In an interview today at the “Google+ Hangout,” Secretary Kerry answered questions on the response to his so-called “rhetorical" remarks on Syria turning over “every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week – turn it over, all of it without delay and allow the full and total accounting (of it)…” Co-hosting the interview with Lara … [Read more...] about Syria: Kerry on the Response to his ‘Rhetorical’
CNN Instant Poll: 6 in 10 speech-watchers back Obama on Syria
A new CNN poll conducted right after President Barack Obama's speech tonight suggests two things (1)the speech was not a flop and (2) the speech was hardly a game-changer: A majority of Americans who watched President Barack Obama's prime time address to the nation said they favor the approach to Syria that the president spelled out in his speech, according to an instant … [Read more...] about CNN Instant Poll: 6 in 10 speech-watchers back Obama on Syria
Live blogging and news/blog roundup: President Barack Obama’s Speech on Syria (UPDATED with VIDEO)
This is live blogging of President Barack Obama's speech on Syria from the viewpoint of an independent voter. These are quick reactions. Once the speech is over an extensive roundup of news, blog and Twitter reaction will be included. TMV is also offering live streaming video (below this post). All times are EST. UPDATE: CNN poll did President make his case: 47% said yes, … [Read more...] about Live blogging and news/blog roundup: President Barack Obama’s Speech on Syria (UPDATED with VIDEO)
TMV “live blogging” and streaming video on Obama’s speech on Syria 9 pm EST
The moderate Voice will be doing "live blogging" and live streaming video on President Barack Obama's speech on Syria tonight at 9 p.m. EST. This will feature a live video stream of his speech in one post. The live blogging will continue until after his speech, and then a roundup will appear on that same post with quotes from news outlets, Twitter and weblogs of various … [Read more...] about TMV “live blogging” and streaming video on Obama’s speech on Syria 9 pm EST
LIVE STREAMING VIDEO: President Barack Obama’s Speech on Syria
You can watch President Barack Obama's speech here live on TMV, unfiltered without any analysis. The video below will go live at 9:00 EST: JOIN THE LIVE CHAT VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV … [Read more...] about LIVE STREAMING VIDEO: President Barack Obama’s Speech on Syria
Syria: The President’s Challenges, Uncertainties and Opportunities Tonight
Whether it is as the Washington Post puts it: Fast-moving events have altered the script for President Obama’s nationally televised speech about Syria. Obama is now in a position of having to argue for both war and diplomacy in the same address. Tuesday night’s speech now becomes one more event in a haphazard and unpredictable process that has shifted repeatedly over … [Read more...] about Syria: The President’s Challenges, Uncertainties and Opportunities Tonight
A case is still not made
Editor's Note: This column was written before Syria agreed to Russia's proposal that it turn its chemical weapons over to international control. WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration keeps undermining its own case for a punitive strike in Syria. If the president wants permission from Congress and support from the American people, he and his aides had better get … [Read more...] about A case is still not made
A Very Syrious Question of Moral and Intellectual Integrity
I approach the politics of life-and-death questions, such as intervention in Syria, with a thought experiment: I imagine looking in the eyes of the mother of a person who would die if my preferred course of action be carried through, but who would live if an opposing course of action were carried through. I imagine trying to justify to that mother why her son should die for the … [Read more...] about A Very Syrious Question of Moral and Intellectual Integrity
A Special Dog on a Special Mission
The subject of Military Working Dogs (MWD) has always been a favorite with me and -- judging from feedback -- it appears to be a much-liked topic with readers everywhere. While such intelligent, brave and loyal animals are usually associated with combat roles such as the live-saving work of protecting our troops during patrol and detecting the deadly Improvised Explosive … [Read more...] about A Special Dog on a Special Mission
Ajit Pai’s Crusade for AM Radio
It should not come as a surprise that AM radio has been slowly dying for the past few years. With podcasts, iTunes and TV talk shows, radio in general is much less popular than it once was. Among the various types of radio available, AM is also the least prevalent. Around 3 million people in the U.S. listen to AM stations. That may seem a lot until you compare with FM radio, … [Read more...] about Ajit Pai’s Crusade for AM Radio
McConnell to vote no on Senate resolution on Syria: No surprise here
