing to serve on 'moral grounds' "Udi Nir, 18, of Herzliya, was arrested on Tuesday, the day after his draft date, in a quick response from the army to his refusal to enlist on "moral grounds." Appearing before a military judge on Thursday, Nir was sentenced to 21 days in prison." War resister to plead guilty "The first American war resister deported from Canada will plead guilty to charges of desertion at a court martial."

Pakistan. Pakistan announces presidential election "Members of the federal and provincial assemblies must select a successor to Pervez Musharraf, who resigned on Monday to avoid impeachment charges. The commission secretary, Kanwar Dilshad, said the vote would take place on September 6." Pakistan suicide attack kills 60 at weapons complex "In a devastating strike that signals that this week's departure of President Pervez Musharraf will bring no letup in their bloody campaign, Islamic militants took aim Thursday at a highly symbolic target: Pakistan's main weapons-building complex."

Russia-Georgia. Russian troops mass for Georgia pullout "Columns of Russian tanks were gathering on the road to Gori today as they appeared to be preparing for a mass withdrawal from the area." Russia withdrawal 'on schedule' "Russia says its withdrawal of combat troops from Georgia is going according to plan and that it is not prepared to increase the speed of the operation." Edgy Georgians now thinking about resisting invasion "After more than a week of Russian troops occupying his town, Kishvardi Taturashvili said the time for resistance was drawing near."

Russia-US analysis. Should the U.S. rethink its military strategy after Georgia? "For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the United States is contemplating a Russia that has used military force against a neighbor and wondering what, if anything, it must do to counter it." U.S. Sees Much to Fear in a Hostile Russia "If Russia's invasion of Georgia ushers in a sustained period of renewed animosity with the West, Washington fears that a newly emboldened but estranged Moscow could use its influence, money, energy resources, United Nations Security Council veto and, yes, its arms industry to undermine American interests around the world." Why Georgia is not start of 'Cold War II' "While Russia's action has been termed a new cold war, that concept doesn't capture the dramatic global changes since Mikhail Gorbachev disbanded the Soviet Union in 1991, say diplomats and Russian area specialists. In a more globalized world, Russia is at once a competitor, a partner, and an opponent."

Opinion. Attack isn't the answer (Karim Sadjadpour, Haaretz) "As Israel contemplates military action to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions, it is essential to take a closer look at Iran's most powerful man - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - and his views toward the Jewish state. A clearer understanding of the precise challenge Iran poses should disabuse Israeli leaders of the idea that force is the best way to neutralize it." There are better options(Daniel Levy, Haaretz) "Israel's response to the Iranian challenge has been out of synch with developing realities for some time. Recently though, it has become dangerously counter-productive, anchored as it is in denial."