The latest news on Iraq-military, Economy, College loans, Olympic torch protest, Payday lending, Colombia-free trade, Iraq threat, Zimbabwe, Israel-Palestine, and Opinion.

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Iraq-military. Bush to Cut Army Tours to 12 Months "President Bush plans to announce that he will cut Army combat tours in Iraq from 15 months to 12 months, returning rotations to where they were before last year's troop buildup in an effort to alleviate the tremendous stress on the military," Iraq's Military Seen as Lagging "The recommendation by the top American commander in Iraq to suspend troop reductions reflects a bleak assessment that Iraqi forces remain unprepared to take over the mission of securing their own nation, senior administration and military officials said."

Economy. Economy, debt weighing on middle class "More and more middle-class Americans say they aren't better off than they were five years ago, reflecting economic pressures amid growing personal debt, a study released Wednesday found." Housing Aid Advancing in Congress "Congress and the Bush administration clashed on Wednesday over how best to help homeowners in danger of foreclosure but seemed to unite around the need for additional government action." Debate rages about impact of war "The refusal of the top U.S. commander in Iraq to give Congress a timetable for additional troop withdrawals has escalated an already fierce debate about the rising cost of the conflict to taxpayers - and to the faltering domestic economy."

College loans. Exit of College Lenders Sets Off Scramble To Fill Breach "Nearly 50 student lenders, including some of the industry's biggest names, have stopped issuing federally guaranteed loans in recent weeks because of paralysis in the credit markets, confronting students with higher borrowing costs just as they are starting to apply for financial assistance for the coming school year."

Olympic torch protest. Torch relay switches route in mid-stride "The threat of large-scale protest turned what was to have been a dramatic passing of the Olympic torch into a bizarre game of hide-and-seek, with officials hustling the flame onto a secretive and meandering route that baffled and angered many would-be spectators." Olympic Torch Route Changed in San Francisco"The nation's only chance to see the Olympic flame up close became an elaborate game of hide-and-seek, as city officials secretly rerouted the planned torch relay, swarmed its runners with blankets of security and then whisked the torch to the airport in a heavily guarded motorcade."

Payday lending. Husted cites support for payday-loan cap "[Ohio] House Speaker Jon Husted said yesterday that he senses growing support in his caucus for a lower interest-rate cap on payday lenders, and he wants a bill passed within two weeks."

Colombia-free trade. Democrats to Seek Delay on Trade Pact "Rebuffing a furious Bush administration, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that she will try to delay a trade agreement with Colombia and asked President Bush to first address Democratic demands for more domestic economic stimulus measures." Colombia trade pact hits a wall "President Bush submitted the Colombia Free Trade Agreement to Congress this week over the objections of Democratic leaders. On Thursday, the House is expected to change a procedural rule and shelve the deal indefinitely, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said."

Iraq threat. For U.S., another top threat emerges in Iraq "Ever since Army Gen. David H. Petraeus was appointed to oversee the U.S. military in Iraq more than a year ago, the primary enemy for his troops has been shifting. … This week, things changed again. In two days of Capitol Hill testimony, Petraeus declared Iranian-backed "special groups" -- hardened fighters who are part of larger Shiite militias -- to be the "greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq."

Zimbabwe. Regional Leaders to Meet on Zimbabwe "With the threat of political violence looming in Zimbabwe, southern Africa's heads of state were summoned to an "extraordinary" weekend meeting to address the crisis that has gripped the country since a presidential vote last month." Mugabe to attend emergency talks "Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe will attend an emergency regional meeting, an information minister says." Vote Mugabe or you die'. Inside Zimbabwe, the backlash begins "The patients at Louisa Guidotti hospital said there were eight men, one carrying a shotgun, another with an AK-47, others with pistols, and they went from bed to bed forcing out anyone who could walk." Preparing for the Worst in Zimbabwe "Heading into a second and decisive round of voting for the presidency, signs abound that the kind of violence visited on Muzambi is spreading across the country as Mugabe resorts to the tools he has used to stay in power for 28 years."

Israel-Palestine. Israel hits back after crossing attack"Palestinian gunmen attacked a fuel depot on the Gaza border, killing two Israeli civilian workers and injuring two others as militants fired waves of mortars at the crossing post." Hamas in Largest Arms Buildup Yet, Israeli Study Says "An Israeli study says Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, is engaged in the broadest and most significant military buildup in its history with help from Syria and Iran. It adds that Hamas is restructuring more hierarchically and using more and more powerful weapons,"

Opinion.

Memo to Bush on Darfur (By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, New York Times) "This week marks the 14th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. If President Bush wants to end his shameful passivity, he should take some concrete steps."