Washington in 5 Minutes

U.S. ATTORNEYS

Bush aides spared by ruling, recess

A federal appeals court on Monday rejected House Democrats’ demands to force two of President Bush’s top aides to cooperate with an investigation about the firings of nine federal prosecutors in 2006.

Time will run out on this year’s congressional session before the battle between two branches of government can be resolved, according to the ruling by a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Monday’s ruling blocks a July order by U.S. District Judge John Bates to force former White House Counsel Harriet E. Miers to testify before the House Judiciary Committee and White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten to turn over documents about the controversial firings.

The ruling essentially pushes any resolution on the politically charged case until next year.

Democrats say the firings, which led to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales last year, were politically motivated. That charge was backed up by an internal Justice Department investigation, which last week found “substantial evidence that partisan political considerations played a part in the removal of several of the U.S. attorneys.”

CAMPAIGN

3 Israelis misled in pro-Obama video

JERUSALEM | Three Israeli security figures said Monday they were duped into taking part in an ad supporting Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama made by the same group that was behind comedian Sarah Silverman’s “Great Schlep.”

Uzi Dayan, a retired army general, and Efraim Halevy, a former Mossad chief, were among eight high-ranking retired members of Israel’s security establishment in a pro-Obama film. Former Mossad agent Yossi Alpher also said he was misled.

The three said they were unaware they were being interviewed for a political campaign and thought they were commenting on the regional strategic affairs that will face the next U.S. president. All insisted they have not endorsed Mr. Obama or his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain.

“This is pure and simple deceit,” said Mr. Dayan. “I never expressed support for Obama, his approach or his opinions. I’ve also never expressed support for McCain.”

The eight-minute video, aimed at American Jews, was produced by the Jewish Council for Education and Research. The nonprofit group supports the Democratic presidential candidate, but says it is not connected to Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign.

The group is also behind “The Great Schlep” - a Web site featuring Miss Silverman encouraging young Jews to go to Florida to persuade their grandparents to vote for Mr. Obama.

ALASKA

GOP: Block partisan Palin probe

ANCHORAGE, Alaska | Alaska Republicans are asking the state’s highest court to block an abuse-of-power investigation into vice-presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin’s firing of a state commissioner before a potentially embarrassing report on the matter is released.

Five Republican state lawmakers, in a brief filed Monday, say the inquiry has exceeded its authority and is too political.

Mrs. Palin is the focus of a legislative investigation into allegations she abused her power by firing her public safety commissioner. The commissioner says he was pressured to dismiss a state trooper who was involved in a messy divorce with Mrs. Palin’s sister.

Investigators are scheduled to submit a report on the investigation Friday. Oral arguments are scheduled for Wednesday.

SENATE RACE

Coleman, Franken spar in first debate

ROCHESTER, Minn. | Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken exchanged barbs in their first Senate debate Sunday night over the ailing economy and the war in Iraq, while a third-party challenger kept both on their toes.

Their 90-minute debate at the University of Minnesota’s Rochester campus was the first of five over the next month before voters weigh in Nov. 4 in the closely watched race. Independent polls show a race in flux - some showing Mr. Coleman on top and others with Mr. Franken in control, but all with the Independence Party’s Dean Barkley making a dent.

Mr. Coleman, seeking his second term in the Senate, presented himself as a moderate voice in a political culture beset by deep partisan divisions and questioned the temperament of former “Saturday Night Live” comic Mr. Franken.

“Yes, I am angry, but being angry doesn’t solve problems,” Mr. Coleman said. “Anger for anger’s sake doesn’t solve anything. It doesn’t solve problems.”

Mr. Franken, who has tried to link Mr. Coleman to the policies of President Bush, repeatedly depicted Mr. Coleman as too cozy with power brokers.

“The special interests in Washington are being taken care of,” he said.

NEGOTIATIONS

U.S. still hopes for world trade deal

The Bush administration still sees a chance for a breakthrough in world trade talks this year, a top U.S. trade official said Monday, adding that would give troubled world markets a much-needed boost.

“I do believe, in the balance of this year, there is an opportunity for a breakthrough” on agriculture, manufacturing and services issues at the core of talks, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative John Veroneau said in a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

That would “give a boost of confidence to a global trading and financial system that needs one,” Mr. Veroneau said, as U.S. and overseas stock markets plunged on fears the global economy was hurtling toward recession.

STATE DEPARTMENT

N. Korean pianist dramatizes abuses

A dissident North Korean pianist played “Amazing Grace” at the U.S. State Department on Monday at a recital designed to dramatize North Korean human rights abuses without upsetting delicate nuclear negotiations.

The musician, Cheol Woong-kim, fled to China twice and was forcibly repatriated before escaping in 2003 to South Korea, where he formed the “Pyongyang Artists Band” with other North Korean refugees, the State Department said.

“The regime’s human rights record is abysmal, not only on denying freedom of expression, but with reports of torture, forced labor, forced abortions and executions,” Undersecretary of State Paula Dobriansky said as she introduced Mr. Kim.

Before he sat down to play in the State Department’s ornate Benjamin Franklin room, the pianist spoke of being oppressed in North Korea, of his yearning to express himself and of his sense of amazement at performing in Washington.

“Seeing as how I am performing at the State Department today, I think that my next performance could be in space,” he said, speaking through an interpreter.

CAMPAIGN

McCain, Palin returning to Virginia

Sen. John McCain is finally returning to Virginia.

Mr. McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, plan to campaign Monday in Virginia Beach and Richmond.

Most polls show the race in Virginia is neck and neck. That’s alarming for Republicans in a state that last backed a Democrat for president 44 years ago.

Virginia is a presidential battleground this year. Since June either Sen. Barack Obama or his running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., have visited Virginia eight times.

During that same span, Mr. McCain made two Virginia campaign appearances, one of them with Mrs. Palin.

From wire dispatches and staff reports