But many public interest groups call the final version weak, because it omitted a provision in the Senate version that would have regulated "political intelligence, " the practice of gathering information from lawmakers and Hill aides that could be used to make investment decisions.

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Though the party system is weak in Afghanistan and few senior leaders attended the joint news conference Wednesday, representatives of many groups that issued the statement hold high-level positions in the Afghan government, military and law-enforcement agencies.

WSJ: Karzai Provokes Pushback at Home

As it is, Mr Ocalan's lot may be militarily weak but they have done what all guerrilla groups need to do: they have survived on the battlefield while gaining ground in diplomacy.

ECONOMIST: Turkey��s Kurds