James Fallows opines on unrepentant neoconservatives stumping for more US military intervention in Iraq on The Atlantic. We all make mistakes. But we are talking about people in public life—writers, politicians, academics—who got the biggest strategic call in many decades completely wrong. Wrong as a matter of analysis, wrong as a matter of planning, wrong as a matter of … [Read more...] about Fallows on Iraq and the Neocons
The Crisis In Iraq: A Real-Life ‘Game Of Thrones’
When the British diplomat Sir Mark Sykes sat down with François George-Picot, his French counterpart, on May 16, 1916 in London for the last in a six-month series of tea-and-negotiation meetings, it was the pilot episode of a sort of a real-life Game of Thrones. The diplomats had been negotiating on how to divvy up the spoils of the Ottoman Empire. The conclusion of … [Read more...] about The Crisis In Iraq: A Real-Life ‘Game Of Thrones’
Cries Over Lois Lerner’s Lost Email Look Like Just Another Conservative Conspiracy Theory
Conservatives 1) love to act like the victim and 2) have been desperately trying to make it appear that there have been scandals which they can attribute to the Obama administration. As the Obama administration has been remarkably free of scandals, they have had to invent several. The IRS scandal first appeared to be something to be concerned about, until we realized that while … [Read more...] about Cries Over Lois Lerner’s Lost Email Look Like Just Another Conservative Conspiracy Theory
Will Won’t Stop Digging
OB/GYN physician Jen Gunter takes George Will down again for his challenge of the 1-in-5 sexual assault statistic on Talking Points Memo. George Will continues with his assertion that it is mathematically impossible for 1 in 5 women to have been sexually assaulted while in college. He calls the statistics “insupportable” and when he replied to Senators Blumenthal, Feinstein, … [Read more...] about Will Won’t Stop Digging
Iraq: UN’s Ban at a loss like Obama
Referring to the possibility of a wider regional war stemming from Iraq and Syria, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that he “would not predict or prejudge any such kind of scenario at this time”. The best he could do was strongly urge Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to reach a “more inclusive solution of this issue”. His briefing today had an air of desperation, … [Read more...] about Iraq: UN’s Ban at a loss like Obama
VIDEO: Escalating Violence in Iraq (C-SPAN, U.S.)
If you want to know the thinking and plans about what to do with Iraq thrashing about America's national security establishment, this is the program to watch. It is very eggheady and very interesting. At the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, panelists discuss militant activity in northern Iraq and how the U.S. government should respond. The presence of James Jeffrey, … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Escalating Violence in Iraq (C-SPAN, U.S.)
Statement by the President on the Capture of Ahmed Abu Khatallah
The United States has an unwavering commitment to bring to justice those responsible for harming Americans. Since the deadly attacks on our facilities in Benghazi, I have made it a priority to find and bring to justice those responsible for the deaths of four brave Americans. I recently authorized an operation in Libya to detain an individual charged for his role in these … [Read more...] about Statement by the President on the Capture of Ahmed Abu Khatallah
Families of Israeli teens abducted by Hamas refuse to succumb to despair
Families of abducted Israeli teens refuse to succumb to despair By Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org As the days pass following the abduction of three Jewish teenagers near Hebron, the boys’ families are refusing to succumb to despair despite the uncertainty surrounding the situation. Hamas terrorists kidnapped Gilad Shaar (16), Eyal Yifrach (19), and Naftali Frenkel … [Read more...] about Families of Israeli teens abducted by Hamas refuse to succumb to despair
Cartoon: Iraq
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to run on TMV. Reproduction without licensing is strictly forbidden. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Iraq
The lesson of Iraq
WASHINGTON -- President Obama's instincts about Iraq and Syria have been sound from the beginning: Greater U.S. engagement probably cannot make things better but certainly can make them worse, both for the people of the region and for our national interests. First, credit where it's due: Colin Powell was prescient about Iraq, and Joe Biden was right. It was … [Read more...] about The lesson of Iraq
Breaking: U.S. Special Operations Forces Capture Alleged Ringleader of Benghazi Attack
