Fox News has reached a new low in its Pakistan coverage. Click on the link and watch the clip - amongst other humorous (some might say painful) moments, notice when the "terrorism expert" references Benazir Bhutto's hometown as Morristown, New Jersey! UPDATE: Joshua Foust, comparing clips from European and American tv outlets, follows up with a post entitled, "Why Regular … [Read more...] about Karzai Is The Head of Pakistan, Right? No, Wait, It’s Nawaz Sharif
Iraq: “Heart” not “Statistics” Required
I read some posts rejoicing that the killings have come down in Iraq. Thereby implying that the US administration's policy is on the verge of success. Beware... Read the latest report: "The U.S. military on Tuesday announced the deaths of five more soldiers, making 2007 the deadliest year for U.S. troops despite a recent downturn," according to an Associated Press count. … [Read more...] about Iraq: “Heart” not “Statistics” Required
CoA Feature Update
After additional evaluation of TMV's regular "Center of Attention" feature, I've decided to compile and publish it once a week rather than multiple times per week. Part of this decision is driven by new limits on my available time; part of it is driven by the sense that a once-per-week compilation will perhaps: (a) allow for greater focus on posts that truly seek, prompt, or … [Read more...] about CoA Feature Update
Does Musharraf Fear Democracy More than Extremists?
Military dictators in Pakistan are inevitably forced to ride two horses -- the US administration and the Militants/Terrorists. The art of survival lies in appeasing both. For years Musharraf managed to keep both happy. But now chinks have begun to appear in his General's armour. He is managing to keep the militants in good humour...but the US is losing patience. "Washington … [Read more...] about Does Musharraf Fear Democracy More than Extremists?
Dems: That Was The Year That Was
It was a year ago that I wrote that once upon a time a mid-term election was an opportunity for the minority party to take control of Congress and leverage its newfound clout into forcing a president to change direction. I wrote that: "The Democrats got themselves some clout yesterday in a most impressive showing, seizing the House and coming within a hair's breath of … [Read more...] about Dems: That Was The Year That Was
It’s Election Day – VOTE!
It's Election Day - VOTE! … [Read more...] about It’s Election Day – VOTE!
U.S. Torture Policy
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about U.S. Torture Policy
Pakistan and Musharraf: What is India’s Response?
"Muted"... "India's official reaction to the imposition of emergency rule in neighbor Pakistan, which it has fought three wars with, has been muted and cautious". VOA correspondent Steve Herman in New Delhi explains why. "The director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, retired Indian army major general Dipankar Banerjee, says India will continue to be … [Read more...] about Pakistan and Musharraf: What is India’s Response?
Abortion: What It Takes To Make It To Earth
I had a night dream long ago about how hard it was to get to earth. For those of us who get pregnant when just passing through a room where a man is reading a newspaper and no more, it has sometimes seemed as though women becoming pregnant, carrying to term, and laboring to bring a living baby into this world is easy, common, like falling out of a ground floor window. But, … [Read more...] about Abortion: What It Takes To Make It To Earth
Fred Thompson Adviser With Criminal Record Resigns
Pundits continue to be split on actor and former Senator Fred Thompson's bid for the 2008 Republican nomination. Some think Thompson is using a folksy style that will make him the come-from-behind favorite for conservatives unhappy with their buffet of Presidential wannabes this year. Others think that when it comes to running a high-powered Presidential campaign, … [Read more...] about Fred Thompson Adviser With Criminal Record Resigns
Protecting Small Town Businesses is for Chumps
To really prove your conservative, anti-immigration bona fides, you can't just drive out restaurants that cater to Latino immigrants -- you got to brag about the ensuing downturn in business. … [Read more...] about Protecting Small Town Businesses is for Chumps
Campaign Finance Reform Update
Fair Elections Action Week, is on November 12-16, when activists all over the country will be organizing events to demand Fair Elections. Renowned author Frances Moore Lappé "Diet for a Small Planet" examines campaign finance reform through the eyes of Deborah Simpson, a smart, civic-minded former waitress and single mother who ran for a seat in Maine’s legislature under … [Read more...] about Campaign Finance Reform Update
Pakistan Lawyers Protest and Are Beaten By Soldiers: Something Odd About This Photo
Norman Rockwell, American painter, was known for gathering archetypal representations of people and creatures together in one scene, all of them wearing expressions or carrying hopes or fears that each of us have felt somewhere in time. What we see: This amazing archetypal photograph sent me by a correspondent this morning, ran in the NYT, with the title: "Police officers … [Read more...] about Pakistan Lawyers Protest and Are Beaten By Soldiers: Something Odd About This Photo
Tales of Mutual Dysfunction
I guess I overlooked it on the calendar, but today is apparently "What Went Wrong Day." In the NYT, it's "what went wrong with S-CHIP." In the WaPo, it's "what went wrong with No Child Left Behind." Taken together, these stories illustrate -- clearly and painfully -- what happens when political debate crosses the line between healthy and toxic. Check-and-balance … [Read more...] about Tales of Mutual Dysfunction
It’s a Great Day For the Taliban
Swaraaj and other co-bloggers here are way ahead of me on the ability to decipher and interpret events in Pakistan since Pervez Musharraf declared martial law. I can only note that this nuclear power has been under military rule for more than half of its 60 years as an independent nation -- so whuddya expect? -- and say how awesome it is to see lawyers in suits sitting down in … [Read more...] about It’s a Great Day For the Taliban
Giuliani: “I will torture.”
That, more or less, is what Rudy Giuliani said he would do as president in an interview with Bloomberg over the weekend. Think Progress has the clip. He used "intensive questioning" on "mafia guys" in New York, he said, reiterating what he has acknowledged elsewhere, notably that "aggressive techniques" are acceptable. Let me make two points: 1) Giuliani is not … [Read more...] about Giuliani: “I will torture.”
Guest Voice: The Torture Of Ali Al-Marri, The Last U.S. Mainland “Enemy Combatantâ€
NOTE: The Moderate Voice from time to time runs Guest Voice posts by readers who don't have their own website or some people who do who want to present their viewpoint or just another perspective to TMV's highly diverse readership. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. This Guest Voice post is by author Andy Worthington. The … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: The Torture Of Ali Al-Marri, The Last U.S. Mainland “Enemy Combatantâ€
Boy King Tutankhamun, Bush and Musharraf
We get so engrossed in the Bushs and Musharrafs of the 'present' times that the thrilling 'past' concerning thr rulers of a bygone era, as presented to us by the archaeologists, practically goes unnoticed. But the media this time has gone to town to celebrate the first-ever public display of the Egyptian King Tutankhamun in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings more than 3,000 … [Read more...] about Boy King Tutankhamun, Bush and Musharraf
It Has Been A Tough Week For Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton
But one prominent blogger today has come out and endorsed her early on -- in THIS INTRIGUING POST that goes into great detail as to why he feels she makes sense -- and why he feels the arguments used against her just don't hold up. And how is the week beginning for Ms. Clinton? With a slew of stories that suggest she'll remain pitchforked into the news and could be … [Read more...] about It Has Been A Tough Week For Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton
Is Musharraf Under House Arrest?
If you silence the media the rumours do the round. Pakistan's government on Monday denied rumours sweeping the country that the deputy army chief had placed military ruler President Pervez Musharraf under house arrest, reports Forbes magazine. "Musharraf had tipped vice chief of army staff Ashfaq Kiyani to take over his military role after pledging to hang up his uniform … [Read more...] about Is Musharraf Under House Arrest?