Teacher's edition.

• Author: Rebhun, Elliott
• Position: Editorial

Women have played important roles, officially and unofficially, in America's military since the Revolution. They're still technically banned from combat, but as our cover story explains, realities on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan are placing them on the front lines where they're fighting--and dying--just like the men.

When young people took to the streets in Iran after this summer's disputed presidential election, Twitter and YouTube played a critical role in propelling the demonstrations. Can cellphones and their ever-growing capabilities really pose a challenge to repressive regimes in countries like Iran and China?

Back at home, many of your students must have been happy to find a little more money in their pockets this summer when the federal minimum wage rose to $7.25 an hour. But some economists worry that an ever...