The Washington Post reports that U.S. Special Operations forces have captured the alleged ringleader of the terrorist attacks in Benghazi in a secret raid in Libya. This marks the first time one of the accused perpetrators of the 2012 assault has been captured, according to U.S. officials, says the Post. Officials tell the Post that Ahmed Abu Khattala was captured near … [Read more...] about Breaking: U.S. Special Operations Forces Capture Alleged Ringleader of Benghazi Attack
The O.J. Simpson Saga 20 Years On: The Big Story Remains Why He Became A Murderer
O.J. and Nicole Brown Simpson on vacation with lawyer Robert Kardashian and his family in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico two months before the murders. It was a balmy June evening on the East Coast, 20 years ago today to be exact. We were watching Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on a Los Angeles television … [Read more...] about The O.J. Simpson Saga 20 Years On: The Big Story Remains Why He Became A Murderer
REPORT: ISIS Revives Saddam’s Baath Party to Win Sunni Support (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
With Iraq's political system in tatters, is Saddam Hussein's Baath Party making a comeback, or is it just a tool in the designs of the now dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria [ISIS]? This news item from the Sotal Iraq reports that the last remaining member of Saddam's regime yet to be apprehended, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, has been seen in Mosul amid posters of Saddam, and is … [Read more...] about REPORT: ISIS Revives Saddam’s Baath Party to Win Sunni Support (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
Abusing The ADA
Over the weekend I had the happy and sad duty to eat dinner at a nearby eatery called the Barnwood. The story behind the Barnwood is one of those fun local stories as the building was literally constructed of old barn wood and it has been a favorite in the town of Ripon California for over 30 years. I worked in Ripon during college and it was always a special treat for this … [Read more...] about Abusing The ADA
(Update II) U.S. Embassy in Baghdad: Evacuation or ‘Temporary Relocation’
Browse down for updates. ~.~ It is interesting to read how the State Department describes its “review of staffing requirements,” in view of developments in Iraq and how the New York Times reports on them. Granted, the Times has access to more loquacious and plainspoken sources. Nevertheless, the avoidance of the term “evacuation” by State is interesting. Press … [Read more...] about (Update II) U.S. Embassy in Baghdad: Evacuation or ‘Temporary Relocation’
IRS Lost Emails ?
A story that broke over the weekend is the fact that the IRS has "lost" 2 years of Lois Lerner emails. Really ? Lost them ? Don't most businesses have servers to back up emails ? Didn't the IRS testify they had such a system ? I'm still not sure whether serious misconduct occurred in the original events but these kinds of stories don't help I am noticing a lot … [Read more...] about IRS Lost Emails ?
The Dogs of War Are Yelping Again
There is a saying, “Let sleeping dogs lie.” The only problem with the Iraq War dogs is that they never went to sleep. Even after the disastrous consequences of their ill conceived -- conceived on a lie is a better term -- ill planned, ill executed invasion and occupation of what once was the sovereign country of Iraq, they have continued to yelp for the United States to … [Read more...] about The Dogs of War Are Yelping Again
Is The Right Wing Trying to Make Thomas Alfred Taylor Hillary Clinton’s Willie Horton?
The right wing has dug up some tapes of Hillary Clinton talking about representing accused child rapist Thomas Alfred Taylor. This is akin to the Tony Rezko case they tried to smear Barack Obama with during the 2008 presidential campaign or even his former pastor Jeremiah Wright. Remember how the Republicans smeared Mike Dukakis with Willie Horton? I wish the Republican Party … [Read more...] about Is The Right Wing Trying to Make Thomas Alfred Taylor Hillary Clinton’s Willie Horton?
George Will’s False Rape Column
An OB/GYN physician responds to George Will on his statements about "false rape." I read your recent column on the “supposed campus epidemic of rape, a.k.a. sexual assault” and am somewhat taken aback by your claim that forcing colleges to take a tougher stand on sexual assault somehow translates into a modern version of The Crucible that replaces witchcraft with rape … [Read more...] about George Will’s False Rape Column
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Guns and Minuteman
Guns and Minuteman by Mike Peters Of Related Interest: --How The Las Vegas Killer Used Facebook To Exploit Gun Law Loopholes --Las Vegas killers were 2nd Amendment gun cowards --Gun violence and mass shootings — myths, facts and solutions --What now? Three mass shootings in a week leave communities wondering how to react Mike Peters is recognized as one of our … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Guns and Minuteman