The fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues. Rebel groups have taken over most of the east of the country and are now marching towards its major cities. The central government has been forced to retreat several times, leading many to believe that rebel general Laurent Nkunda could very well succeed in conquering the entire east of the country.

Meanwhile, not only are General Nkunda’s troops fighting against government troops, they have also declared war on UN peacekeepers.| MORE ›

Increasingly more American conservatives are joining a webdebate about how to prevent massive future losses (in elections), and how to rebuild the once so powerful and successful conservative movement.

The main problem with the Republican Party and its activists is, the consensus seems to be, that they are still acting as if it is 2003. Republican Party strategists seem to believe that the tactics they have used for years will still work in the end, if only voters see that Democratic leadership and control of both Congress and the White House will not result in better policies.| MORE ›

At least 56 people were killed by a series of bomb blasts in northeast India Wednesday.

The attack took place in the country’s volatile state of Assam, where militant separatists have been fighting the Indian government for years.

At least 56 people were killed and 300 injured by the blasts. (more…)

The British newspaper The Times reported Wednesday that it had tracked down Barack Obama’s aunt Zeituni Onyango. Although born in Kenya, Onyango now lives in the United States, in Boston. The report of The Times shows her living conditions are not exactly grand.

Zeituni Onyango is affectionally described by Obama in his book Dreams from My Father. Today, however, it seems that Obama and Onyango have little to no contact. The latter now ‘lives in a disabled-access flat on a rundown public housing estate in South Boston.’ (more…)

As predicted earlier this year here at PoliGazette, Russia is increasingly improving its relationship with Latin American countries, and cooperating with them in a variety of ways. The intentions of Moscow are, of course, to force the United States to focus on its own rather than Russia’s backyard.

Henry Gomez summarized Russia’s infiltration of Latin America for Pajamas Media today. (more…)

Interviewed by ABC News Wednesday, Governor Sarah Palin said she was “not in it for naught,” and that she would try to play a lead role in the Republican Party after November 4, even if she and Senator John McCain lose the presidential election.

Although most other members of the media tried to spin Palin’s words in a way that would indicate that she was already working towards 2012, believing she and McCain will lose this year, Palin’s own words make clear that her statement was one of defiance, not of ambition. (more…)

For months, American voters told pollsters that they believed that Senator Barack Obama was better able to take care of the economy. He may not have a lot of foreign policy experience, voters seemed to believe, but he was informed about the economy, and best able to lead the U.S. out of a recession.

After a couple of weeks of attacking Obama’s economic plans, however, John McCain now has the upper hand:| MORE ›

This is an article produced by STRATFOR.com; the best online intelligence source.

Counterintelligence Implications of Foreign Service National Employees

By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora said Oct. 27 that five officials from the anti-organized crime unit (SIEDO) of the Office of the Mexican Attorney General (PGR) have been arrested for allegedly providing intelligence to the Beltrán Leyva drug trafficking organization for money.| MORE ›

Campaigning in Ohio on Wednesday, Senator John McCain continued to call on the Los AngelesTimes to release a videotape it has in its possession on which Senator Barack Obama can be seen associating, even ‘partying,’ with known enemies of the state of Israel, and supporters of Palestianians, the PLO, and even Hamas.| MORE ›

Writes Jonah Goldberg:

Several readers have asked, with varying degrees of charity of spirit, whether I still think the Obamacons are a phoney phenomenon. After thinking about it, I have to say I have changed my mind somewhat. The Obamacons have reached sufficient voice and number to be more than the “statistical noise” you get every election year.| MORE ›