So many billions poured into such a war-blasted economy raise the spectre of inflation.

ECONOMIST: How to get ahead in Bremer's Iraq

Further delays in implementing key reforms raise the spectre of more bouts of market turmoil next year.

CNN: Eurozone still has mountain to climb

Such a default would raise the spectre of default by other over-indebted eurozone governments, which in turn would undermine the perceived solvency of some very big banks.

BBC: The price of Greek democracy

It raise the spectre of foreign, trade and defence ministers being grounded in the capital, and of Ms Gillard's overseas trips to be limited to major meetings of world leaders or visits to major trading partners, our correspondent adds.

BBC: Australia parliament opens after knife-edge election