Intrepid xubuntu-desktop - graphical applications don't start from desktop

[Stephen Winiecki]

I have an Intrepid system for PPC which I built from debootstrap.  I 
installed xorg then xubuntu-desktop (from the universe repository).  The 
desktop comes up - but when I try to start applications from the desktop 
panel pulldowns - they render for a second then disappear.

I am guessing it is some kind of X access control issue.  From an ssh 
terminal I am able to set the DISPLAY, set 'xhost +' and start the same 
applications.   I can start an xfce4-terminal app this way - and if I 
again do 'xhost +' from the xfce4-terminal window, apps will start OK from 
that terminal.  Is there some setting I am missing to allow the apps to 
run normally from the desktop?

Note that this does not happen with an Intrepid debootstrap system I built 
with the gnome package (ubuntu-desktop is too heavy for my system) instead 
of xubuntu-desktop. 

Thanks