12/18 Roundup: Maliki Roundup, Chrysler Shutting, Help for Nobody

Leader: Baghdad Roundup

- As many as 35 Iraqi government officials have been rounded up and arrested by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on accusations that they were trying to reconstitute Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. As many as six of those detained worked in Iraq's Interior Ministry.

- Maliki is generally seen as a strong leader, but one with few political allies. He is also, reportedly, deeply suspicious of a coup by military officers. Some suspect this move may have been intended to consolidate his own power. 

- In related news, Maliki says that the infamous shoe-thrower has apologized to the Prime Minster for embarrassing him on television.

Economy

- In the face of zero demand, Chrysler will be shutting their doors for a month, and not making any new automobiles. Chrylser execs are reportedly seeking a merger with GM, once again. Many Chrysler factory workers are understandably concerned that the doors will not reopen, and they'll find themselves jobless within a month.

- OPEC, presumably trying to be helpful by solving that deflation problem, is planning to cut oil production by 2.2 million barrels/day-- a record amount.

- Cancel your trip to Japan! The dollar has hit a 13-year low against the Yen.

Politics

- The full program of Obama's inauguration ceremony has been released.  The big news is his selection of Rev. Rick Warren, an Orange County evangelist, to give the invocation.  Many are up at arms over the selection of Warren, who outspokenly opposes abortion rights and gay marriage.  Everyone, however, thinks the selection of Aretha Franklin was a terrific idea.

- Rep. Pete Stark, Chair of the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, says any vote on healthcare reform will have to wait until early 2010. Congress, he says, just has too much else to do this year.

- Ray LaHood, a former Republican congressman from Illinois, will be Obama's Secretary of Transportation. Many transportation reformers are not happy.

- Mary Schapiro, a serious regulator, will be running the SEC under Obama.  

International

- China is sending a naval fleet to the Gulf of Aden to do battle with pirates.  Ban Ki-Moon says the time is not yet ripe to send UN Peacekeepers to Somalia, whether to battle piracy, anarchy, or whatever else they might find there.

One More Thing

- Last, remember that Help for Homeowners program that was going to save us all? Not going so well:

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