The latest news on the Economic Stimulus, Economy, Daschle -- Secretary HHS, Rendition, Israel-Gaza, Iraq Elections, Iraq-Afghanistan Aid, Sudan-Darfur, Sri Lanka, Iran Election, and Select Op-eds.

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Economic stimulus. Senate Republicans square off against stimulus bill "Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday that the massive stimulus bill backed by President Obama and congressional Democrats could go down to defeat if it was not stripped of unnecessary spending and focused more on housing and tax cuts." Senate Republican leaders cite lack of support for stimulus bill, call for major changes "Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday the massive stimulus bill backed by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats could go down to defeat if it's not stripped of unnecessary spending and focused more on housing issues and tax cut." Obama Predicts Support From G.O.P. for Stimulus Proposal "President Obama said on Sunday that he was confident his economic stimulus package, which moves to the Senate this week, would eventually receive 'substantial support' from Republicans, and Democratic senators suggested they would be open to altering the bill to reflect Republicans' ideas on housing and spending for infrastructure."

Economy. Welfare Aid Not Growing as Economy Drops Off "Despite soaring unemployment and the worst economic crisis in decades, 18 states cut their welfare rolls last year, and nationally the number of people receiving cash assistance remained at or near the lowest in more than 40 years." Economy holds families hostage "As fears increase, households are on the verge of unraveling. Signs abound that the battered economy is causing serious damage to the mental health and family lives of a growing number of Americans."

Daschle - Secretary HHS. Tom Daschle faces questions on taxes, health-care work ahead of confirmation as secretary of health and human services "Tom Daschle - once considered assured of breezing through his confirmation as secretary of health and human services - will soon face tough questioning on Capitol Hill about underpaying his income taxes and his work for clients in the health-care industry." Daschle Faces Questions From Senators on Tax Glitch "After a quarter-century in Congress, Thomas A. Daschle will return to Capitol Hill today in an unfamiliar role, summoned by former colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee to defend his reputation and his nomination to be secretary of health and human services amid revelations that he did not pay more than $100,000 in back taxes."

Rendition. Obama preserves renditions as counter-terrorism tool "Under executive orders issued by Obama recently, the CIA still has authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with the United States." CIA allowed to carry on renditions "Under executive orders signed on January 22, the CIA appears to have preserved its authority to carry out renditions - by which hundreds of terrorist suspects have been abducted and transferred to prisons in countries with questionable human rights records such as Egypt, Morocco or Jordan."

Israel-Gaza. Israeli airstrikes target Gaza "Bombings in Rafah and central Gaza are retaliation for rocket and mortar fire into Israel. It is the heaviest such exchange since an unofficial truce began two weeks ago." New Attacks From Gaza and Israel Test Truce "The tenuous two-week-old truce between Israel and Hamas faced its most severe test yet Sunday, when Palestinian militants lobbed at least four rockets and a shower of mortars from Gaza into Israeli territory, and the Israeli Air Force responded with a bombing raid on Gaza." Israel's Key Election Issue: Did War End Too Soon? "Just over a week before Israel holds elections to choose a new government, the outcome of the war in the Gaza Strip has emerged as a central issue in the campaign, with the candidates sparring over whether the massive military operation went far enough." Israeli governing parties face poll battering amid Gaza skepticism "Israel's governing parties are facing eclipse in an upcoming general election as the Gaza campaign fails to convince a skeptical public while playing into the hands of opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu."

Iraq elections. Secular Parties and Premier Ahead in Iraq "Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and several secular parties appeared to score significant gains in Iraq's provincial elections on Saturday, preliminary reports showed Sunday." In Iraq's North, Vote Tallies To Define Loyalties, Disputes "For the northern provinces of Iraq, the outcome of elections held Saturday will provide the first snapshot in decades of demographics and loyalties in areas that have become the subject of a visceral dispute between Arabs and Kurds."

Iraq-Afghanistan aid. Iraq Reconstruction Auditor Warns of Waste, Fraud in Afghanistan "After five years of investigations and 250,000 pages of audits, Stuart W. Bowen Jr. wishes he could say that the $50 billion cost of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Iraq was money accounted for and well spent." Under fire in the Afghan badlands "The joint British and Afghan offensive, which included armor and warplanes, was part of efforts to pave the way for the forthcoming U.S. surge, which NATO chiefs hope can turn the tide on a war they are far from winning."

Sudan-Darfur. Sudanese forces want U.N. peacekeepers to clear their way for offensive on rebels in Darfur town "Sudanese officials have asked international peacekeepers to leave a town in Darfur, the U.N. and Sudanese officials said Sunday. The challenge to the fragile international mission could pose a serious challenge to peace in the troubled region." Sudan warns Darfur peacekeepers "Sudan's government has urged peacekeepers to leave the rebel-held Darfur town of Muhajiriya, amid fears that an attack is imminent."

Sri Lanka. Shelling kills nine at Sri Lanka children's ward "Five artillery shells hit the children's ward of a Sri Lankan hospital, killing at least nine and injuring 20, according to aid agencies, as the army and rebels continue to bombard each other's positions in the north of the island." Sri Lanka threatens to 'chase out' critics "Sri Lanka has warned Western ambassadors, aid groups and foreign journalists that they will be 'chased' from the country if they show prejudice in favor of the Tamil Tigers."

Iran election. Khatami predicted to enter Iran presidential race "Iran's most prominent moderate politician will throw his hat into the ring in upcoming presidential elections, a confidant and former aide predicted Sunday."

Opinion. What will we learn from Iraq's provincial elections? (Jonathan Steele, Guardian) "Two trends stand out from the evidence so far. There has been a turn against religious parties, as well as a decline in support for those forces which favored or predicted Iraq's switch to a form of loose federalism, and even its break-up." Talk to Iran. Then What?(Stephen Rademaker, New York Times) "By focusing almost exclusively on tactics, the election obscured the questions that really matter: What should the United States demand when it finally talks to Iran? And when Iran rejects our opening position, how much should we compromise to come to a deal?"

Editorial. Sins of Omission: Help for the Homeowner (New York Times) "This economic crisis started with bad mortgage loans, and the resulting defaults and foreclosures have only worsened as house prices have plunged. The bankruptcy fix is the linchpin of effective foreclosure relief. Unless foreclosures are stanched, the economy will deteriorate further and faster than any stimulus can hope to overcome." Sins of Omission: The Forgotten Poor (New York Times) "Also lost in the wrangling over the huge House economic measure were two programs for the poor that are in urgent need of Congressional attention: legal services and access to family planning."