From the NYT: No European government has condemned or criticized the killing of Osama bin Laden by American commandos, but the questions raised about the changing details of his death sharpened considerably after the White House revealed that he did not fire a weapon, was not armed and did not use a woman as a protective shield. Some are questioning whether "justice" in … [Read more...] about The European View of the Osama bin Laden Killing
Osama bin Laden’s death: A story about something, everything, and absolutely nothing!
The death of Osama bin Laden was, and is, certainly newsworthy. There is obvious merit in examining the complex issues surrounding this historic event. However, our 24 hour a day reporting, Facebooking, Tweeting, blogging, got to keep talking about something society has a way of cheapening the worthiness of any story. Almost all news stories go from being something we need … [Read more...] about Osama bin Laden’s death: A story about something, everything, and absolutely nothing!
The Assassination Dilemma
It was the first day of our vacation. My wife and I had just been seated and ordered a drink at the hotel restaurant when the text from her sister came on her cell phone. Osama bin Laden had been killed. When our drinks arrived we toasted the news. Later that evening, in our posh American hotel room overlooking the golf course with mountains in the distance shining in the … [Read more...] about The Assassination Dilemma
Michael Moore and the Shoot to Kill Order
WASHINGTON - C.I.A. Director Panetta has been candid about this, even as supposed "experts" hedge. There was a shoot to kill order on Osama bin Laden. But Moore's criticism of the rolling storyline edit, even if details of any military operation change as debriefings are co-mingled, is a development Obama didn't need. But as you can see from the video above, the White House … [Read more...] about Michael Moore and the Shoot to Kill Order
Time for an Independent Committee to Investigate Bin Laden’s Death
It is incomprehensible how the White House has screwed the pooch in the aftermath of their most spectacular success; the killing of Osama bin Laden. Incomprehensible because one would have to believe that they discussed the potential fallout from the attack, as well as how they might exploit any political advantage that came their way, before the attack took place. It's a … [Read more...] about Time for an Independent Committee to Investigate Bin Laden’s Death
Defending Rashard Mendenhall
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, you've probably heard, posted some rather interesting tweets on the killing of Osama bin Laden. I wrote about them on Wednesday, defending Mendenhall but not excusing a couple of the more inexcusable tweets. Presenting himself as a 9/11 Truther? Not so good. Seeming to be an Osama apologist? Also not so good. But … [Read more...] about Defending Rashard Mendenhall
Reality Note: “A Job” Is Not The Same As a Good Job
The April employment numbers from the government came out today, and Wall Street is rejoicing. According to government figures, 244,000 new jobs were added to employment rolls last month. Sound good? Maybe not. The largest number of these new jobs (57,000) were in the retail sector, traditionally low-paid, few benefits employment. And then there's the McDonald's factor. … [Read more...] about Reality Note: “A Job” Is Not The Same As a Good Job
Late Night Comedians on the Osama bin Laden Killing
As expected, late night comedians have had a field day with the killing of Osama bin Laden, using it as a jumping off point for other political zingers. They've been generating a ton of jokes. Here's a cross section of them: "The news of bin Laden's death interrupted this week's episode of 'Celebrity Apprentice.' Which begs the question, how do we kill bin Laden again … [Read more...] about Late Night Comedians on the Osama bin Laden Killing
THIS JUST IN: If Voters Had to Choose Between Trump and Palin
THIS JUST IN from investigative journalist Andy Borowitz: Poll: Given Choice Between Palin and Trump, Most Voters Choose Suicide Survey Spells Trouble for GOP, Pollster Says NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) – A new survey of likely voters indicates that in a hypothetical match-up between former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and billionaire Donald Trump, a majority would … [Read more...] about THIS JUST IN: If Voters Had to Choose Between Trump and Palin
Bin Laden Was Confined to Two Rooms in Compound for Five Years
New info from Osama bin Laden's wives indicates he was so fearful of being found that he lived in two rooms in the compound for five years. The CIA's operation included surveillance from a nearby house -- hiding the CIA from bin Laden & Associates and from the Pakistanis (who many now believe were in fact "associates"): … [Read more...] about Bin Laden Was Confined to Two Rooms in Compound for Five Years
