Monday, November 12, 2007

ECN 11/12/07

Thousands of Palestinians attend Arafat service
Palestinian peace negotiator decries being held up at an Israeli roadblock
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Tens of thousands of Palestinians packed a memorial service for the late Yasser Arafat on Sunday, an event used to rally support for his successor, President Mahmoud Abbas, as he prepares for peace talks with Israel.

Arafat was the Clinton of the ME, no matter what he did his people always saw him in the best light. Maybe Presdient Clinton is the Arafat of DC since he was around first.

Bhutto 'ends power-sharing talks'
Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto says she has ended negotiations with President Pervez Musharraf on a power-sharing agreement.

Bhutto was cleared of several corruption charges but how clean is she really?

Hurdles Stall Plan For Iraqi Recruits
Shiite Leadership Wary of Bringing Fighters Into Ranks
By Joshua Partlow and Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writers Monday, November 12, 2007; Page A01
BAGHDAD -- The U.S. effort to organize nearly 70,000 local fighters to solidify security gains in Iraq is facing severe political and logistical challenges as U.S.-led forces struggle to manage the recruits and the central government resists incorporating them into the Iraqi police and army, according to senior military officials.

Despite the growing number of good news that is coming out of Iraq, there is still some fundamental culture and trust problems.

'Warmongering Has Weakened Washington'
There was lots to discuss during Chancellor Merkel's visit to President Bush's Texas ranch. But mostly, the two leaders tried their hardest to be friends. German commentators wonder if anything of substance came out of the visit. more...

Despite the misleading title, the article does take a good look toward the end of the different perspectives (The title is from the left leaning Die Tageszeitung take on things).