Daily News Digest

the latest news on Bush in Africa, Kosovo independence, Another hero passes, Primaries, Mothers in the Army, Militias in Iraq, L.A. gangs, Housing crisis, Pakistan, Gaza, and select op-eds

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Primaries. Political tenor shifts in Wisconsin "the once reliably Democratic state in presidential elections - it has been blue since Michael Dukakis carried it convincingly in 1988 - has become more conservative, and George W. Bush came within thousands of votes of winning it in 2000 and 2004." Weather and Other Primaries Thwart Wisconsin "After all the attention showered upon Iowa, New Hampshire and a coast-to-coast string of states with elections this month, the voters of Wisconsin were anticipating having the presidential race to themselves for a week. But coming contests in Ohio and Texas, as well as a major snowstorm on Sunday, interrupted those plans." Democrats Look for Way to Avoid Convention Rift "Former Vice President Al Gore and a number of other senior Democrats plan to remain neutral for now in the presidential race in part to keep open the option to broker a peaceful resolution to what they fear could be a bitterly divided convention,"

Mothers in the Army. Short Maternity Leaves, Long Deployments "The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have placed severe strains on the Army, including longer deployments in which soldiers serve 15 months in the war zone, followed by 12 months at home. Under that system, a woman who wishes to have a child and remain with her unit must conceive soon after returning home so she can give birth, recover and prepare for her next overseas tour."

Militia in Iraq. Militia in 2nd Iraqi province ends cooperation with U.S."U.S.-allied fighters in a province south of Baghdad have quit working with American troops after two incidents in which U.S. soldiers killed militia members _ the second province where citizen militias have stopped cooperation with the United States."

On the streets. Minister takes on LA gangs "If Los Angeles leaders take the advice of Controller Laura Chick, a minister from Idaho who has studied philosophy would soon be responsible for reforming a dysfunctional bureaucracy that spends millions of dollars on unproven anti-gang programs." Violence haunts job for social workers"One social worker scans the street before leaving her office, checks the back seat of her car before getting in, and drives around in circles instead of heading straight home to make sure she is not being followed."

Housing crisis. Some homeless becoming squatters in foreclosed houses "The nation's foreclosure crisis has led to a painful situation for homeless people: In some cities, they are outnumbered by vacant houses, so some street people are taking advantage of the opportunity by becoming squatters." Housing woes put day laborers in limbo "Foreclosures are at record highs, home sales are slumping and skittish consumers are cutting back on spending, all of which means contractors, construction crews and carpenters are no longer hiring. Neither are landscapers, cleaning services or homeowners. Work, never a given for day laborers in the best of times, is almost non-existent these days."

President in Africa. Bush, in Africa, Emphasizes Successes "As violence in Africa threatened to overshadow his six-day tour of the continent, President Bush defended his decision not to visit strife-torn nations like ad Sudan, saying he wanted to focus instead on successes like his programs to fight AIDS and malaria." In Africa, Bush praises AIDS program "With old and young providing testament to the success of a U.S.-funded effort to fight AIDS, President Bush called for Congress to renew the program quickly and said that helping Africa was in the national and moral interests of the United States." Bush Touts U.S. Aid to Fight Malaria"President Bush handed out hugs and bed nets in Tanzania's rural north, saying the U.S. is part of a new international effort to provide enough mosquito netting to protect every child between one and five from contracting malaria in this east African nation."

Kosovo independence. Kosovo declares independence "In a move that inflamed tensions in this volatile region, the ethnic Albanian government of Kosovo proclaimed the province independent from Serbia, forming a new and troubled country in Europe." Kosovo becomes newest nation, amid controversy "the declaration of independence, which is backed by the United States and other Western powers, is likely to trigger an international diplomatic crisis over whether to recognize the new state." US and EU powers to recognise Kosovan statehood "Britain, France, Germany and the US today said they would recognise Kosovo after its declaration of independence, but Spain broke ranks by saying it would withhold its endorsement."

Pakistan. Voting begins in Pakistan, with little hope for stability "Election day has arrived in nuclear-armed Pakistan, but few here expect Monday's elections to be free and fair or produce a stable government capable of arresting a growing Islamic insurgency or defusing the threat to the United States posed by al Qaida from its sanctuary in the remote tribal region." Vote Is Expected to Further Weaken Musharraf"Pakistanis began voting in parliamentary elections that are expected to diminish President Pervez Musharraf further and present Washington with a challenging new political lineup here as it pursues its fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the region."

Gaza . Olmert: Israel has 'free hand' on blockade "Speaking in Jerusalem at a gathering of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations, Olmert said Israel's military had a "free hand" to hit Gaza militants." Clashes With Israeli Troops Kill 4 Militants in Gaza "Four Palestinian militants were killed in clashes with the Israeli Army in southern Gaza early Sunday, and an Israeli soldier was seriously wounded in an exchange of fire."

Feature. Q and A with Jim Wallis (Boston Globe)"Among the most prominent champions of a new evangelical agenda is Jim Wallis, the chief executive of Sojourners, a Washington-based organization that advocates for a Christian approach to social justice issues."

Another hero passes. James E. Orange; Civil Rights Leader Was a Top Aide to King "The Rev. James E. Orange, who rose from foot soldier to leader in the civil rights movement and whose 1965 jailing set in motion events that ultimately led to the bloody Selma-to-Montgomery march in Alabama, died Feb. 16 at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta. He was 65."

Editorial. Questions, Not Just on Iraq(New York Times) "How the next president plans to handle the disastrous Iraq war is the most important foreign policy question of this year's campaign. But it is not the only foreign policy question that voters need answered."

Op-Eds.

Poverty Is Poison(PAUL KRUGMAN, New York Times) "Living in or near poverty has always been a form of exile, of being cut off from the larger society. But the distance between the poor and the rest of us is much greater than it was 40 years ago, because most American incomes have risen in real terms while the official poverty line has not. To be poor in America today, even more than in the past, is to be an outcast in your own country. And that, the neuroscientists tell us, is what poisons a child's brain."

Why the Religious Right is stuck with McCain (Daniel Gilgoff, USA Today) "The lukewarm support for Mitt Romney left a void that evangelical preacher Mike Huckabee was only too happy to fill. The result: A GOP nominee who strays far from the flock."