The latest news on Stimulus, Presidential campaigns, Free trade, Green communities, Immigration, Iraq, Torture, Gaza, Canada, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Chad, and Editorial.

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Stimulus. Senate's Stimulus Measure Blocked "A $158 billion economic stimulus plan drafted by Senate Democrats that included relief for low-income seniors, disabled veterans and the unemployed was blocked by a Republican filibuster when the Senate fell a single vote short of the 60 needed to consider the measure." Republicans join to block stimulus bill "The fate of $600-$1,200 rebate checks for more than 100 million Americans is in limbo after Senate Republicans blocked a bid by Democrats to add $44 billion in help for the elderly, disabled veterans, the unemployed and businesses to the House-passed economic aid package." Senate Democrats fail to expand stimulus bill "Unwilling to compromise with Republicans on a two-year, $204-billion economic stimulus package, Senate Democrats failed to include aid to millions of senior citizens, disabled veterans and out-of-work Americans."

Presidential campaigns. McCain needs to woo the right "Sen. John McCain couldn't win a majority of conservative voters in Arizona on Super Tuesday, exposing the deep rift that he faces today when he speaks to the major annual gathering of conservative activists here in the District." Victorious McCain steels himself to face conservatives Sen. "John McCain prepared to enter the lion's den and face his conservative critics Thursday, saying he hoped everyone could "just calm down a little bit." McCain gets his party's cold shoulder "With John McCain racking up delegates on a steady march toward the Republican presidential nomination, deeply conservative voters are at a loss."

Clinton, Obama focus on state-by-state battles ahead "Hillary Clinton looked forward to distant battles in big states and Barack Obama eyed contests in the South and mid-Atlantic, as the two Democrats began what's likely to be a prolonged struggle to round up delegates and votes." Obama and Clinton Brace for Drawn-Out Campaign "With no breakout winner in Tuesday’s Democratic primaries, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama began fortifying for a drawn-out nomination fight, with Mrs. Clinton disclosing that she had lent her campaign $5 million while Mr. Obama raised $3 million online in a single day and rejected calls for more debates."

Free trade. U.S. free trade accords face rocky road "A fresh battle is brewing in Washington over foreign trade, with the White House persevering in its pursuit of free trade agreements while congressional Democrats – some elected two years ago on protectionist planks – appear more inclined to take up trade issues with China than pass new deals."

Green communities. In Many Communities, It’s Not Easy Going Green "officials are reckoning with the fact that though green is the dream, the shade of civic achievement is closer to olive drab. Constraints on budgets, legal restrictions by states, and people’s unwillingness to change sometimes put brakes on ambitious plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions."

Immigration. White House Moves to Ease Guest Worker Program "The Bush administration announced plans to overhaul the notoriously inefficient federal guest worker program for agriculture, seeking to provide more legal workers to American farmers who now rely primarily on illegal immigrants." Mexican president foresees friendlier U.S. "President Felipe Calderon said Wednesday that a shifting political climate in the U.S. could improve the chances that a new administration in Washington will help bring a comprehensive reform law that would legalize the status of Mexican immigrants."

Iraq. Gates seeks to reassure Senate on Iraq agreement "The Bush administration is backing off its unprecedented plans to commit the US military to defending Iraq's security for years to come without submitting the agreement to a vote in Congress, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told the Senate yesterday." Gates discusses Iraq pact "Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates denied Wednesday that the Bush administration was seeking a treaty with Iraq that would require long-term security commitments forcing future U.S. presidents to continue sending troops." Planned troop withdrawals won't bring much relief to U.S. military "Top Defense Department officials testified that the Bush administration's plan to withdraw some 20,000 U.S. troops from Iraq this summer will do little to relieve the stress on the Army and Marine Corps." Mullen: U.S. troops are tired "The top uniformed military officer on Wednesday described a tired U.S. military force, worn thin by operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and unlikely to come home in large numbers anytime soon." Next Year’s War Costs Estimated at $170 Billion or More "The military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan could cost $170 billion in the next fiscal year over and above the $515.4 billion regular Pentagon budget that President Bush has proposed"

Torture. Waterboarding is legal, White House says "The White House said that the widely condemned interrogation technique known as waterboarding is legal and that President Bush could authorize the CIA to resume using the simulated-drowning method under extraordinary circumstances." US censured for waterboarding "The UN's chief torture investigator criticised the US government yesterday for defending the use of "waterboarding", an interrogation method often described as a form of torture."

Gaza. Teacher killed and pupils hurt in Israeli missile attack "A 38-year-old teacher died and three 16-year-old pupils were injured today when an Israeli surface-to-surface missile struck an agricultural school in the northern town of Beit Hanoun, Hamas security forces said." Gaza teacher killed in Israel raid "Israeli raids on Gaza have killed a teacher and six Palestinian fighters in an assault on the Hamas-controlled territory following a suicide bombing and rocket fire into Israel this week." Israel to begin reducing power supply to Gaza "Israel will begin reducing the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip in the coming days, possibly as soon as Friday, in accordance with a plan authorized by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai."

Canada. PM's line in sand fuels election fever "Parliament will be given three chances over the next two months to plunge the country into a spring election. The federal government gave notice Wednesday that, in addition to the coming budget and a motion to extend the military mission in Afghanistan, it would also consider failure to pass a crime bill a matter of no-confidence."

Afghanistan. U.S. prods NATO allies "With a rekindled insurgency increasing pressure on the international effort to stabilize Afghanistan, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Kabul with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Thursday morning in a joint effort to rally a fraying international coalition." Nato's Afghan force needs help, says Rice "The Nato alliance is facing a real test in Afghanistan and needs help from a more effective Afghan army as well as bigger troop contributions from European members of Nato, the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said yesterday after meetings with Gordon Brown and David Miliband in London."

Pakistan. Taliban fighters declare cease-fire in Pakistan "After weeks of escalating battles with government troops, Taliban militants declared a cease-fire -- a move likely to frustrate U.S. officials who have urged Pakistan to act decisively against Islamic radicals ensconced in the country's tribal belt."

Chad. Chadians Come Out As Calm Returns "Life eased toward normality Wednesday in Chad's capital of N'Djamena as a few shops reopened and people began venturing out of their homes on the quietest day since rebels attacked last week, according to humanitarian workers." Fighting in Chad’s Capital Ebbs, but Problems Loom "remnants of the battle that nearly toppled Chad’s government last weekend will not be wiped away so easily. The clash has heightened tensions between Chad and Sudan, threatening to pull the two neighbors deeper into each other’s vexing problems."

Editorial

Darfur's Chaos Spreads (Washington Post) "N'DJAMENA, the capital of Chad, is hundreds of miles from Darfur. But the violence in Chad over the past few days is closely linked to the Sudanese government's bloody campaign to subdue Darfur. Some of Darfur's rebels enjoy sanctuary in eastern Chad as well as other support from the government…"