It's going to be difficult for us...prosecute...a war far away from home with the divisions we have here....I'm very depressed about it. Because I see no program from either Defense or State that gives me much hope of doing anything, except just praying and gasping to hold on...and hope they'll quit. I don't believe they're ever going to quit. And I don't see...any...plan for … [Read more...] about And It’s One-Two-Three What Are We Fighting For
OBSERVATIONS FROM WANDERING THE DESERT
I have not contributed much to the Moderate Voice during 2010 while I actively posted numerous submissions during 2009. This is due to a variety of factors that some TMV contributors and readers might understand and others may simply dismiss as just worthless excuses. Throughout 2010, I have continued to read TMV once a day, sometimes dropping by twice as it adds new posts … [Read more...] about OBSERVATIONS FROM WANDERING THE DESERT
Maybe the State Dept. Should Designate BP As a Terrorist Organization
Or maybe "terrorist organization" is too strong. Maybe "criminal gang" would be better: … [Read more...] about Maybe the State Dept. Should Designate BP As a Terrorist Organization
Judge Strikes Down Oil Moratorium
The Obama administration said Tuesday it would immediately appeal a ruling by a federal judge who upheld a challenge by Big Oil against a moratorium that shutdown deepwater offshore drilling for six months. District Judge Martin Feldman in New Orleans said he granted the preliminary restraining order because the government assumed erroneously that because one rig failed, … [Read more...] about Judge Strikes Down Oil Moratorium
California Executions Still On Hold
Since the death penalty was reinstated by the U. S. Supreme Court in 1976, California has executed 13 inmates. 702 convicted murderers are housed on California’s death row under sentence of death. In February, 2006, Federal District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel placed a temporary stay on California executions. In December of the same year, Judge Fogel, after taking evidence in … [Read more...] about California Executions Still On Hold
That Milk You Just Bought Could Be Helping To Fund Terrorism
Given Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts' reasoning for upholding the material support provision in the Patriot Act -- that teaching terrorist organizations how to use international law to resolve conflicts peacefully frees up money that can be used for violent activities -- I think it's time to resurrect Rachel Maddow's "the 'money is fungible' argument is stupid" video. … [Read more...] about That Milk You Just Bought Could Be Helping To Fund Terrorism
McChrystal’s Low-Rent MacArthur Act
Six decades after a commanding general lost his job for bad-mouthing Harry Truman's conduct of the Korean War, another is in the White House today apologizing for deriding Obama officials over the conflict in Afghanistan. But Stanley McChrystal is no Douglas MacArthur, a mythic figure after his triumphal World War II return to the Philippines and a consummate military … [Read more...] about McChrystal’s Low-Rent MacArthur Act
Time To Refocus Afghan Policy After A Frustrated General’s Untimely Truthful Comments
What amazes me is that a magazine article not scheduled to be published until Friday has created a foreign policy crisis that undermines the direction the U.S. has taken in Afghanistan. I'm talking about the Rolling Stone article leaked in advance to the Associated Press and other media outlets that the top commander in Afghanistan is displeased with the president and U.S. … [Read more...] about Time To Refocus Afghan Policy After A Frustrated General’s Untimely Truthful Comments
A Broader Vision of Hate Crimes
Hate crimes have always been a controversial class of crime. Now, the NYTimes reports, prosecutors are winning stiffer sentences by employing a novel definition: [I]n Queens [NY] since 2005, at least five people have been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, committing a very different kind of hate crime — singling out elderly victims for nonviolent crimes like mortgage fraud … [Read more...] about A Broader Vision of Hate Crimes
Iraq: Seven Years, Billions Of Dollars, No Electricity
For several years now we have been told, first by the Bush administration and now by the Obama administration, the “surge worked.” Soon we would be able bring our troops and advisors home, leaving a functioning rebuilt nation behind us, the result of our effort, resolve, taxpayer dollars and American lives. Yes, it is true that casualties, particularly American casualties, … [Read more...] about Iraq: Seven Years, Billions Of Dollars, No Electricity
