A Senate report says the Bush administration could have captured terrorist Osama bin Laden in December 2001 -- three months after 911 -- but that poor judgment calls by then defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and then-top military commander Gen. Tommy Franks allowed him to get away. The New York Daily News gives a good summary of the report, which comes right as President … [Read more...] about Senate Report: U.S. Could Have Captured bin Laden in 2001
Love Makes the World
Here is Carole King talking about what she had in mind with "Love Makes the World" -- the title song from her album of the same name, and also the album that has "An Uncommon Love," which I posted here not long ago. I am very disappointed to say that I cannot find the actual song video for "Love Makes the World" -- it's very beautiful. … [Read more...] about Love Makes the World
Obama Will ‘Regret’ Failure to ‘Back Up’ Colombia: El Tiempo, Colombia
On behalf of all of the people of WORLDMEETS.US, I want to wish everyone who works on or visits the Moderate Voice a very Happy Thanksgiving. It's a venue that would have to be invented if it didn't already exist. But Thanksgiving or no, world news rolls relentlessly on. Somewhat overshadowed by other major news stories, the trouble between Venezuela and Colombia, … [Read more...] about Obama Will ‘Regret’ Failure to ‘Back Up’ Colombia: El Tiempo, Colombia
The Black Jail and the Loophole
The black jail is a secret detention and interrogation facility at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. The loophole is that the jail is run by U.S. Special Operations, not by the C.I.A. That means it was not included in Barack Obama's executive order to shut down black sites, which he issued shortly after he took office. And both the Washington Post and the New York Times … [Read more...] about The Black Jail and the Loophole
Is “Republican Moderate” Becoming an Oxymoron? How About “Democratic Moderate”?
Or will 2010, based on the Republican Senate campaign strategy being pursued by Texas Senator John Cornyn, bring a resurgence of moderate Republican officeholders? It's an uphill fight for Cornyn within the GOP, reports Todd J. Gillman of the Dallas Morning News. Of course, the Democratic Senate campaign of several years ago, under the leadership of New York's Chuck … [Read more...] about Is “Republican Moderate” Becoming an Oxymoron? How About “Democratic Moderate”?
Bush’s War Crimes Trial
What is as close as we're going to get to a calling-to-account for the former Decider and his puppet Tony Blair for thousands of deaths in Iraq is unfolding, largely out of American media sight, before a panel of British nobles. The Chilcot inquiry is hearing from such witnesses as the then-Ambassador to the UN that he threatened to quit in the runup to the Iraq invasion … [Read more...] about Bush’s War Crimes Trial
The Economist’s Interview with Radley Balko
Today's edition of The Economist features an interview with Radley Balko, who is a senior editor at Reason Magazine and creator of the libertarian blog The Agitator. In the interview, Balko discusses the current state of our criminal justice system, the growing militarization of law enforcement, civil liberties, and the future of libertarianism. Balko's revelations … [Read more...] about The Economist’s Interview with Radley Balko
Poll: 2010 Promises Democratic Losses Due To “Enthusiasm Gap”
A new weekly tracking poll by Research 2000 for the Daily Kos brings some truly bad news for Democrats and good news for Republicans: as President Barack Obama's overall poll numbers continue to decline, there is a notable difference in the "enthusiasm gap" between the two parties -- which suggests that 2010 could be a big year of GOP gains as angry Republicans flock to the … [Read more...] about Poll: 2010 Promises Democratic Losses Due To “Enthusiasm Gap”
9-11 Masterminds in Civil Court
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about 9-11 Masterminds in Civil Court
New York Is Tough Enough for Terrorist Trials (Guest Voice)
New York Is Tough Enough for Terrorist Trials by Michael Winship If you want to royally tick off New Yorkers, try telling us what to do. That's probably why the police stopped trying to enforce the jaywalking laws here years ago (as opposed to Washington, DC, where I once got one too many tickets and was sent to pedestrian school). And that's why in the weeks after … [Read more...] about New York Is Tough Enough for Terrorist Trials (Guest Voice)
