Headlines from Iraq Nov. 12 were dominated by the re-opening of Baghdad's Two Imams Bridge, which links the Sunni district of Adhamiya and the Shi'ite area of Kadhimiya, and had been closed due to sectarian violence since 2005. (E.g. LAT) But on that same day, at least 23 people were killed in a string of attacks across Iraq. In the deadliest single attack of the day, a car bomb exploded, followed by another blast at a bus station in a working class district of Baghdad, killing 12 and wounding 60.

Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe predicted that his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderón's controversial efforts to combat the drug cartels with the military will be successful. "When you live in a country like Colombia that has already faced that intense fight against crime, one is very happy to see efforts like those of President Calderón," Uribe told business leaders in the Mexican industrial city of Monterrey Nov. 9.

The US has halted aid to three Colombian army units after officers and soldiers were implicated in the killing of civilians, a senior US official told Reuters. "We have determined that three army units are no longer eligible to receive assistance, a step we took based on the government of Colombia's information that these units were involved with gross violations of human rights," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

From The Hill, Nov. 11:

Newly designated White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said Sunday that the incoming Obama administration opposes attaching the Colombia Free Trade Agreement to an economic stimulus package in order to get the approval of the Bush Administration.

Around 30 MPs opposed to Mauritania's ruling junta boycotted the opening of the country's parliament Nov. 10. The boycott followed a statement from the head of the five-party Front for the Defense of Democracy (FNDD), Mohamed Ould Moloud, who called the session "pointless and without an aim" in "the absence of a legal government and legitimate president." Police deployed in front of the parliament building in Nouakchott, and carried out checks on the surrounding streets. (AFP, Nov. 10)

Unprecedented Muslim representation was seen at the Nov. 10 "Special Event Promoting Tolerance Throughout the European Continent" at the European Parliament in Brussels. Representatives of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Morocco, Turkey and Malaysia, among others, attended the event, part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. The event was organized jointly by the European Parliament and the European Jewish Congress. (Jerusalem Post, Nov. 10)

Now they tell us. From the New York Times, Nov. 10, links and emphasis added:

Secret Order Lets U.S. Raid Al Qaeda
WASHINGTON — The United States military since 2004 has used broad, secret authority to carry out nearly a dozen previously undisclosed attacks against Al Qaeda and other militants in Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere, according to senior American officials.

The Afghan government accused US forces of killing up to 14 security guards for a construction company in the eastern province of Khost Nov. 10. The US says the victims were militants who were carrying rocket-propelled grenades and opened fire on coalition forces. US-led troops responded with ground fire and helicopter attack. President Hamid Karzai released a statement condemning the actions of the US forces involved in the fight.