 The two-month-old U.S.-Iraqi bid to crush violence in the Iraqi capital has not met "overall expectations," as attacks in Baghdad rose by 22 percent in the first three weeks of Ramadan, the U.S. military spokesman said Thursday.The spike in bloodshed during the Islamic holy month of fasting was "disheartening" and the Americans were working with Iraqi authorities to "refocus" security measures, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell said."In Baghdad, Operation Together Forward has made a difference in the focus areas but has not met our overall expectations in sustaining a reduction in the level of violence," Caldwell said at a weekly news briefing.The gloomy assessment of the operation, which began Aug. 7 with the deployment of an extra 12,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops, was issued at a time of perceived tension between the United States and the nearly five-month-old government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki....
http://www.cbsnews.com
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Editor - 10:40:00 10-19-06
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 Portuguese to hold abortion vote |
MPs in Portugal have agreed that the country should hold a new referendum on whether to legalise abortion. Currently abortions are only legal in Portugal if a woman has been raped, if her life is in danger, or if the baby has serious abnormalities. But the governing Socialist Party is proposing that women should be allowed to choose an abortion up to the 10th week of pregnancy. The public vote is expected to be set for January. It was proposed by the governing Socialists, and backed by the main opposition centre-right Social Democrats and the far-left Left Block. The Communist party voted against, while the Christian Democrats abstained. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6067200.stm
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Editor - 10:37:00 10-19-06
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| Guvinator, part two - the sequel Schwarzenegger shuns Bush and looks set for second term as governor |
The moment came towards the end of the uncompromisingly boring debate between Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor, and the Democrat challenger, Phil Angelides. Mr Schwarzenegger, in the only televised debate of this election, had just listened to a lengthy answer from the challenger about some obscure point of policy.“I feel a bit like I’m having dinner with Uncle Teddy at Thanksgiving,” said the former movie star. The audience hooted. This was Arnold, their Arnold, being cheeky and charming, poking fun at himself, at America, at the political process. And this was Arnold doing what he does best: selling Arnold....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1926647,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
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Editor - 10:36:00 10-19-06
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| Assassination attempts on Afghan leaders spike Taliban adopts tactics seen in Iraq in bid to undermine government |
First a Taliban suicide bomber killed a provincial governor. Then a gunman murdered a Women’s Ministry director. A police chief, intelligence director and top administrator from the same eastern district were killed. Bombs targeted but missed two more governors elsewhere. And the latest target — a provincial councilman — was slain in Kandahar this week. Hewing closely to a strategy used by Iraqi insurgents, Taliban militants are increasingly targeting top government officials in Afghanistan, which has seen a spike in assassinations and attempted killings the last six weeks. The attacks are forcing officials to travel with more bodyguards and to set up more checkpoints. Some government employees have stopped going to work, fearing for their lives. “The Taliban can’t fight in a big group, so now they’ve moved on to these targeted assassinations,” said Naimatullah Khan, deputy chief of the council in southern Kandahar province, whose colleague was killed last weekend...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15332540/
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Editor - 10:26:00 10-19-06
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| Top Chinese envoy meets with Kim |
A Chinese envoy met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and delivered a personal message from President Hu Jintao today in the highest-level Chinese visit to its isolated ally since the North's nuclear test last week. A North Korean general, meanwhile, told ABC News that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons were defensive only and would not be sold to third parties, but he added that war on the peninsula is inevitable if President Bush continues to ask the country to "kneel." The meeting with Mr. Kim by State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan came as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was making an Asian tour to push for cooperation in enforcing U.N. sanctions over the North's Oct. 9 blast and amid signs that Pyongyang may be preparing a second atomic test ...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20061019-013812-7442r.htm
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Editor - 10:24:00 10-19-06
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| Iraqi Kurdistan Launches Tourism Advertising Campaign for |
It's not for the casual traveler. But if you are up for an adventure in a place that boasts peace, democracy and an experienced security force, a California marketing firm has a suggestion: Kurdistan. "It has always been a tourist destination for Iraq and other parts of the Middle East," said Sal Russo, whose Sacramento, Calif., firm helped the Kurdistan Development Corp. create a new television ad campaign for the three-province region in Northern Iraq. "Westerners walk around freely and there is an active nightlife." Russo, whose firm handles largely Republican campaign clients, acknowledges that it "might be close by in miles" to the Iraq war, "it's a lot further from that in reality." That might be little comfort to a family considering a holiday there, but in three TV commercials airing nationally on cable news networks the pitch is clear: Kurdistan isn't the Iraq of roadside bombs and beheadings. It's safe, well-protected and home to a democratic government. ...
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2586855
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Editor - 10:22:00 10-19-06
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