The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) – once the most feared terrorists in the world – seem to have finally lost their battle against the Sri Lanka government forces after the reported killing of its top leader Velupillai Prabhakaran (file photo above). Thus bringing to an end 26 years of brutal war for a separate Tamil homeland. For the chronology of Tamil separatist … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka: End Of Separate Tamil Homeland Dream
What’s in a Name? A Dutch Name, That Is.
In my “The ‘Road to Heaven’ at Sobibor,” I mentioned that my great-great-grandfather, Alexander Levy, who lived in the Netherlands---Holland in those days---around the turn of the 18th century, changed his surname (or family name) from Levy to de Wind. Why did he do that? To be frank, I don’t know why he changed his last name. I don’t think that it was for religious or … [Read more...] about What’s in a Name? A Dutch Name, That Is.
The Damage Bush Is Still Doing
Frank Rich's New York Times column yesterday, headed "Obama Can't Turn the Page on Bush," was a sad symptom of America's best and brightest still obsessing over eight years of a national nightmare to the detriment of what needs to be done now. With an economy in shambles and the Mideast a potential nuclear tinderbox, the Obama Administration has its hands full without "a new … [Read more...] about The Damage Bush Is Still Doing
The Peace Process Industry’s Going to Get You–And Your Little Country, Too! (Guest Voice)
Editor's Note: When Israel's new conservative prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, meets President Barack Obama at the White House today the two leaders will press two different agendas. Barry Rubin of The Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center in Israel has some thoughts on this. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its … [Read more...] about The Peace Process Industry’s Going to Get You–And Your Little Country, Too! (Guest Voice)
Two State Solution
Yaakov Kirschen, The Jerusalem Post, Dry Bones This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Two State Solution
Dick Cheney As Suicide Bomber
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE It becomes clearer with every new explosion from Dick Cheney in defense of the Bush torture regime that the former vice president is on a suicide mission. The grotesqueries, lies and obfuscations of the last eight years strapped to his waist, he is determined to visit as much destruction as possible on the Obama administration, as well as his own … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney As Suicide Bomber
Maureen Dowd: Pants on Fire Redux
The cat is not only out of the bag, but well into the next county by now. Originally exposed by thejoshuablog at TPM Cafe, it was obvious that Maureen Dowd, in her Sunday column, lifted some of Josh Marshall's prose from Talking Points Memo. To her credit, and that of her taskmasters at the Gray Lady, she quickly owned up to the "error" and issued a correction in the online … [Read more...] about Maureen Dowd: Pants on Fire Redux
Cost of War Reaches $670 Billion
According to the National Priorities Project, the War in Iraq has now cost American taxpayers $670 billion. That stands in stark contrast to the $100 billion to $200 billion pricetage estimated by President Bush's chief economic advisor in September 2002 or the $50 billion to $60 billion estimate offered by the White House Office of Management and Budget Director in … [Read more...] about Cost of War Reaches $670 Billion
Does Obama Actually Rule the United States?: Cadena Global, Venezuela
In Latin America, it's a suspicion shared just as much by those who favor President Obama as oppose him: Does any president of the United States, particularly a 'rookie' like Obama, really control the espionage and security apparatus of the United States? This article by Alberto B. Aranguibel of Artgentina's Cadena Global puts it this way: "In an imperialist culture based … [Read more...] about Does Obama Actually Rule the United States?: Cadena Global, Venezuela
Karzai’s ‘Odes to Pakistan’ Come Too Late to Stop India: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
'THE PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN MEETS OBAMA' It's been a busy weekend in terms of the Af-Pak crisis, and we've been working to bring you news and opinion from the Pakistanis and our NATO allies. In one article, an editorial from Pakistan headlined, Karzai's 'Odes to Pakistan' Come Too Late to Stop India, the reasons Pakistan feels so much angst toward Afghan President Hamid … [Read more...] about Karzai’s ‘Odes to Pakistan’ Come Too Late to Stop India: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
Why Jon Huntsman Jumped
Upon hearing that Utah Governor Jon Huntsman was taking Obama's offer to become Ambassador to China, I was saddened. Huntsman was a conservative that didn't live in the GOP echo chamber and could see the change that needed to happen in the Republican Party if it is to be a viable force in the age of Obama. He was for civil unions for gays, and was pro-environment. He was … [Read more...] about Why Jon Huntsman Jumped
They Bought The Bridge
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com This cartoon has been copyrighted to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about They Bought The Bridge
Anal Poisoning. A Full Pandemic Disease Now?