I must be becoming a psychic in my old age. I recently told a friend that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is facing some tough opposition from the Tea Party and Democrats in his Kentucky re-election bid, would suddenly emerge from his low-profile on Syria to deliver a speech that would announced he'd vote no, then justify it by making it anti-Obama. That is the … [Read more...] about McConnell to vote no on Senate resolution on Syria: No surprise here
‘Not a Single Soldier, Not a Single Peso’ for Syrian Misadventure! (La Jornada, Mexico)
What would the ultimate aim of a strike on Syria be? For Mexico's La Jornada, columnist Guillermo Almeyra warns that standing behind the attack is Western capitalism doing what it always does: launching a major war in order to restore itself after a disastrous economic crisis, this time at the expense of the Arab people. For La Jornada, Guillermo Almeyra, laying out a … [Read more...] about ‘Not a Single Soldier, Not a Single Peso’ for Syrian Misadventure! (La Jornada, Mexico)
(UPDATES) Syria: Don’t Look a Gift ‘Rhetorical’ in the Mouth
And here we go… The BBC: A Russian plan for Syria's chemical weapons to be put under international control has sparked immediate disputes over resolutions at the United Nations. The UK, US and France want a timetable and consequences of failure spelt out, and Washington has warned it will "not fall for stalling tactics". Russia said any draft putting the blame … [Read more...] about (UPDATES) Syria: Don’t Look a Gift ‘Rhetorical’ in the Mouth
Syria ‘agrees’ to Russian plan for chemical weapons
Syria 'agrees' to Russian plan for chemical weapons (via AFP) Syria on Tuesday said it had accepted a Russian proposal to hand over its chemical weapons to avert military strikes, as France kept up the pressure with a UN resolution threatening force if the regime failed to comply. The surprise initiative from… … [Read more...] about Syria ‘agrees’ to Russian plan for chemical weapons
After NSA Scandal, Brazil Seeks Reduced U.S. Control Over Worldwide Web (Epoca, Brazil)
The ramifications of the NSA's now-exposed global surveillance programs are far from over. Much to the disappointment of official Washington, Brasilia has yet to calm down after discovering that almost nothing that is said or communicated electronically in Brazil is exempt from the NSA's gigantic prying ears. Brazil's Epoca newspaper, after new revelations aired on Fantastico, … [Read more...] about After NSA Scandal, Brazil Seeks Reduced U.S. Control Over Worldwide Web (Epoca, Brazil)
NEW Twitter feed for The Moderate Voice
(This post will stay on top through September). Do you want to follow TMV on Twitter? The old account stopped working so as of yesterday Site Administrator Tyrone Steels has set up a NEW Twitter account that will help you follow and retweet TMV blog posts. Just click on the Twitter icon on the top left of TMV or go HERE for the new TMV twitter account -- and we'd love to … [Read more...] about NEW Twitter feed for The Moderate Voice
Did the Russians Blink or Just Switch Tactics?
History may see this as the moment when Obama and Putin went eyeball to eyeball and the other guy blinked. Maybe so but, as the President unleashes weapons of mass persuasion with wall-to-wall TV interviews and key Democrats back him, he should recognize what any good basketball player knows is a strategic flop, suddenly stepping away from an aggressive adversary to have him … [Read more...] about Did the Russians Blink or Just Switch Tactics?
What I Want To Hear From The President
President Obama will address the nation today about possible action in Syria. While I hardly expect him to direct his words at me specifically I would still like to suggest what I (and I think others) would like to hear. You do not need to convince me that Assad is a brutal dictator or a cruel man, I am already convinced of that. You also do not need to show me images of … [Read more...] about What I Want To Hear From The President
Assad Tells PBS’ Charlie Rose Syria Prepared to Retaliate if Hit (Guest Voice)
Assad Tells PBS' Charlie Rose Syria Prepared to Retaliate if Hit (via PBS News Hour) By: Hari Sreenivasan PBS talk show host Charlie Rose, right, interviewed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Sunday in Damascus. His interview aired on PBS at 9 p.m. EDT Monday. PBS NewsHour Weekend's Hari Sreenivasan spoke to Rose Sunday. Listen to… … [Read more...] about Assad Tells PBS’ Charlie Rose Syria Prepared to Retaliate if Hit (Guest Voice)
Syria: coup de grace
Moscow is deftly pulling the rug from under President Barack Obama with today’s proposal to confiscate and destroy Syrian Bashar al Assad’s chemical weapons but Paris may be the one to deliver the coup de grace. The Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov’s sudden diplomatic initiative gave the beleaguered French President Francois Hollande an opportunity to start backing … [Read more...] about Syria: coup de grace