Sung to the tune of “Convoy.”

Newt Gingrich is the latest American political figure to say it’s time to get out of Iraq. And, as Taylor Marsh notes here, it is indeed a major turn around.

An announcement from Iran signifying good news for Tehran and troubling news for Washington (and Europe and Tel Aviv): Iran has successfully enriched uranium for the first time, a landmark in its quest to develop nuclear fuel, hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday. He insisted, however, that his country does not aim to develop nuclear weapons. In a nationally televised speech, Ahmadinejad called on the West “not to cause an everlasting hatred in the hearts of Iranians”...

A Spanish judge has charged 29 people in the 2004 Madrid bombings in the culmination of a two year investigation that concluded that the bombings weren’t the work of Al Qaeda but of some extremists responding to a local website: The March 11 attacks, for which Islamist militants claimed responsibility, killed 191 people and injured more than 1,700. Six of the 29 men were charged with 191 counts of murder and 1,755 counts of attempted murder. Juan del Olmo, the investigative judge, concluded...

Polls haven’t brought cheerful news for President George Bush and the White House in recent months. While some show small fluctuations, the overall trend has been south — with each new poll suggesting the public has seemingly now made up its mind about this presidency. And the latest poll suggests that all of the President’s speeches, all the President’s p.r. men may not be able to put the Bush presidency back together again since it appears as if the public has concluded...

…as you laugh about it.

If you’re one of the many people throughout the world proudly addicted to HBO’s The Sopranos, arguably the best series drama to ever appear on television, this past Sunday night was a milestone…the fruition of a story line that has been slowly simmering for a year: Now the question for viewers of “The Sopranos” is: Will Vito eat the barrel of his gun? Or will he lack the guts, then get whacked by his appalled paisans? Fans could be overheard waging bets Monday outside...

File this in your “hmmmmmmmmm” department: Key figures in a phone-jamming scheme designed to keep New Hampshire Democrats from voting in 2002 had regular contact with the White House and Republican Party as the plan was unfolding, phone records introduced in criminal court show. The records show that Bush campaign operative James Tobin, who recently was convicted in the case, made two dozen calls to the White House within a three-day period around Election Day 2002 — as the phone...

Are Democrats starting to feel afraid of nominating Hillary Clinton because she is perceived as too polarizing and too risky? According to this report, the answer is yes: Democrats are so intent on winning the White House in 2008 they may be afraid to nominate Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., several top pollsters conclude. Convinced that Clinton is too divisive to win a general election, many Democrats are looking for a candidate with more crossover appeal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported...

Journalism professor and topflight blogger Jay Rosen has an idea who it is: It should be obvious from the work who Woodward Now is. And if it isn’t obvious Greg Sargent can explain it to you over at the American Prospect. The guy’s name is Murray Waas; he’s an independent journalist who recently went to work as a staff writer for the National Journal and the Atlantic Media Company, which owns the Atlantic Monthly, the Journal, and other titles. Waas has been in the game since...

Between a focus on the reading habits of Americans and the apparently computer reading habits of a select employee or two and THIS don’t you get the feeling they may have too much time on their hands?

To the administration and Republicans running for Congress, the continued controversy — and news coverage — about President George Bush himself leaking what had previously been classified information to the press is a bleeding wound that won’t stop. To Democrats and other critics of the administration, it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Will this latest via the New York Times below halt the bleeding and/or stop the gift horse in its tracks? Or will it not have much impact...

British and American officials are pooh-poohing reports that not only is an attack on Iran being planned by the United States but that it could involve tactical nuclear weaspons. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw isn’t mincing any words: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he is “certain” that neither the U.S. nor Britain would preemptively attack Iran. “We’re opposed to military action because there is no reason for it,” Straw said in an interview with...

NOTE: The Moderate Voice occasionally runs Guest Voice columns. This is by veteran journalist Swaraaj Chauhan of New Delhi, India. He will soon join TMV as a co-blogger as well. U.S. President’s India Visit – 2006 Wow! How did Bush do it? By Swaraaj Chauhan President George Bush’s visit to India two months ago was a milestone. Not merely in terms of public posturing…or, the ‘old chum’ body language of President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh…or,...

…even as bunnies.

…in France.

….is it this?

A new, troubling story in the New Yorker from investigative reporter Seymour Hersh — who has had a pretty good track record in recent years — says President George Bush has already made up his mind to go to war with Iran and to use tactical nuclear weapons. The reason: Iran is hellbent on pursuing its nuclear program despite an international clamor so Bush is planning a devastating preemptive attack. As in the case of Iraq, there’s an assumption that the people will overthrow...

National Review‘s Jim Geraghty evaluates where the blogosphere has succeeded and failed in a piece on CBS‘s always thought-provoking Public Eye blog. Some key highlights: Back in the really fun days of blogging, summer 2004, a bunch of folks typing on the Internet had a bone to pick with a particular network news division over a quartet of memos that had inspired a wee bit of controversy. At that time I wrote, “Sure, the Sauronic Big Eye of CBS is on the verge of being toppled...

When the news broke that it turned out President George W. Bush himself had secretly authorized leaking some classified information to the press, many Americans thought there was a contradiction. They could have SWORN they heard Bush say his administration would relentlessly hunt down and prosecute leakers. And perhaps the President was hunting for ALL leakers within his administration just as intensely as O.J. Simpson is hunting for his wife’s real killer. So yesterday the White House put...