it's not just the market that's melting down

Aug. 10, 2007--The paradox of American policy in the Middle East--promoting democracy on teh assumption it will bring countries closer to the West--is that almost everywhere there are free elections, the American-backed side tends to lose. NYT A4
--The area of floating ice in the Arctic has shrunk more this summer than in any other summer since satellite tracking begain in 1979, and it has reached that record point a month before the annual ice pullback typically peaks, experts said yesterday. NYT A6