A MAJOR EUROPEAN CRISIS – AT 11:16 A.M. ET:  Angela Merkel's German government has come to grief, and the instability in Europe that this can cause can affect NATO, Western defense, and the world economy.  From CNN: 

(CNN) Germany was plunged into political uncertainty Monday after talks to form the country's next government collapsed overnight, dealing a blow to Angela Merkel and raising questions about the future of the longtime Chancellor.

Merkel's party had spent weeks trying to cobble together a ruling coalition with three other parties, but the plan fell apart when the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) walked out of talks shortly before midnight on Sunday over disagreements on issues ranging from energy policy to migration.

Merkel said she regretted the FDP's withdrawal, but pledged to steer the country through the crisis.
"As Chancellor... I will do everything to ensure that this country comes out well through this difficult time," Merkel said Sunday.

Merkel canceled her planned meeting with the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday and instead met with Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to discuss the next steps.

COMMENT:  Many commentators blame the government's instability on Merkel's overly – some say crazy – immigration policy, blind to the reality of who is actually in the immigrant stream.

It's a warning to us.

November 20, 2017