It has been going on for years: Poland prosecutors have been looking into the issue of whether a secret CIA-run prison, in which 'renditioned' prisoners were subjected to 'enhanced interrogation techniques,' had the legal approval of Polish officials. According to this article from Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, details of the long-sought agreement that made the prison possible have … [Read more...] about The Mystery Unfolds of Poland’s ‘Extraterritorial’ CIA Prison (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
Challenging Preconceptions
...with an oft-unspoken reality. (Discussion, if desired, here.) … [Read more...] about Challenging Preconceptions
Defense Update: Tensions over Syrian Downing of Turkish Fighter Jet (UPDATED)
UPDATE: The Washington Post: NATO on Tuesday condemned the downing of a Turkish jet by Syria as “completely unacceptable,” and Turkey put Syria on notice that it would retaliate for any future violations along its border. The act was “another example of the Syrian government’s disregard for international norms of peace, security and human life,” NATO said in Brussels … [Read more...] about Defense Update: Tensions over Syrian Downing of Turkish Fighter Jet (UPDATED)
Arizona and US Immigration Policy
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Arizona and US Immigration Policy
Book Review: Fifteen Feet Beneath Manhattan (The Bizarre Adventures of Morey Caine) [Kindle Edition]
I've always been a huge fan of Michael Silverstein. I first read his wonderful political poetry on his site Wall Street Poet. We ran a little of it here on TMV. I then invited the former NPR poet and environmental advisor to the Clinton-Gore campaign to do Guest Voices and eventually he joined TMV, writing prose more often than poetry on Wall Street and economic issues. So when … [Read more...] about Book Review: Fifteen Feet Beneath Manhattan (The Bizarre Adventures of Morey Caine) [Kindle Edition]
Jonah Lehrer Turns 31
Jonah Lehrer, the wunderkind neuroscience writer who was a darling of the tech set until last week's self-plagiarism scandal, turned 31 today. It probably wasn't his happiest of birthdays. I've lost none of my tremendous respect and admiration for him; instead, I have great compassion and empathy for him. I tell young people hungry for success that getting there is easy. … [Read more...] about Jonah Lehrer Turns 31
Defense Update: Our Military Vying for Olympic Gold
When we think of our fighting men and women we do not necessarily think of them as athletes, sports enthusiasts and probably not as Olympic gold contenders. So, our readers might be pleasantly surprised to hear that the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) will send what it describes as its strongest contingent of athletes and coaches ever to the 2012 Olympic Games … [Read more...] about Defense Update: Our Military Vying for Olympic Gold
Political Refugee Assange Deserves His Freedom – and Our Nation’s Thanks (La Jornada, Mexico)
Do the world's lesser powers owe a debt of gratitude to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange? According to this editorial from Mexico's La Jornada, all nations that 'benefited' from the work of Mr. Assange and his organization must stand united behind Ecuador, and urge Quito to approve his request for protection from the 'politically bankrupt' world powers. The La Jornada … [Read more...] about Political Refugee Assange Deserves His Freedom – and Our Nation’s Thanks (La Jornada, Mexico)
The Other Supreme Court Rulings
While the Arizona immigration case certainly got the bulk of the attention from the press today there were a couple of other rulings to look at. In American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock the court, on a 5-4 ruling, basically upheld the prior ruling in Citizens United by striking down a Montana law which placed limits on corporate contributions to political … [Read more...] about The Other Supreme Court Rulings
Immigration Ruling
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Immigration Ruling
The Romney Camp Dodges Questions to Clarify Position on Supreme Court Arizona Immigration Ruling (UPDATED with VIDEO)
CLICK HERE for a truly amazing article. NO it is NOT from The Onion. It is not from a left-wing blog or an alternative newspaper. And YES it does involve a major candidate. With the Supreme Court ruling on Arizona's immigration law you'd think the the Romney camp would a)have an official statement (they did) b)have several pages of material to respond to other questions (they … [Read more...] about The Romney Camp Dodges Questions to Clarify Position on Supreme Court Arizona Immigration Ruling (UPDATED with VIDEO)
The Last Jews of Tunisia
Don't miss Michael Totten's The Last Jews of Tunisia. … [Read more...] about The Last Jews of Tunisia
White House Statement: Obama’s Reaction to Supreme Court Immigration Ruling
Here's President Barack Obama's reaction to the Supreme Court's immigration ruling, in full: I am pleased that the Supreme Court has struck down key provisions of Arizona's immigration law. What this decision makes unmistakably clear is that Congress must act on comprehensive immigration reform. A patchwork of state laws is not a solution to our broken immigration … [Read more...] about White House Statement: Obama’s Reaction to Supreme Court Immigration Ruling
What Does Having It All Even Mean?
WASHINGTON - Gayle King of CBS "This Morning" handled the story that began swirling last week brilliantly today when she started the segment by asking, paraphrasing here, What does "having it all" even mean? The story revolves around a woman in a history-making position, once thought a dream job, while also having healthy teens and a husband who supports your career, comes out … [Read more...] about What Does Having It All Even Mean?
Scalia’s Anger at Obama on Immigration
Isn't it time to ask the real, lingering question? Isn't it about time for Justice Antonin Scalia to get his own show on Fox News? Talking Points Memo: In his aggressive defense of Arizona’s immigration law, Justice Antonin Scalia pointedly went after President Obama’s recent immigration policy shift and accused him of deliberately refusing to enforce immigration … [Read more...] about Scalia’s Anger at Obama on Immigration
The Court’s Stand for Federalism
WASHINGTON -- By throwing out most of the anti-Latino Arizona immigration law and neutering the rest, the Supreme Court struck a rare blow for fairness and justice. Let's hope this is the beginning of a streak. Let's also hope that Chief Justice John Roberts, who sided with the 5-3 majority in the Arizona case, likes the view from the liberals' end of the bench. They … [Read more...] about The Court’s Stand for Federalism
Defense Update: U.S. Navy, ‘Guarding the World’s Waters’
Events of October 1962 indicated, as they had all through history, that control of the sea means security. Control of the seas can mean peace. Control of the seas can mean victory. The United States must control the seas if it is to protect your security...(President John F. Kennedy, 1963) Atlantic: Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Joshua Ginieczki, left, and … [Read more...] about Defense Update: U.S. Navy, ‘Guarding the World’s Waters’
Supreme Court Upholds Key Part of Controversial Arizona Immgration Law
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on Arizona's controversial immigration law: it took the U.S. government side on all but one key part of the Arizona law, in effect saying Arizona went too far on some parts. But the key part it upheld -- the police's right to check the immigration status of people they detain -- could help Democrats' efforts to get a whopping majority of Latino … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Upholds Key Part of Controversial Arizona Immgration Law
Corporate Ownership by Shareholders? Not a Chance
One of the myths of capitalism is that shareholders own corporations and that a majority can determine policy and the compensation of the top executives. While theoretically this may be true, in practice it’s blatantly false. Shareholders are passive investors in companies along for the ride with the top executives in the drivers’ seat. Of course, one wouldn’t expect … [Read more...] about Corporate Ownership by Shareholders? Not a Chance
Egypt’s Morsi Says He’ll Rethink Camp David Accord and Build Stronger Iran Ties
It is quickly seeming evident that more than just an election with the kind of person-on-top shift that implies has taken place in Egypt: Mohammed Morsi's government will "reconsider the Camp David Accord," the 1979 treaty declaring peace between Egypt and Israel, the newly-elected president told Iran's state-run Fars News Agency today. Morsi was also quoted as saying that … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Morsi Says He’ll Rethink Camp David Accord and Build Stronger Iran Ties