Entries for May 21, 2007

As criticism begins to build over the Senate bipartisan immigration reform bill, lawmakers--especially Republicans--are expected to push Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for a debate extension of at least three weeks so that there is enough time to discuss hot-ticket issues in the bill.

"Look for a pushback until well after Memorial Day," said one Republican strategist involved in the discussions. "We need lots more time to work on this."

That effort, however, could lead to the demise of the Bush-backed legislation because it would give the growing number of opponents time to build public opposition to the bill, said another Senate official.

"With all those aligned against it, this bill will get torn up," said the official, who added that there is a likely chance it won't be approved in a final vote.

--Paul Bedard

A violent clash between Lebanese troops and a group called Fatah Islam that is accused of terrorist ties reached its second day today. Lebanese officials have accused Syria of stirring up trouble in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, which Syria denies.

The violence in the area, along with a deeply divided government, has raised fears that the situation in the region could destabilize very quickly.

For background on the situation in the country and the region, here are three "Letters From Lebanon" from the U.S. News & World Report archives, detailing both the civilian toll of last summer's conflict and the political aftermath.

• "Lebanon Journal," July 19, 2006
• "Scenes From a War Zone," July 28, 2006
• "Who's Stoking the Fires?" Feb. 4, 2007

Plus: Video on the Euripting Violence in Lebanon

This morning's top stories:

• Lebanese groups clashed with suspected terrorists with al Qaeda ties in a camp over the weekend, killing dozens in the worst violence in the country since the civil war that ended in 1990.
• Meanwhile, 25 insurgents were killed in southern Afghanistan after ambushing coalition troops.
• After 17 years of hibernation, a swarm of cicadas is expected to descend on the Midwest this summer.
• The Senate is preparing for a "no confidence" vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this week, a rare measure that would be a major blow to the embattled Bush aide's credibility.