This past Friday, I was blissfully reading an article by one of my favorite columnists, Joan Walsh at Salon.com, when I came across the name of a disease that I hadn’t heard of before. Obviously quite a serious disease as apparently many people are going to die of it. The disease is “anal poisoning.” Since English is an acquired language to me, I wrote it off to … [Read more...] about Anal Poisoning. A Full Pandemic Disease Now?
Obama To Notre Dame Grads: Seek Common Ground Not Caricatures (UPDATE: Video Added)
President Barack Obama seemingly turned a potential political lemon into political lemonade in his controversial address to Notre Dame's graduating class by using it as an occasion to stress the importance of adversaries seeking common ground on controversial issues -- rather than indulging in exaggerated caricatures: The 44th president, speaking at commencement … [Read more...] about Obama To Notre Dame Grads: Seek Common Ground Not Caricatures (UPDATE: Video Added)
Around The Sphere
Obama Too Wedded To Bush? The controversy (what else?) rages on the left and right. For a cross section go HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Public Opinion On Torture: Is it being distorted in debates? Nancy Pelosi's Positives Nosedive -- and she's now actually in the deficits, as Andrew Sullivan notes. Sullivan also notes her press conference. I also missed it but from what you … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere
Oh, No, Say It Ain’t So
A terrible scenario is unfolding in the Sadr City district of Baghdad where the U.S. military outposts will pull out June 30. Some U.S. and Iraqi military officials and civilian leaders believe the impoverished Shiite community will return to lawlessness and ignite a civil war. "When the Americans leave, everything will be looted because no one will be watching," an Iraqi … [Read more...] about Oh, No, Say It Ain’t So
Venezuela Seizes U.S. Pasta Company: Says It’s Got Too Much Dough
Venezuela has stepped in and seized a U.S. pasta company, charging that it took too much dough for its product: Venezuelan officials accompanied by soldiers have seized "temporary" control of a US-owned pasta producer. Venezuela says the plant, owned by the big US firm Cargill, had violated regulations on price controls intended to guarantee cheap food for the … [Read more...] about Venezuela Seizes U.S. Pasta Company: Says It’s Got Too Much Dough
CSI Miami’s David Caruso: Skilled Character Actor Or Acting Hack?
I'm a huge CSI Miami fan (for years I wanted to live in Miami, but wound up in San Diego when I accepted a job in 1982 as a reporter for the recent sold and seriously downsized San Diego Union). I'm also now in the entertainment biz and love studying acting and comedy technique. Which raises a question: is David Caruso's way of delivering some lines on CSI Miami, and putting … [Read more...] about CSI Miami’s David Caruso: Skilled Character Actor Or Acting Hack?
Thought Experiment: What If The Law Really Did Say Life Begins At Conception?
DISCLAIMER: This is a thought experiment regarding a LEGAL issue, not a moral or political quandary. My own personal beliefs are that life is a continuous chain and neither conception nor viability nor birth constitute the beginning of "life" per se. But as an individual organism, with all its philosophical and theological elements, life does begin at conception. But the law … [Read more...] about Thought Experiment: What If The Law Really Did Say Life Begins At Conception?
Seemingly Invincible Tamil Tigers Declare Defeat Amid Report Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran Dead
After waging a 26 year battle to carve out their own homeland, the once seemingly invincible Tamil Tigers have admitted defeat in their bloody fight against the Sri Lanka government. The latest report: the Tamil Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, is dead. According to reports on CNN-IBN, the body of what is believed to be the 54-year-old LTTE leader, Velupillai … [Read more...] about Seemingly Invincible Tamil Tigers Declare Defeat Amid Report Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran Dead