News roundup 04.11.2006

The war in Iraq

A.P. via CNN: "Shiite lawmakers stymied over PM choice"

The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Sunnis, Kurds resist pleas to accept Jaafari"

The Los Angeles Times:

In the wake of stalled government talks, Iraqi institutions have begun to drift — their lack of oversight and leadership seriously hampering efforts to curb militias, rebuild infrastructure and get on with the work of governing.

The long list of moribund projects has grown, and public officials whose jobs are stymied by the word "interim" have begun to despair. "Summer is coming and we need to get started on many projects," said Raad Haris, a Ministry of Electricity official. "They cannot be done unless a government is formed."

Immigration

The Los Angeles Times:

WASHINGTON — Legal and illegal, carrying signs in English and Spanish, hundreds of thousands of immigrants and their supporters took to the streets Monday in the nation's capital and in dozens of cities around the country, spreading a sea of white T-shirts and American flags across city parks and TV screens in an effort to persuade lawmakers to grant foreign-born workers more rights.

Chanting, "Sí, se puede" — "Yes, we can" — and carrying signs declaring, "We Are America," marchers at the centerpiece rally on the National Mall in Washington said they hoped to send a message to Congress and the rest of the country that they wanted to be a part of the nation where they work.

The Washington Post:

The immigrant demonstrators who flooded the streets of America's cities yesterday ratcheted up pressure on lawmakers to complete an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, while raising Republicans' frustration with President Bush for what they see as a muddled stand on the issue.

The New York Times: "Immigrants Rally in Scores of Cities for Legal Status"

Bloomberg News: "Senate Immigration Measure Needs Help From Bush and Democrats"

The Washington Times: "Protests provide boost to Democrats"

The Chiocago Tribune:

But it was unclear whether the huge marches in the nation's capital, New York, Phoenix, Atlanta and elsewhere, in which mostly Hispanic marchers waved American and Latin American flags, will be enough to spur Congress to enact election-year reform that would ultimately afford millions of undocumented immigrants a chance to become citizens.

Leaker in chief

The Baltimore Sun:

WASHINGTON // President Bush said yesterday that he ordered the release of classified information in 2003 to prove his reasons for the Iraq war were legitimate - a striking assertion for a leader who has made secrecy one of the trademarks of his administration, analysts said.

The New York Times: "With One Filing, Prosecutor Puts Bush in Spotlight"

The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Bush did not say yesterday whether he had intended that the declassified information be shared with a reporter. But he said he thought that the information - much of which turned out to be flawed - needed to get out in public to battle critics who were suggesting that the White House had manipulated intelligence about Saddam Hussein's weapons programs to help make its case for war.

The Washington Post:

Bush's job approval rating has remained below 50 percent for nearly a year. Perhaps more ominous for the president, 47 percent in the latest poll say they "strongly" disapprove of Bush's handling of the presidency -- more than double the 20 percent who strongly approve. It marked the second straight month that the proportion of Americans intensely critical of the president was larger than his overall job approval rating. In comparison, the percentage who strongly disapproved of President Bill Clinton on that measure never exceeded 33 percent in Post-ABC News polls.

(Satire) Andy Borowitz: "Cheney Authorized Bush to Authorize Cheney to Authorize Leak"

Afghanistan

A.P. via the Los Angeles Times:

KABUL, Afghanistan — The U.S. military said Monday that increased militant violence in Afghanistan was proving "very hard to combat" as separate attacks killed two police officers and a truck driver delivering food to coalition forces in a former Taliban stronghold in the south.

Iran

The Los Angeles Times: "Bush Rejects Iran Reports"

A.P. via the Philadelphia Inquirer: "Iran: Talk of U.S. attack is scare tactic"

Economics

The Financial Times:

Commodities prices continued their march higher on increasing geo-political tensions, supply fears and strong demand. Gold broke through $600 a troy ounce while copper climbed above $6,000 a tonne for the first time and Brent crude and zinc also hit record highs.

The Financial Times:

President George W. Bush yesterday called on Hu Jintao, his Chinese counterpart, to convince the US of “equity in trade” during a visit to Washington next week.

Bloomberg News:

April 11 (Bloomberg) -- Heartened by increased hiring and wage growth this year, economists raised their 2006 U.S. growth forecast, according to the latest monthly survey on the economy by Bloomberg News.

The United States Army

A.P. via the Chicago Tribune:

WASHINGTON -- The Army met its recruiting goal for March, but lags behind last year's pace as it nears some of the most challenging recruitment months of the year.

"We're in a three way tie for third place!"

(I believe that was the quote.)

The Hartford Courant:

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman refused Monday to rule out an independent candidacy if he loses the Democratic nomination, saying his re-election to a fourth term is too important for Connecticut.