Editor's Note: This 2008 U.S. elections are being watched carefully -- and nowhere more carefully than in troubled Pakistan. This Guest Voice column was written for TMV for the Pakistan-based website The Pakistani Spectator. What US Vote '08 Means To Pakistanis by The Pakistani Spectator In Pakistan, every incident, accident and every ominous fortuity is blamed on … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: What US Vote ’08 Means To Pakistanis
Giuliani Campaign
Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News … [Read more...] about Giuliani Campaign
Arabs Would be Happy if Bush Stayed Home
Watching America is collecting the commentary out of the Middle East on Bush's upcoming tour there. Many Arabs are exhibiting a kind of exasperated "Don't bother coming; you've done enough damage already". It seems the situation on the ground, for which they hold Bush largely responsible, speaks more loudly than Bush will when he arrives. From Dar al-Hyatt, … [Read more...] about Arabs Would be Happy if Bush Stayed Home
Saudi Imprisoned without Charges (For Blogging)
Fouad Ahmad Alfarhan is a Saudi Arabian business manager, educated in the United States, who has run afoul of the government of his country for producing a blog in which he has called for things like freedom of speech and due process in the Saudi justice system. He's been jailed since December 10 and so far, no word from Saudi authorities regarding the charges, if any, … [Read more...] about Saudi Imprisoned without Charges (For Blogging)
Iraq has Vanished from the Primaries
An interesting piece from Corriere della Serra, Italy, translated at WatchingAmerica.com points out that recent successes in Iraq have led to its disappearing from the issue sheet of all candidates, pro and anti-war, Republican and Democrat, alike. The success of the strategy to strengthen the U.S. military presence in Iraqi cities, the reduction in the number ofl … [Read more...] about Iraq has Vanished from the Primaries
Obama Lifts Lid on Latent Global Pro-Americanism
A list of the most recent headlines posted by the global news aggregator, Watching America, shows that the Obama phenomenon is sending ripples far and fast. There's enough global output that WA is continuing its multiple Obama feature with new content into the new week. Current headlines include, The Day That Martin Luther King Dreamed Of??(Germany) Rejection of US … [Read more...] about Obama Lifts Lid on Latent Global Pro-Americanism
Obama: Nothing Succeeds Like Success
In my other life, I sell real estate and daily face the truth that nothing helps business like a third-party testimonial. Watching America translates news about the U.S from all of the world's "third-parties" - every country that has a stake in America's choice for president in '08. And today we see, in an article from the Hamburger Abdendblatt of Germany, Obama's being … [Read more...] about Obama: Nothing Succeeds Like Success
It’s Time to Recover Iraq from the ‘Occupiers’ …
Over recent weeks, the tone of information emerging from the Iraqi press has confirmed that the security situation is indeed improving. According to this op-ed article from Iraq's Kitabat newspaper, Iraqis are now grappling with how to dis-empower militia groups and factions that have grown powerful during the occupation, but which have gone completely out of control. By … [Read more...] about It’s Time to Recover Iraq from the ‘Occupiers’ …
Obama: ‘A Man Who Will Restore America’s Image in the World’
Is Barack Obama the greatest American orator since John Kennedy - and will his dream outlast his 'realist' critics? According to this op-ed article from France's Liberation, Obama is, "A man who pardons the original sin of the slave and who holds up a mirror to America in which she is beautiful, multi-racial and pragmatic. A man who will heal the gaping wound of the Iraq War … [Read more...] about Obama: ‘A Man Who Will Restore America’s Image in the World’
Al-Jazeera’s New Face?
Kristen Gillespie, writing at The Nation, argues that Al-Jazeera has developed a pro-Islamist bias: Dozens of hours of viewing Al Jazeera for this article confirm the charge. Whether it's reporting the Hamas perspective from the occupied territories without mention of the Palestinian Authority's version of events, or the fawning depiction elsewhere of Islamist parties and … [Read more...] about Al-Jazeera’s New Face?
Anger, Gender & Politics
I'm not going to bother looking up the research but will speak from personal experience. Anger is often perceived differently in men and women. The same anger seen as an asset in a male candidate may be seen as a liability in a female candidate. I know this because I have often been perceived as an angry woman (and therefore dangerous and unstable) rather than a rightfully … [Read more...] about Anger, Gender & Politics
Guest Voice: What Is A Moderate To Do? (Part I)
This Guest Voice column is by Patrick Edaburn, an attorney who is a registered Republican but concerned over the influence of the hard right on his party and the influence of the hard left on the Democratic party. He is assistant editor of the centrist blog Central Sanity. This is the first of two parts. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: What Is A Moderate To Do? (Part I)
Guest Voice: Change Yes, Ron Paul No
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. Change Yes, Ron Paul No By Joel S. Hirschhorn Ron Paul’s supporters like more traditional political activists can spin and delude themselves about election results. But the Iowa caucus results … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Change Yes, Ron Paul No
Clinton Caveman
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Clinton Caveman
Barack Obama Captures Lightning In a Bottle, But Can He Keep the Lid On?
This feels good. It's just like I imagined it when I was talking to my kindergarten teacher. —Obama on his front runner status Barack Obama may be the leader of the moment, but he faces an uphill fight over the next four weeks as a six-candidate Democratic field is winnowed down in an breakneck series of primaries and caucuses in no fewer than 29 states. This frenzy … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Captures Lightning In a Bottle, But Can He Keep the Lid On?
Congressional Circus Back in Town
They still don't know who destroyed the CIA interrogation tapes or ordered the firing of US attorneys, but Capitol Hill bloodhounds will stop at nothing to find out if Roger Clemens used steroids. On January 15th, the House Oversight Committee starts two days of hearings to pursue this pressing national issue, a month after the well-publicized Mitchell Report was issued and … [Read more...] about Congressional Circus Back in Town
Edwards And Obama Double-Team Clinton In Democratic Debate Wrestling Match
I was on a long drive and missed the Republican candidate's debate on ABC but got to the hotel just in time to catch the Democratic candidates' debate in New Hampshire and -- WOW! I DO love tag-team wrestling matches... It was former Senator John Edwards and Democratic Senator Barack Obama tag-teaming against Senator Hillary Clinton. Edwards had Obama's back -- while … [Read more...] about Edwards And Obama Double-Team Clinton In Democratic Debate Wrestling Match
Will Bush Administration’s ‘New’ Strategy In Pakistan Fail?
With the charismatic opposition leader Benazir Bhutto forcibly removed from the scene, what would be the unfolding scenario in turbulent Pakistan? There are several theories floating around. Robin Wright and Griff Witte of The Washington Post report that the Bush administration is now depending on two politicians -- one accused in the 1990s of being a crook and the other … [Read more...] about Will Bush Administration’s ‘New’ Strategy In Pakistan Fail?
Iowa Roadkill
Jeff Parker, Florida Today … [Read more...] about Iowa Roadkill
“We’re having the wrong discussion about foreign policy”
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman began his piece yesterday by pointing out that on both Wednesday and Thursday, the price of oil briefly hit $100 a barrel. The implications of that, beyond the effect that having that price stick might have? Krugman says, that among other things, as this 2008 presidential campaign is unfolding, "we’re having the wrong discussion about … [Read more...] about “We’re having the wrong discussion about foreign policy”