Was there a more enigmatic and successful World War II double agent than Eddie Chapman? I don’t think so. Chapman, a charming con man, philanderer, safecracker and self-taught explosives expert, offered to work as a spy for the Germans in 1940, but gave himself over to the British after being parachuted into England in 1942 with a wireless set, revolver and cyanide pill … [Read more...] about Book Review: ‘Agent Zigzag’
Pakistan Elections Feb 18: A Roundup Of Fears/Dangers…
On Monday (February 18) morning, 64,000 polling stations will open in Pakistan's 272 constituencies. Polling stations are thought likely to shut at 5 pm local time, and counts will be completed some two or three hours later. So will the elections be fair? "On a scale from terrible to great, it'll be somewhere in the middle" is what Richard Boucher, the US assistant secretary … [Read more...] about Pakistan Elections Feb 18: A Roundup Of Fears/Dangers…
‘War on Terror’ Strikes at the Heart of NATO …
Why don't some NATO members wish to send more of their troops into harm's way in Afghanistan? According the editorial board of the NRC Handelsblad of The Netherlands, the issue is the 'War on Terror' itself. The editorial says in part, 'The fact is that terrorism as an entity doesn't exist. … contemporary terrorism is really just a fluid method of combat that one cannot bomb … [Read more...] about ‘War on Terror’ Strikes at the Heart of NATO …
Obituary: The Maharishi (A “Benign” ex-Guru of Beatles)
I was a Beatles' fan in my teens. A few years after the famous British pop group had visited their Guru's ashram, I undertook a journey to Rishikesh in India. Situated on the banks of the mighty/holy river Ganga/Ganges when it enters the plains (with the Himalayas providing a picturesqe backdrop), the ashram became our abode for a few days in the early 1970s. Our co-blogger at … [Read more...] about Obituary: The Maharishi (A “Benign” ex-Guru of Beatles)
Bill Clinton On Sharp Attack Against Obama Again (UPDATED)
The upcoming primaries in Ohio and Texas are widely-considered as critical for Senator Hillary Clinton to regain momentum against Senator Barack Obama. So, just as he surfaced after his wife lost Iowa and began a series of controversial personal attacks on Obama, Bill Clinton is back in the negative campaigning saddle again. And, as this news report shows, his statements … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton On Sharp Attack Against Obama Again (UPDATED)
This Risk of Being Moderate in Congress
The Wall Street Journal article "Primary Sends Shivers Through Capitol Moderates" profiles the fate of incumbent Congresspeople who are perceived as straying too far from their party's base. While the prodigal Democrats are targeted by MoveOn and ActBlue, the Republicans are targeted by the "Club for Growth." "We'll be working this fall for 'more' Democrats, but today we … [Read more...] about This Risk of Being Moderate in Congress
‘God Bless America’: George W. Bush Will Soon ‘Walk on Our Soil’
With President Bush expected to step off Air Force one in the obscure West African nation of Benin, the people of the country are prepared to shower him with almost unprecedented praise. It will be the first visit of an American head of state in that nation's history. In the gushing words of this op-ed article from Benin's Fraternite newspaper, 'To state it plainly, the boss of … [Read more...] about ‘God Bless America’: George W. Bush Will Soon ‘Walk on Our Soil’
Parsing Support for Campaign Finance Reform
The AP reports that McCain scolds Obama on campaign funds "If Senator Obama goes back on his commitment to the American people, then obviously we'd have to rethink our position," McCain said. "Our whole agreement was that we would take public financing if he made that commitment as well. And he signed a piece of paper, I'm told, that made that commitment." To me this is … [Read more...] about Parsing Support for Campaign Finance Reform
What the Heck Are These Guys Talking About?
WHY ARE THESE MEN NOT SMILING? President Bush claimed today that the failure of House Democrats to approve an extension of a controversial domestic surveillance wiretapping program means "our country is more in danger of an attack." Vice President Cheney said he also is very concerned. Since Bush's unprecedented powers as president are not compromised, Cheney is above … [Read more...] about What the Heck Are These Guys Talking About?
