Morning Brief: Is Pakistan sponsoring terrorism?

Posted By Blake Hounshell Friday, August 1, 2008 - 9:00 AM Share

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Prime Minister Gilani; Alex Wong/Getty Images

U.S. officials accuse Pakistan of providing "logistical support" to the bombers who planned the attacks on the Indian Embassy in Kabul. The United States reportedly intercepted communications between Pakistani intelligence officers and the bombers, according to the New York Times.

Now, the question becomes: Was this attack official policy or a rogue operation? The Times reports that, in the eyes of U.S. officials, "the ISI officers had not been renegades." What's more, Pakistani officers are providing militants with intelligence on U.S. operations, U.S. officials say. Pakistan, of course, denies the story.

Decision '08

Race has become a front-and-center issue in the 2008 campaign.

Barack Obama's veep vetting process is not quite as advanced as previously reported.

Wal-Mart is mobilizing its store managers against Democrats.

Global Economy

General Motors posted a stunning $15.5 billion quarterly loss.

Americas

A top government researcher linked to the 2001 anthrax attacks has apparently killed himself, just as prosecutors were preparing to press charges.

Asia

Hu Jintao made a rare appearance with the press, saying, "We have one wish. It is to make the Beijing Olympic Games, a global sports gathering, a success."

China appears to have lifted some Internet curbs.

Middle East and Africa

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has been questioned for a fourth time in connection with bribery allegations.

Hamas is holding top Fatah officials in Gaza.

Nearly half of U.S. adults now say the surge has made the situation in Iraq better.

The United States pointedly abstained from a vote on extending the mandate of U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur.

Europe

Radovan Karadzic is complaining of a "media witch hunt" against him.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev renewed a pledge to crack down on corruption.

Today's Agenda

The International Atomic Energy Agency meets to consider aspects of the U.S.-India nuclear agreement.

From now on, U.S. units will deploy to Iraq for 12-month tours instead of 15 months.

EXPLORE:MORNING BRIEF

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TEODORO

9:37 AM ET

August 1, 2008

GM's quarterly loss is even

GM's quarterly loss is even more stunning when you realize that not even if Exxon-Mobile handed over all of their profit from last quarter would it make up for GM's shortfall.
Anyone have an idea what the greatest ever quarterly loss was by a US company?

BLAKE HOUNSHELL

11:14 AM ET

August 1, 2008

probably also GM

"The $15.5 billion loss reported today is less than half GM's record $38.6 billion loss in the third quarter of last year. That loss was due to a charge for accumulated deferred tax credits. The second-worst loss was $21 billion in the first quarter of 1992." - Houston Chronicle

JGARZIK

6:18 PM ET

August 1, 2008

More China news links

While researching a post, I came across:

FT: Hu Jintao emphasized growth over inflation as a key priority
SA: Peoples' Bank of China relaxes lending caps, also noting potential shifts in RMB policymaking apparatus
SA: China and copper: crisis? While focusing on copper, this article was far more interesting for its description of slowing trade and the perils of potentially growing more slowly than expected.

Jeff
Armchair FP

Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.