Morning Brief, Monday, November 6

Iraq

Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging yesterday for crimes against humanity. The reactions in Iraq reflect the deep sectarian divisions, with jubilant Shiites taking to the streets in celebration and bitter Sunnis citing the proximity to the U.S. elections as proof that the trial was fraudulent. Legal experts weigh in on the fairness of the trial, with a consensus that there were reasonable efforts for a fair trial, but that serious legal flaws remained.

Bush, stumping for the midterms, calls the verdict “a major achievement for Iraq’s young democracy.” Meanwhile, a blistering Military Times editorial today says Rumsfeld must go.

[T]he president says he’ll stick with Rumsfeld for the balance of his term in the White House. This is a mistake. It is one thing for the majority of Americans to think Rumsfeld has failed. But when the nation’s current military leaders start to break publicly with their defense secretary, then it is clear that he is losing control of the institution he ostensibly leads.

Iraq is the world’s third most corrupt country, behind only Haiti and Burma, according to a new index by Transparency International. 

Election 2006

The get-out-the-vote effort is in high gear across the country today, with party notables stumping in states with the closest races. Don’t miss ForeignPolicy.com‘s look at what happens to U.S. foreign policy if the Democrats win and our breakdown of where candidates in the closest Senate races stand on Iraq, immigration, and nuclear crises.

China

The country’s foreign exchange reserves reach $1 trillion. Last week’s summit in Beijing between African and Chinese leaders ushered in $1.9 billion worth of deals. And the new Chinese middle class wants to vacation in Europe, and Europe doesn’t know where to put them all.

Elsewhere

Daniel Ortega leads early results from yesterday’s presidential vote in Nicaragua. 

The head of the Revolutionary Guards says Iran is ready to give its missile systems to friendly countries. 

The debate over who controls the Northwest Passage heats up. Taiwan’s main opposition party launches a new bid to oust President Chen. And Maoist rebels and the government sit down for new talks in Nepal.