The latest news on the Economic Stimulus, Immigration, National Security Council, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Israeli Election, Venezuela, and Select Op-eds.

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Economic stimulus. Bailout Plan Delayed as Stimulus Pitch Absorbs Agenda "Senior Obama administration officials sought to intensify pressure on Congress yesterday to pass a massive stimulus package for the crumbling economy, warning lawmakers of the consequences of delay while rescheduling the unveiling of their financial rescue plan to keep the spotlight on Capitol Hill." Obama enters decisive week on economy "With the Obama administration facing a make-or-break week to enact a massive economic stimulus package, officials ramped up pressure on lawmakers Sunday to waste no time sending the bill to the president for his signature." 'Bloated spending' ricochets on GOP "As senators prepare to vote Monday on an $827 billion stimulus plan, Democrats turned arguments against the former majority party, chastising Republicans on Sunday's talk shows for presiding over six years of 'bloated spending.'" Senators Reach Accord on Stimulus Plan as Jobs Vanish "Senate Democrats reached an agreement with Republican moderates on Friday to pare a huge economic recovery measure, clearing the way for approval of a package that President Obama said was urgently needed in light of mounting job losses."

Immigration. Immigration agency's airline flies tens of thousands of deportees out of U.S. "Flying worldwide from O'Hare and 22 other airports, the so-called ICE Air planes transported more than 367,000 illegal immigrants, including 11,500 from the Chicago area, out of the U.S. from October 2007 to October 2008 - a 26 percent increase over the previous fiscal year and 77 percent more than in 2006." Jailed immigrants buoy budgets "Bristol and other cash-strapped county jails are increasingly embracing the immigration business, capitalizing on the soaring number of foreign-born detainees and the millions of federal dollars a year paid to incarcerate them."

National Security Council. Obama's NSC Will Get New Power "President Obama plans to order a sweeping overhaul of the National Security Council, expanding its membership and increasing its authority to set strategy across a wide spectrum of international and domestic issues."

Afghanistan. U.S. seeks support over Afghan 'mess' "Richard Holbrooke, the new U.S. special representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan, has landed in Islamabad for talks on resolving what he called the 'mess' in Afghanistan." Holbrooke Says Afghan War 'Tougher Than Iraq' "The war in Afghanistan will be 'much tougher than Iraq,' President Obama's special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan said at a security conference here on Sunday." National Security Team Delivers Grim Appraisal of Afghanistan War "President Obama's national security team gave a dire assessment Sunday of the war in Afghanistan, with one official calling it a challenge 'much tougher than Iraq' and others hinting that it could take years to turn around."

Pakistan. Obama's biggest foreign policy challenge? It's Pakistan "A nearly completed U.S. military study is expected to say that nuclear-armed Pakistan, not Iraq, Afghanistan or Iran, is the most urgent foreign policy challenge facing President Barack Obama." A Visit to a U.S. Ally, but an Increasingly Wary One "When the envoy Richard C. Holbrooke arrives here Monday looking for ways to stop a runaway Islamist insurgency that is destabilizing Pakistan, he will find a pro-American but weak civilian government, and a powerful army unaccustomed and averse to fighting a domestic enemy."

Iran. Ex-Leader of Iran Announces Candidacy "Ending months of speculation, former President Mohammad Khatami, who favored détente with the West and more social and political freedom in Iran, said Sunday that he would run in presidential elections in June." Former Iranian President Declares "Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami announced Sunday that he will run as a candidate in the June 12 election, setting up a challenge to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that could alter Iran's domestic and foreign policies." Washington's man in Iran "Swiss diplomat Philippe Welti spent more than four years as his nation's chief envoy to Iran -- and Washington's. He discusses the benefits and limitations of diplomacy with the Islamic Republic."

Sudan. Sudan Retains Clout While Charges Loom "In the coming weeks, judges from the International Criminal Court will decide whether to issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of genocide and other war crimes in a military campaign that has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Darfur since 2003."

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe 'unity' cash appeal poses dilemma for West "Morgan Tsvangirai will use his inauguration as Zimbabwe's Prime Minister this week to appeal to the West to fund the rebuilding of his shattered country even though Robert Mugabe remains the President."

Israeli election. Livni closes gap with Netanyahu "Israelis go to the polls to elect a new government tomorrow in what is becoming a cliffhanger contest between the rightwing opposition leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his rival Tzipi Livni, the centrist foreign minister." Likud has gone from certain victory to battle with Kadima "What seemed like certain victory until a week or two ago for him and the Likud suddenly became an open battle with Kadima."

Venezuela. Venezuelans protest Chavez plans "Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have demonstrated on the streets of Caracas, the capital, in protest against constitutional changes that could allow the president to run for office indefinitely." Venezuelans Campaign on Term Limits Amid Rising Tension "In the final days before a referendum that will determine whether President Hugo Chávez can run for re-election indefinitely, campaigning has taken on a noticeable, and sometimes ugly, edge."

Editorial. No Welfare, No Work (New York Times) "Unemployment has been increasing sharply, but so far state welfare programs do not seem to be rising to the challenge. Despite the desperate economic times, the number of people receiving cash assistance is at or near a four-decade low."

Opinion. The Destructive Center (Paul Krugman, New York Times) "What do you call someone who eliminates hundreds of thousands of American jobs, deprives millions of adequate health care and nutrition, undermines schools, but offers a $15,000 bonus to affluent people who flip their houses? A proud centrist. For that is what the senators who ended up calling the tune on the stimulus bill just accomplished." The Fighting Conciliator (E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) "It took less than three weeks for the real Barack Obama to come into view. He turns out to be both a conciliator and a fighter."