Our periodic linkfest offering you links from sites of VARYING opinions. Posts linked do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or the co-bloggers.
So What Is The Israeli Army Really Up To? Donald Sensing (a former military man) gives his analysis here. A tiny part 4 U:
I was talking to a former Marine a couple of days ago who thought that Israel would wind up doing an enormous version of the cordon and sweep tactic that US forces in Iraq have used on Iraqi neighborhoods (and in some cases whole towns). By now I’d say that the IDF has determined that southern Lebanese civilians have mostly refugeed out, so they’ve been greenlighted to head to the Litani. So I expect we’ll see mechanized formations head to the Litani at keys crossing points to block Hezbollah’s retreat from renewed pushes from the south. Israel unquestionably desires to destroy Hezbollah’s martial infrastructure and personnel. Such a tactic may trap Hezbollah in what the German army used to call a “cauldron battle,� where one force, relatively immobile against its enemy, is circled by fast moving formations that can bring massive combat power to bear.
Read the rest. Sensing is always precise when he writes about issues and he knows military matters (his son is also in the military).
And What About A Peace? Is this a workable plan?
And The Israelis’ Rules Of Engagement some say are threatening their own citizens.
Just When The Young Man Thought He Was Out Of Iraq he was redeployed…and his relatives aren’t happy.
Has Politics Reached The Tipping Point? aTypical Joe looks at how some Republicans are becoming Democrats because they’re fed up with their party.
Chicago Has Changed Some Of Its Business Laws and some businesses are leaving.
Is Egypt Tiring Of Its Peace With Israel? Some judges want to see the peace agreement dissolved.
Is Human Life On Earth Doomed? Here’s what Stephen Hawking thinks.
On The Latest Blogtopia Controversy John Cole has a MUST READ post in which he says many things…including this:
I think we are now to the point where activists on either side of the political aisle can be an impediment to campaigns. While many of you support whatever vicious attacks you launch against the political enemy, the mainstream of the country doesn’t really look at the grenade-chuckers in both parties very favorably.
Indeed, I note that as known as blogs have gained in popularity and national stature, many bloggers on both sides seem to feel there are no boundaries. True, there may be none imposed from the outside, but public perceptions mean something. And the image over the past few years of bloggers has not always been what bloggers think it is — of the lone, valient voice saying what a constrained mainstream media can’t or wont say. Rather, blogging is in danger of developing a reputation of being the shoot-from-the-keyboard Talk Radio Of The Internet…which in a way is fine, since talk radio is lucrative and has huge audiences. But Cole is right: the mainstream of the country may be less impressed by bloggers on all sides (right, center and left). Credibility is a precious commodity. It can be lost very easy but retained via exercise of a bit of common sense.
One problem is that these days many people only want to visit and read sites that they already agree with. But elections aren’t won by only communicating with like minded voters and readers. Some people prefer a balanced meal to “red meat.” The danger is that grenade-throwers and red-meat hurlers may find themselves tuned out from serious consideration by people they seek to influence.
Speaking Of Blogs And Politics the left has its “netroots” movement to influence elections so now the right has its “rightroots.” (And TMV has his grey roots…but with Just For Men no one knows..)
The Republicans’ Strategy For The Homestretch is now out: Raw Story says it has obtained a document detailing GOP strategy for holding onto the Senate — and it’s going to focus on three key themes.
More On Joe Lieberman: Professor Bainbridge has some questions about what a Lieberman loss would mean for GOPers and Lieberman.
Hillary Clinton Ripped Into Donald Rumsfeld On Thursday and Centerfield’s Mathew writes:
Obviously this is for political show, but IMO Don Rumsfeld is the most frustrating of Bush adminstration officials, and to see Hill rip into him wins her some points in my book. I think she is representing the anger of most of the American people over the war. Furthermore, it is a smart political move. It doesn’t matter what Rumsfeld’s response was, although ABC should have at least reported it, it doesn’t even matter if Clinton’s questions were justified. What matters is that she effectively used the bully pulpit in a way that will get positive attention from both primary and general election voters.
Yes, Hillary Clinton has come under fire from many on the left (who don’t like her stance on the war) and the right (who hate her because she is Hillary and think she is a threat to the Republic) but she definitely asked well-focused questions. The audio of it (TMV was stuck in traffic in LA and could only listen to it) suggested that Rumsfeld was both a bit stunned and angered. HC wasn’t doing a diatribe, but giving a list of her specific conclusions about the war and asking him a pointed question. Look for at least part of that to pop-up in newscast bios of her leading up to 2008 — or in news reports if Rumsfeld eventually leaves his post.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.