Does it make any sense for the Iranian regime to encourage 'people power' uprisings across the Arab world, only months after a its own sham election and the suppression of its own people? Sensible or not, this article from Iran's state-controlled Tehran Times encourages Arabs in Egypt and elsewhere to continue to rise up against their oppressive rulers, but warns them not to … [Read more...] about Egyptians and All Arabs Must Beware of ‘Global Ruling Class’: Tehran Times, Islamic Republic of Iran
Suez Canal vs. Panama Canal: Some Confusion?
It is interesting how people, events and places---and snafus---can have a confluence under the strangest and most ironic circumstances. Take the ongoing conflict in Egypt and the fears by some that serious violence could effectively close the Suez Canal. Add to this the recent claim by Chris Matthews that Egypt “of course has the Panama Canal.” Then we have the … [Read more...] about Suez Canal vs. Panama Canal: Some Confusion?
This Is a Journalist?
I don't think so. … [Read more...] about This Is a Journalist?
Stratfor On The History And Future Of The Muslim Brotherhood
Geopolitical analyst company Stratfor has a great release on the history of the Muslim Brotherhood. … [Read more...] about Stratfor On The History And Future Of The Muslim Brotherhood
Senators Claim Ft. Hood Massacre ‘Should Have Been Prevented’
At least the political blame game first chapter is closed in the investigations of accused Ft. Hood killer Maj. Nidal Hasan. Senators Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins determined from their investigation that the FBI and Pentagon committed a "string of failures" knowing Hasan was communicating with an Islamist extremist, his peers describing him as a "ticking time bomb" and … [Read more...] about Senators Claim Ft. Hood Massacre ‘Should Have Been Prevented’
Veterans ‘Discuss’ Proposed Veterans Benefits Cuts with Bachmann (UPDATED)
UPDATE: According to Daily Kos, now that the Veterans of Foreign Wars are fighting back, Bachmann is backing down on her $4.5 billion "suggested" cuts in veterans benefits: "One point on my discussion list was a $4.5 billion proposal that would affect payments made to our veterans,” Bachmann said in a statement. “That has received a lot of attention and I have decided … [Read more...] about Veterans ‘Discuss’ Proposed Veterans Benefits Cuts with Bachmann (UPDATED)
Health Care Chaos and Egypt Riots
Two narratives dominate the news--the revolt in Egypt and the future of American health care. How bad can a Pyrrhic victory get and how long can it last? As the Senate votes down health care repeal, Congress has wasted a full month on partisan posturing, leaving what was a national mess to the courts and states to scramble it into 50 forms of incoherence. Just as the … [Read more...] about Health Care Chaos and Egypt Riots
Egypt’s Prime Minister Apologizes for Attacks by Government Supporters Who Many Believe Were Paid Government “Thugs”
Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has apologized for shocking attacks by government supporters on the largely-peaceful demonstrators (and members of the world press) but the bottom-line question among many will be: Sure this sounds reassuring but, if many of the government supporters armed with machetes etc. were basically police or paid-for thugs, what value does an apology … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Prime Minister Apologizes for Attacks by Government Supporters Who Many Believe Were Paid Government “Thugs”
Sarah Palin Should Join Michael Bloomberg’s Illegal Gun Fight (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- But she won’t, nobody on the Right will, because their NRA streak seems to be wider than their civic conscience. Rachel Maddow covered this story last night, which caused quite a discussion in our house, as my husband is a gun expert and we are gun owners. This is an issue on which Republicans and Democrats, Independents and political agnostics should agree. … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Should Join Michael Bloomberg’s Illegal Gun Fight (Guest Voice)
America’s Foreign Policy Revolution
WASHINGTON -- The democratic uprising in Egypt has brought into relief a gradual and little-noticed transformation in American politics. Over the last decade, ideological divisions over the role of democracy and human rights in American foreign policy have been scrambled. In the meantime, President Obama has restored foreign policy realism to the White House, giving a … [Read more...] about America’s Foreign Policy Revolution
Chris Matthews Summarizes the Current Incarnation of Glenn Beck
MSNBC's Chris Matthews articulates perfectly how many independents and moderates feel about Fox News' Glenn Beck: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Chris M: may I say "Ditto"? FOOTNOTE: Beck has a long radio career and was quite interesting and unpredictable in his older incarnation. But like some of the radio personalities who moved … [Read more...] about Chris Matthews Summarizes the Current Incarnation of Glenn Beck
Mubarak Will Not Resign
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Mubarak Will Not Resign
White House Steno Pool Is Feeling Left Out
The White House press pool reporters are complaining that the White House is not telling them what's going on in Egypt. This is so funny, on so many levels, that I can't even begin to count them (emphasis is mine): … [Read more...] about White House Steno Pool Is Feeling Left Out
Egypt’s Government-Organized, ‘Spontaneous’ Demonstrations (UPDATED)
Update: 11:00 ET, Feb 4 With signs of fracturing within Egypt’s ruling elite, hundreds of thousands of people packed Cairo’s central Tahrir Square on Friday, chanting slogans, bowing in prayer and waving Egyptian flags to press a largely peaceful campaign for the removal of President Hosni Mubarak. Read more here UPDATE: 19:00 ET The New York Times reports that the … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Government-Organized, ‘Spontaneous’ Demonstrations (UPDATED)
Open Gunfire In Cairo
Right now on CNN Anderson Cooper is reporting from a semi-darkened hotel room because he has been told to barricade himself and his crew and to turn off the lights for their personal safety. Gunfire is periodically interrupting the program as it appears that somebody, presumably either pro-Mubarak protesters or police or elements of the army, have opened up on the … [Read more...] about Open Gunfire In Cairo
Social Media Revolution
It's amazing what people and technology can do. Right? … [Read more...] about Social Media Revolution
Department Admits $285B Fraud By Defense Contractors
The Defense Department paid $285 billion in two years to about 100 contractors who were defrauding taxpayers between 2007 and 2009. About $15 billion was spent on contractors who at the time were either suspended or debarred for misusing taxpayer funds, according to its audit report released Wednesday. The report was required in the last defense budget and it's response back … [Read more...] about Department Admits $285B Fraud By Defense Contractors
America Must Act or Cede Egypt to the Islamists: Salzburger Nachrichten, Austria
When it comes to Egypt, is it time for the United States to stop hedging its bets? According to columnist Thomas Spang of Austria's Salzburger Nachrichten, without actively asserting its waning influence, Washington risks the worst imaginable outcome for the Western world: an Egypt governed by Muslim fundamentalists. For the Salzburger Nachrichten, Thomas Spang writes in … [Read more...] about America Must Act or Cede Egypt to the Islamists: Salzburger Nachrichten, Austria
Senate Health Care Repeal Effort Fails
The Senate has just defeated a Republican-led effort to repeal the entire national health-care overhaul, with lawmakers voting strictly along party lines. "The decision underscores the hurdle that the GOP faces in that Democratic-majority chamber as it tries to overturn the law." All 50 Senate Democrats present and one independent voted against the repeal, while all 47 … [Read more...] about Senate Health Care Repeal Effort Fails
Egypt: America’s ‘Shameful’ Faustian Bargain Unravels (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany)
Call it a Cold War hangover or a broken deal with the Devil - but according to columnist Stefan Kornelius of Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Egypt shows that the era of paying off potentates regardless of how they treat their citizens and mistaking stagnation for stability is over, and the will of the people will no longer be denied. For the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Stefan … [Read more...] about Egypt: America’s ‘Shameful’ Faustian Bargain Unravels (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany)