the latest news on disarming paramilitaries in Colombia, Christians in Iraq, reducing violence in Israel and Palestine, U.S. election politics, the United Nations Security Council elections, Darfur, detainee politics, and op-ed commentary on the faith-based furor over David Kuo’s new book.

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Iraq. Iraq’s Christians Flee as Extremist Threat Worsens “Over the past three and a half years, Christians have been subjected to a steady stream of church bombings, assassinations, kidnappings and threatening letters slipped under their doors.”

Election politics. Senate quest a historic push “In the Democratic push to take back the Senate, a candidate who was once thought to be the longest of long shots has emerged as a critical factor in the math required to flip six Republican seats from red to blue.”

Mideast. Hamas spokesman questions if violence is Palestinian ‘disease’ “Ghazi Hamad, a senior figure in Hamas and spokesman for the Hamas-led government … criticized Palestinian militant groups fighting Israel, saying they were not doing the cause of Palestinian independence any good by launching attacks at moments when it appeared progress was being made.”

United Nations. Deadlock in Latin America UN race “After 10 rounds of voting neither of the leading nations, Guatemala and Venezuela, emerged as the victor in the election for the temporary seat.”

Darfur. Darfur’s Agony A special multimedia presentation by Lydia Polgreen illustrates the precarious situation of those fleeing the violence in Darfur.

Detainees. U.S. Faces Obstacles To Freeing Detainees“European governments, which have been equally vocal in assailing Guantanamo as a human rights liability, have also balked at accepting prisoner transfers.”

Colombia. In Colombia, a Dubious Disarmament “In communities hit hard by paramilitary violence … victims are incredulous about the government’s lofty claims. Once fearful that speaking out could get them killed, they are increasingly organized and assertive. And they are sharply criticizing a process that they say is tilted more toward whitewashing crimes than punishing perpetrators.”

Op-ed. A Faith-Based Battle for Voters by E.J. Dionne “I hope Kuo’s book promotes serious discussions in religious study groups around the country about whether the evangelicals’ alliance with political conservatism has actually made the world, well, more godly from their own point of view. What are evangelicals actually getting out of this partnership? Are they mostly being used by a coalition that, when the deals are cut, cares far more about protecting the interests of its wealthy and corporate supporters than its churchgoing foot soldiers?”