Morning Brief, Tuesday, December 12

Posted By Blake Hounshell Tuesday, December 12, 2006 - 10:18 AM Share

Iraq and Middle East

Mookie Thought the Hadley memo was pie in the sky? So did I. But America's allies in Iraq are now executing one of its recommendations: trying to construct a new ruling coalition without the Mookster.

Meanwhile, the carnage continues in Baghdad.

President Bush has embarked on a "listening tour" to canvas for advice on Iraq.

The Saudi ambassador to the U.S., Prince Turki al-Faisal, abruptly and mysteriously resigned yesterday and flew home to Riyadh. But relax, conspiracy theorists: it's probably because his older brother, Saud, is sick and getting sicker. Turki will probably take his brother's place as foreign minister, says Stratfor.

Asia

China is cutting the number of permits for climbers who want to do Mt. Everest from the Tibet side. Is that because the government want to kill more Tibetan nuns?

Japan's new-ish prime minister is reaching Bush-like levels of unpopularity. Maybe it's because he doesn't look sufficiently like Richard Gere.

Elsewhere

Arctic ice melting Buy your lifeboats now: U.S. scientists say that Arctic sea ice is melting faster than previously thought. More here from the research team, who project that the ice could all be gone by 2040.

"Medical refugees" are fleeing to India for cheap treatment.

Banda Aceh, the conflict-ridden area of Indonesia that was devastated by the Asian tsunami in 2004, held its first direct elections for governor yesterday. In early returns, it appears the separatist candidate won big.

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