Well, there are just too many things going on worthy of our collective attentionto post as a simple comment in the Open Thread or elsewhere.
Note: Nothing is covered here which is covered by the mainstream media, so no Iraqi helicopter stories or brief mention of Sri Lanka's PM returning to his devastated country.
Language codes:
fr = French language
it = Italian language
ro = Romanian language
es = Spanish language
Le Monde (fr) has an excellent analysis.
The EU responds (fr) concerning the situation in Chechnya: Dans un rapport accablant publié le vendredi 7 novembre à Genève, le Comité des droits de l'homme de l'ONU se dit "profondément préoccupé" par les violations des droits de l'homme en Tchétchénie.
More condensed version here from the AFP: Criticism of Berlusconi's remarks was widespread Friday -- including in the Italian press.
"In defending, sword in hand, the Russian actions in Chechnya and declaring himself Putin's guarantor on the Yukos affair, Berlusconi went beyond a mere diplomatic gaffe," said the left-leaning La Repubblica.
Another analysis here (sp) and here (it).
Libyan leader Colonel Qaddafi is being considered a hero in the Middle East for arranging an amnesty of some political prisoners who have been held for 20+ years. The Polisario Front released them after a personal plea from Saif El Islam after a meeting with Western Sarahan leader Mohammed Abdel-Aziz.
Western Saraha? Polisario Front? It's one of those ongoing wars you rarely hear about, but the governments of Spain, Morocco and Libya have been involved for decades. History of Polisario Front here. History of Western Sahara here.
Essentially, it used to be part of Spain which lost a war with Morocco in the 1970's. Morocco then annexed the territory which was considered "illegal" by the United Nations. Morocco is currently considered in violation of dozens of UN resolutions for this. Libya has funded and supported the Polisario Front, the resistance movement.
In the Phillipines, more trouble brewing as the government briefly loses control over its airport in the capital. This story mentioned because there are American troops supporting the unpopular government there.
In Iraq, Romanian troops get caught in a crossfire between two Iraqi groups west of Nasiriyah (ro). And a new school was built somewhere in the distance...
In New Zealand, a poll states that the citizens there are becoming anti-American: University of Auckland political scientist Paul Buchanan, an American who has lived in New Zealand for seven years, said the findings on the United States were "alarming for a country-to-country friendship."
But he thought the public's feelings were more targeted at President Bush's regime than ordinary people.
And all hell is breaking out in Republic of Georgia. Please remember there are US troops station in the Pankisi Gorge area of this country.
Burdzhnadaze urges Shevardnadze to decide on resignation. Shevardnadze has been the de facto president of Georgia since 1972.
Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia on alert after Zugdidi events. Nothing brings to mind "peace" like Russian soldiers in your country.
About 4,000 gather in central Tbilisi, demand president's resignation. 4,000 people is a lot in this tiny country.
Well written analysis of the situation is here.
And finally, more butchery in Uganda from the Lord's Resistance Army, an army which consists mainly of drugged teenagers and younger children.
History of LRA here.
Peace!
linked text
Huge rift opening up, entitled
European Union v. Silvio Berlusconi. Vladimir Putin, PM of all Russias, was in Italy last week and Silvo decided to be his lapdog and take his side in a number of televised interviews.