California Budget Harakiri
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about California Budget Harakiri
The Psalm 109:8 Controversy
I'm a bit late on this, having just read about a religiously-themed slogan appearing these days on T-shirts, web sites, and bumper stickers. The slogan? "Pray for Obama, Psalm 109:8." To those who don't dig any deeper, the words and Bible citation may be anything from laudable to innocuous. But people taking the time to look up the passage are registering differing … [Read more...] about The Psalm 109:8 Controversy
Harvard’s 16 Medal of Honor Heroes
On the occasion of Veterans Day, I wrote about Medal of Honor recipients in general, but specifically about how one would expect that many of the Medal of Honor recipients would be graduates of our service academies. And indeed, 82 West Point graduates and 74 Annapolis graduates have gone on to earn that high honor. As to the question, “But how about graduates from other … [Read more...] about Harvard’s 16 Medal of Honor Heroes
Tiger Woods Said to Be Seriously Injured in SUV Accident
UPDATE from Dr. E: ESPN Reports: "The highway patrol first reported Woods' injuries as serious, though Woods spokesman, Glenn Greenspan, said Friday afternoon that the golfer was treated at the hospital and released in good condition. A statement from the hospital, as well as Greenspan's statement, termed the accident as "minor." The Florida Patrol spokesperson said … [Read more...] about Tiger Woods Said to Be Seriously Injured in SUV Accident
Climate Change: Are We Focused on What Matters?
I'm woefully under-educated on the science of climate change, but I've read enough to suspect we might be engaged in the wrong debates. Today, we argue about whether or not the planet is warming, and -- if it is warming -- how much of that trend is caused by (and thus can be controlled by) human action or counteraction. These arguments, like all arguments, are made by … [Read more...] about Climate Change: Are We Focused on What Matters?
Wall Street Bonuses — Are You Angry Yet?
Are you angry at the size of Wall Street bonuses at a time when so many other sectors of the economy are sagging, and so many people are suffering such economic distress? Well, maybe you're not angry enough. Perusing the financial pages and government statistics, here's a few comparisons about what THEY are getting this holiday season and what WE are enduring: The $16.7 … [Read more...] about Wall Street Bonuses — Are You Angry Yet?
Sullivan Challenges Rove
This morning, I saw the headline of Karl Rove's latest in the WSJ -- and skipped it. Intentionally. The man has no credibility. But Andrew Sullivan couldn't resist a read and reaction: Rove would have you believe it's those spend-and-splurge Democrats. In fact, of course, the massive debt has been building for years and its new height was precipitated by the recession … [Read more...] about Sullivan Challenges Rove
Hug a Terrorist for the Holidays
That photo of the Vice-President with his arms around a couple of grinning White House gate-crashers will do nicely as a symbol for Americans as they count their blessings, real and imagined, this weekend. While so many were getting their meals at homeless shelters, the headlines are devoted to the reality-show aspirants who breached the most secure location in the nation, … [Read more...] about Hug a Terrorist for the Holidays
Pentagon Senior Mentors: The Debate Continues
"Senior Mentors" are high-ranking, retired military officers (usually generals and admirals) who use their skills and experience to advice active duty military in conducting various military exercises, war games and other operations. Some of these senior mentors make as much as $340 an hour as part-time government consultants. In addition to drawing their military … [Read more...] about Pentagon Senior Mentors: The Debate Continues
German Minister Resigns Over Afghanistan Raid That Killed Civilians
Just days before U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to go on television and tell the American public that he plans to send 30,000 to 40,000 more troops into Afghanistan, the war there has led to one less member of the German cabinet: Germany's Labour Minister Franz Josef Jung has resigned amid allegations of a cover-up relating to a deadly Nato air strike in … [Read more...] about German Minister Resigns Over Afghanistan Raid That Killed Civilians