The latest news on Gaza, Bush Final Press Conference, Foreign Policy, Children's Health Insurance, Homelessness, U.S.-Mexico, Senator Burris, Pre-inaugural Prayer, Diplomacy Works, Afghanistan, Iraq-Iran, North Korea, and Select Op-eds.

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Gaza. Barak: We respect the U.N., but we're continuing with Gaza op "Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday reiterated that the IDF was continuing its offensive in Gaza while simultaneously, the political echelons were closely monitoring diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas." Israel deepens Gaza incursion "Explosions from heavy aerial bombardment continued in the early hours of Tuesday and fierce gunfire could be heard as ground troops moved into the more densely-populated areas of the Strip, as the assault entered its 18th day." Israelis strike 60 Gaza targets "Israel says it attacked more than 60 targets overnight in Gaza as its offensive against Hamas entered its 18th day." Olmert says he talked Bush out of cease-fire vote "Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert boasted Monday that he successfully pressured President Bush last week to reverse course on U.S. diplomacy over fighting in Gaza, in an episode that could sharpen tensions between the close allies at a sensitive moment." Israelis United on War as Censure Rises Abroad "Israel's critics abroad call the Gaza war a disproportionate response. In Israel, very few people see it that way."

Bush final press conference. Bush Defends Legacy but Concedes Some Mistakes "A wistful and introspective President Bush devoted a valedictory news conference to a robust defense of his 'good, strong record,' going further than he has gone before in conceding errors -- but making it clear that he has few major regrets about his handling of Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and the other major events of his eight years in office." Bush defends legacy in final press conference "By offering a wistful and introspective closing argument to the American people who elected him twice but then lost confidence in him, retiring President George W. Bush is attempting to write the first draft of his own history." Bush admits mistakes, defends record "President Bush, who four years ago couldn't identify a single mistake by his administration, on Monday ticked off a list of its shortcomings and disappointments, ranging from failures to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to its oft-criticized response to Hurricane Katrina."

Foreign policy. In Foreign Policy, a New Trio at the Top "When Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) gavels the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to order today and welcomes Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) to her confirmation hearing as President-elect Barack Obama's nominee to be secretary of state, he will mark the ascendance of a new triumvirate dominating the foreign policy arena." Kerry, After Setbacks, Aims to Make a Mark as a Senate Chairman "For Senator John Kerry, who had expressed interest in becoming secretary of state, assuming the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee is a bit of a consolation prize."

Children's health insurance. Congress Set to Renew Health Care for Children "Congress is poised to give President-elect Barack Obama a quick victory by passing a bill to provide health insurance to millions of low-income children."

Homelessness. Number of homeless likely to increase "The hurting economy, layoffs and foreclosures logically would trigger more homelessness, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness released a report today that says it's only just beginning."

U.S.-Mexico. President-elect Barack Obama meets Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Washington "With vexing issues as a backdrop, President-elect Barack Obama met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Washington Monday to begin work on one of the most vital yet challenging of U.S. relationships."

Senator Burris. Senate lets Burris in "Roland Burris, whose appointment to the Senate was in limbo for nearly two weeks, was accepted Monday by Democratic leaders, and he immediately struck a conciliatory tone with the very people who had tried to keep him out of Congress."

Pre-inaugural prayer. Obama calls upon gay N.H. bishop "President-elect Barack Obama has chosen the openly gay Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire to offer a prayer at a pre-inauguration event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial." Gay Bishop Is Asked to Say Prayer at Inaugural Event "V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire who advised President-elect Barack Obama on gay rights issues, will deliver a prayer at an event on Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial."

Diplomacy works. Joint Chiefs chairman makes case for non-military solutions "The country's top uniformed officer said Monday that the Defense Department should be ready to tell civilian leaders when military force is not the best response -- and be prepared to transfer resources to other agencies during times of crisis." Top Officer Urges Limit on Mission of Military "The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that senior officers must work to prevent the militarization of American foreign policy, and he urged generals and admirals to tell civilian leaders when they believed the armed forces should not take the lead in carrying out policies overseas."

Afghanistan. Obama to Send More Troops to Afghanistan So Administration Has More Time to Evaluate Conflict "President-elect Barack Obama intends to sign off on Pentagon plans to send up to 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, but the incoming administration does not anticipate that the Iraq-like 'surge' of forces will significantly change the direction of a conflict that has steadily deteriorated over the past seven years." Obama faces decision on how to deploy troops in Afghanistan "Soon after Barack Obama is sworn in as president, he will face a crucial decision about the future of the war in Afghanistan: what to do with thousands of new U.S. troops that will flow into the country over the course of the year."

Iraq-Iran. Iraqi fear of Iran on the rise, despite new airport "The first flight from Iran in three decades landed in Iraq's holy city of Najaf today, resurrecting a direct link between the world's two major Shia communities.