The Politics of Murder
Déjà vu won't do. Recurring nightmare is a better description for what happened yesterday on a college campus in DeKalb, Illinois--an armed-to-the-teeth gunman, random shooting, sudden deaths. This time there were five victims, plus the shooter, who stepped from behind a curtain in a lecture hall and started firing indiscriminately before killing himself on the stage. He had … [Read more...] about The Politics of Murder
Popeye McCain
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Popeye McCain
Tortured Times: The Shame of Mukasey, Schumer, Feinstein, Scalia & McCain
PRESIDENT NIXON GREETS RETURNING POW McCAIN No one in their right mind would believe that the last year of the Reign of Bush would be any less tendentious than previous years. There are, for example, the latest flurry of presidential signing statements and the lame duck's insistence that telecoms be granted retroactive immunity for embracing his initiatives to spy on their … [Read more...] about Tortured Times: The Shame of Mukasey, Schumer, Feinstein, Scalia & McCain
Hillary Rodham Clinton: “Don’t Write Her Off…”
Barack Obama's dramatic/impressive recent victories have generated a pro-Obama hysteria in the media and the blogosphere. To an outsider, it may appear that Hillary Clinton is now lagging far behind and may not make it to the White House. However, in an extremely well written article Gerard Baker, the United States Editor and an Assistant Editor of The Times of London, argues … [Read more...] about Hillary Rodham Clinton: “Don’t Write Her Off…”
Guest Voice: “Tribal Violence” And “Ethnic Cleansing” In Kenya?
This is a Guest Voice column by Alan Boswell, an American college student who has been studying in Kenya since August 2007. Guest Voice posts to not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Moderate Voice or its writers. What's Really Happening In Kenya by Alan Boswell "Tribal violence"? "Ethnic cleansing"? These words have been splashing in the international headlines … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: “Tribal Violence” And “Ethnic Cleansing” In Kenya?
Guest Voice: Obama Hope Beating Clinton Help
Here is another Guest Voice by Joel S. Hirschhorn who is highly critical of both parties.. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Obama Hope Beating Clinton Help by Joel S. Hirschhorn Hope mongering has been working much better than experience mongering. Now, the rest of the story…. As befits American culture, … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Obama Hope Beating Clinton Help
Obama Will Win Because He Is Not Black
France's respected daily, Liberation, has a very idiosyncratic article entitled, "Immaculate Blackness". It begins (in translation) thus; Barack Obama is going to win the next presidential election because he is not black. Barack Obama isn’t black? No: and it is not because his mother is “as white as milk” in accordance with the “proper” description of the … [Read more...] about Obama Will Win Because He Is Not Black
The Great Comedians: Lou Costello
When people ask me, as a professional entertainer, who my favorite comedian or entertainer of all time is, they're surprised by my reply: it's Lou Costello, the chubby half of the classic Abbott & Costello comedy team. They're also surprised to hear me say I'm not talking about Costello as he appeared in the team's films -- but the Costello I watch (and study) on DVDs of the … [Read more...] about The Great Comedians: Lou Costello
Campaign Rules for Cartoonists
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Campaign Rules for Cartoonists
All About McCain
WATCHING AMERICA.com has a multi-feature flurry of articles on McCain from Germany's Der Spiegel, including an exclusive interview. … [Read more...] about All About McCain
Bush on Darfur & More: the Matt Frei Interview
BBC journalist Matt Frei interviewed George W. Bush, who defends US policy in Darfur and his own 'seminal decision' (sic) not to commit troops to Darfur (BBC transcript). I can't upload the 15 minute video here, but you can watch it here or read a summary here. Grim as most of the subjects the two of them canvassed were, and are, several of the things he said evoked … [Read more...] about Bush on Darfur & More: the Matt Frei Interview