Morning Brief, Thursday, November 30

Iraq

The Iraq Study Group concluded its deliberations yesterday and will deliver its final report to President Bush next week. The consensus: Gradual pullback of U.S. troops, but no timetable.

In Jordan meeting with leaders in the region, Bush dismisses the report’s conclusion. After yesterday’s debacle with the Hadley memo being leaked and Iraqi PM Maliki refusing to show for a meeting with Bush, the press conference today with Bush and Maliki was, shall we say, tense. Bush says Maliki is “the right guy for Iraq,” but you could apparently cut the air with a knife:

The two leaders barely looked at one another during the news conference. And when Mr. Bush, at one point, asked the prime minister if he wanted to continue taking questions from reporters, the prime minister swiveled his head toward the president and shot Mr. Bush an incredulous look.

“We said six questions, now this is the seventh – this is the eighth – eight questions,” Mr. Maliki said.

Iran

Ahmadinejad pens a “Dear America” letter, sermonizing about the woes the Bush administration has brought upon the United States and the rest of the world.

Economy and development

India posts an impressive 9.2 percent GDP growth for the last quarter. And that New Year’s trip to London isn’t looking so good: The pound hits a 14-year high against the dollar.

The debate over the $150 laptop for developing countries.

Elsewhere

Hundreds are killed in military clashes in Sudan. 

Fiji’s military chief says the government has until tomorrow to meet his legislative demands or face a coup. 

A former Russian prime minister falls ill in Ireland; signs point to poisoning. Investigators looking into the poisoning death of a former Russian spy in London have found radioactive material at 12 locations in the capital.

And Nicolas Sarkozy announces formally that he’ll run for president of France – on French President Jacques Chirac’s birthday.