Journalists: Neither Friend nor Enemy
Joe has already commented on this developing story. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, was ordered back to Washington on Tuesday after a magazine article portrayed him and his staff as openly contemptuous of some senior members of the Obama administration, the United States ambassador to Afghanistan and senior European officials. I'm now … [Read more...] about Journalists: Neither Friend nor Enemy
Will Heads Roll due to McChrystal’s Controversial Rolling Stone Profile? (UPDATED)
Add Gen. Stanley McChrystal now at the center of yet another shift from the way American political culture has typically worked. Although there have been exceptions, top military officials have generally stayed above the political fray when it comes to politics, keeping their reservations, anger, feelings about key political players and other military officials to themselves … [Read more...] about Will Heads Roll due to McChrystal’s Controversial Rolling Stone Profile? (UPDATED)
Lament for a Nation, Fifty Years On (Guest Voice)
Lament for a Nation, Fifty Years On by Owen Gray "Imagine a country," James Travers wrote in Saturday's Toronto Star, "where Parliament is padlocked twice in 13 months to frustrate the democratic will of the elected majority. That country is now this country." Travers then offered a litany of examples illustrating how the Harper government -- which rode to power … [Read more...] about Lament for a Nation, Fifty Years On (Guest Voice)
Algeria’s Elimination of U.S. and England a ‘Love Letter’ for Gaza: Echorouk al-Yawm, Algeria
Algerians are very proud of their national football team, in part for the political statements its victories represent. According to this article by Abdul Nasser of Algeria's Arabic-language Echorouk al-Yawm, at the 2010 World Cup, eliminating England and America will also be seen as a victory for Palestinians in Gaza. Reflecting the ferocity of Arab support for the … [Read more...] about Algeria’s Elimination of U.S. and England a ‘Love Letter’ for Gaza: Echorouk al-Yawm, Algeria
Barton Backpedals
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Barton Backpedals
Silence Is Golden – The Sharron Angle Strategy
Since her Nevada primary victory, once outspoken Sharron Angle has fallen strangely silent. During the Republican primary, Angle proudly proclaimed, “I am the Tea Party.” Running against Sue [chicken-in-every-doctor’s-pot] Lowden, Angle made no secret of where she stood on issues. They were proclaimed on her website and shared with reporters, all for public consumption. Now … [Read more...] about Silence Is Golden – The Sharron Angle Strategy
A Small Bite In The Political Correctness Butt
Ah, the best made plans of mice and men. I'm referring to a story in the Los Angeles Times Monday. It is a case of political correctness that has turned and bitten the mayor and city council on the butt. Just a tiny bite, mind you. The Los Angeles City Council by an overwhelming majority had voted to suspend business ties with companies in Arizona because of that state's … [Read more...] about A Small Bite In The Political Correctness Butt
Can Obama Avoid the ‘Carter Syndrome?’: Le Figaro, France
Hot on the heels of this German editorial roundup headlined Will Obama Be 21st Century Jimmy Carter?, comes this article from France's Le Figaro. It's a narrative picking up steam both here and abroad. As French columnist Pierre Rousselin points out, comparing President Obama to Jimmy Carter isn't just for U.S. neoconservatives anymore. For Le Figaro, Rousselin writes … [Read more...] about Can Obama Avoid the ‘Carter Syndrome?’: Le Figaro, France
Flaming Tap Water on Gasland on HBO Tonight
CAN YOU DO THIS WITH YOUR TAP WATER? The new documentary, Gasland, won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival and premieres on HBO tonight. In it, filmmaker Josh Fox takes on a 24 state journey to examine the environmental and health consequences of natural gas drilling. His focus is Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the process by which millions of gallons of … [Read more...] about Flaming Tap Water on Gasland on HBO Tonight
Anti-Terrorism Law Trumps Free Speech
The U. S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 today that anti-terrorism laws are constitutional even when they have an adverse impact on free speech. Justice John Paul Stevens joined the conservative majority, while Justices Breyer, Ginsberg, and Sotomayor dissented from Chief Justice Roberts’ opinion. Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project. Opinion here. At issue was 18 US Code … [Read more...] about Anti-Terrorism Law Trumps Free Speech