Rep. Ron Paul at GOP Debate Says He’d Go Along With Legalization of Heroin
Rep. Ron Paul again showed why he is so popular among his supporters: he even got applause in South Carolina for basically saying, yes, let heroin be legalized as well. Two things: a)that is a first for a GOP primary debate (it has never been said by a candidate in a Democratic party debate) and b)if he ever got the nomination this statement would instantly doom his candidacy … [Read more...] about Rep. Ron Paul at GOP Debate Says He’d Go Along With Legalization of Heroin
Al Qaeda Confirms It: Web Statement Says Osama bin Laden Killed and Promises Revenge
A statement reportedly posted on an Al Qaeda website now confirms it: terrorist CEO Osama bin Laden has been killed. The statement warns that American's happiness will soon turn "to tears." The news is now breaking on infooutlets everywhere. Here's some of The Huffington Post's report: Al-Qaida on Friday confirmed the killing of Osama bin Laden and warned of retaliation, … [Read more...] about Al Qaeda Confirms It: Web Statement Says Osama bin Laden Killed and Promises Revenge
Signs Donald Trump Has Seriously Damaged His Brand: Poll Numbers and Ratings Drop
It now turns out that Donald Trump may indeed be someone who is studied in college for years. Not as a politician but as an example of a CEO who destroyed his own brand. As The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder points out, the predictable has now happened: his poll numbers are seemingly going faster than New York seniors to Florida in wintertime and his TV show ratings are nose diving, … [Read more...] about Signs Donald Trump Has Seriously Damaged His Brand: Poll Numbers and Ratings Drop
This Post Is About Penises
Not just any penises, mind you, but an effort by the nanny staters of San Francisco to ban male circumcision. These activists call circumcision "male genital mutilation." They point out that it is extremely painful, although I can't personally speak to that because it has been over 64 years since I was snipped. They also believe that circumcision is a breach of human rights … [Read more...] about This Post Is About Penises
Giant-Killer and One-Eyed Wonder
An observer still high on sedation (cataract surgery) opens an eye to the sights flashing by on a glowing rectangle in the room: President Obama is at Ground Zero, a hero, not for his efforts to save the most vulnerable Americans from Republican deficit slashers, but for killing one old man, the nation's symbolic dragon for a decade. In Washington, a beaming … [Read more...] about Giant-Killer and One-Eyed Wonder
Obama Haters (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Haters (Cartoon)
Denial is not a River
We have gotten use to peak resources denial from the plutocrats of the Republican party and the people of the western world who simply can't imagine a world without growth. But we have this from the United Nations: The population of the world, long expected to stabilize just above 9 billion in the middle of the century, will instead keep growing and may hit 10.1 billion by … [Read more...] about Denial is not a River
Raid on bin Laden Compound Exposes Pakistan’s ‘Unnerving Vulnerability’ (The Frontier Post, Pakistan)
One of the many articles we've posted from Pakistan over the last few days is this editorial from the Frontier Post. After the U.S. raid into Pakistani territory to grab and/or kill Osama bin Laden, it seems that people there are simultaneously angry at the U.S. for coming unannounced and uninvited, and at Pakistan's military and intelligence services for not stopping the U.S. … [Read more...] about Raid on bin Laden Compound Exposes Pakistan’s ‘Unnerving Vulnerability’ (The Frontier Post, Pakistan)
More Details on the end of Osama bin Laden
More info is coming out on the end of Osama bin Laden's life via intriguging reports from NBC and Fox News. One fact: there was no long firefight and most fire came from the Navy Seals. Here's the NBC report complete with graphics: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Fox News has a source saying bin Laden acted "cowardly" -- shoving … [Read more...] about More Details on the end of Osama bin Laden
Information from bin Laden Computers: Al Qaeda Had Considered 9/11 Attack on Train
Some of the initial info has started to leak out from what some experts have called the "treasure trove" of materialized seized at the compound of Osama bin Laden, who was killed by Navy Seals an a successful bid by the administration and intelligence services to end the terrorist CEO's career: Al-Qaida considered attacking U.S. trains on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 … [Read more...] about Information from bin Laden Computers: Al Qaeda Had Considered 9/11 Attack on Train