MAY 31, 2007 - PAGE ONE STORIES

Goal for these desert troops? Bag the buffelgrass.
Volunteers take pickaxes and crowbars to the invasive weed, which is threatening the ecology of Arizona's Sonoran Desert. By Faye Bowers

Why so few bomb-safe US military trucks in Iraq?
No one has ever been killed riding in the 31,000-pound 'Cougar.' But only a few hundred are in service. By Gordon Lubold

In Lebanon's camps, rising sympathy for Islamists
Recent battles between Lebanese police and Fatah al-Islam militants anger local residents. By Nicholas Blanford

As pork prices soar, Chinese put brakes on corn for ethanol
With a famine less than 50 years in its past, China remains sensitive about using food for fuel. By Peter Ford

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WORLD

Pipeline would extend Iran's reach
US is concerned that revenues would boost Iran's nuclear program. By David Montero

Reporters on the Job

Pakistani girls' schools in radicals' sights
As militancy surges in Pakistan's remote tribal areas, girls' schools have become targets. Despite the threats, girls' enrollment has continued to rise. Part 3 of three. By David Montero

A new/old idea for Palestinian peace
Jordan is quietly discussing closer ties - even some form of official union - with the Palestinian West Bank. By Ilene R. Prusher

USA

Tasks for next World Bank chief: heal rifts, tackle poverty
Bush taps Robert Zoellick, a veteran of both Wall Street and Washington, to replace Wolfowitz at the World Bank. By Peter Grier

How US sanctions in Sudan will work
President Bush moves this week to squeeze the regime, but what can blacklisting 30 companies achieve? By Mark Trumbull

G-8 to take up climate change
Europe, Japan, US, and developing nations are divided over how to handle greenhouse-gas emissions. By Brad Knickerbocker

EDITORIAL

Young US Muslims: a threat?
A survey finds Muslims 'highly assimilated' in US society. That's good for national security.

Letters to the Editor
Readers write about preparing youth for college, the reasons for building walls or fences, and the best ways to meet college students' need for spirituality.

OPINION

Do Americans love pets too much?
We're choosing pets over children. By Gary Bauer

Defeating Afghanistan's drug fix
Forced eradication and legalization are attractive options that are bound to backfire. By Nick Grono and Joanna Nathan

FEATURES, CURRENTS

A struggling school finds reason for hope
By forming community partnerships, Hope High School in Rhode Island and other struggling public schools are showing signs of improvement. By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo

Robots advance, consumers stall
More robots are in the marketplace but a 'Frankenstein complex' prevents their wide acceptance, among other things. By Tom A. Peter

On the horizon: news from the frontiers of science
Scientists forecast solar outbursts, why ants are selfless road workers, and how farmers can benefit birds. By Peter N. Spotts

Luau in the desert
Descendants of Mormon Polynesian pioneers return to Skull Valley to hula in the tumbleweeds. By Michelle Nijhuis

THE HOME FORUM

An accurate view
We can't afford to be governed by opinions.

Man vs. cake - a recipe for disaster
The recipe called for water - and that�s when the adventure began. By Steven Ellis

Quiz: How well do you know the 50 states?
For kids: Test your knowledge of the nifty 50 states and their capitals. By Felice Prager

A throwback to a time gone by
Travel: St. Charles, Mo., is quaint, but it's authentic. By Johnna Kaplan

(c) 2007 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.