Here's an item that will spark much debate -- not just among partisans, politicos but also perhaps among historians: El Pais, the highest-circulation daily in Spain, today published what it said was the transcript of a private talk between President George W. Bush and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar on February 22, 2003, concerning the coming U.S. invasion of Iraq. … [Read more...] about Spanish Newspaper: Bush Planned To Invade Iraq Whether Saddam Complied With UN Or Not
S-CHIP EMS
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about S-CHIP EMS
Who’s Sicker: Bush or America’s Kids?
I have a hard time believing much of what President Bush says because so much of it is misleading or downright false, but his claim that the House of Representatives is playing politics by passing a $35 billion expansion of a popular children’s health-insurance program may be a new low in the annals of compassionate conservatism. The vote last night was 265 to 159 with 45 … [Read more...] about Who’s Sicker: Bush or America’s Kids?
The World According to Nouri
(Cross-posted from The Reaction.) In what may be simultaneously the understatement and overstatement of the year, Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki said this in New York yesterday: I can't say there is a picture of roses and flowers in Iraq. However, I can say that the greatest victory, of which I am proud... is stopping the explosion of a sectarian war. He also said that … [Read more...] about The World According to Nouri
When Irony Rules The World
You see THIS happen... … [Read more...] about When Irony Rules The World
The Dems Finally Do Something
Bowing to pressure from Democrats and human rights groups, the White House has withdrawn the nomination of John Rizzo to be the CIA's top attorney after months of controversy over his role in the agency's interrogation policy. Rizzo, a career CIA lawyer, had drawn fire because of his support for Bush administration legal doctrines permitting so-called "enhanced … [Read more...] about The Dems Finally Do Something
AARGHmadinejad
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about AARGHmadinejad
Burma: An Insane Regime Dedicated to Beating Up The Sane
This morning it was reported by the BBC that police beat and arrested demonstrators at Shwe-dagon Pagoda, one of the holiest sites in Burma... including up to 100 monks, on the ninth day of unrest against the military government. Some of the monks and civilians are said to be severely injured. (UPDATE: MSNBC says at 6:15am MST, that two monks have been murdered by the police. … [Read more...] about Burma: An Insane Regime Dedicated to Beating Up The Sane
Iraqi Civilian Casualty Stats: It Takes Lotsa Chefs to Cook These Books
Shocking as it may seem, the civilian casualty figures that General David Petraeus used in his Iraq war progress report dog-and-pony show earlier this month differ from the generally higher numbers less partisan body counters use. But what's really interesting in a grotesque sort of way is that the general's numbers also differ significantly from the Pentagon's official … [Read more...] about Iraqi Civilian Casualty Stats: It Takes Lotsa Chefs to Cook These Books
Remembering Omar and Yance
In a terrific instance of comity across the political spectrum, five blogs have joined together to set up up a memorial fund in the names of Sergeants Omar Mora and Yance T. Gray. The men were among the seven GIs in Iraq who wrote a controversial New York Times op-ed piece questioning the war. They died on September 10 when a cargo truck overturned in western Baghdad just as … [Read more...] about Remembering Omar and Yance
Burma: The Banishment of the Cyber Dissidents
My sources in Rangon tell me that the military has orders to stop and frisk civilians and anyone caught with a cell phone is being arrested. This is following a series of cell phone camera clips showing violence toward marchers in Burma; the clips were uploaded to YouTube. The government is attempting to stop all transmission of 'unauthorized' data regarding the current … [Read more...] about Burma: The Banishment of the Cyber Dissidents
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Opposition Leader: The Terra Firma of Burma
There is amongst Buddhists in Asia the story of Kwan Yin, sometimes called Kwannon and other spellings of the name... it is said, Kwan Yin had become a Bodhi-sattva... an Enlightened Being, who thereby was allowed to step off the Wheel of Life and Death, to bypass all future suffering in earthly incarnation, and instead to ascend to Nirvana; to the place of perfected All. … [Read more...] about Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Opposition Leader: The Terra Firma of Burma
UAW & GM Reportedly Reach Tentative Settlement
AP via MSNBC: DETROIT - The United Auto Workers said early Wednesday it has reached a tentative contract agreement with General Motors Corp. that could end a two-day nationwide strike. The union said the deal was reached shortly after 3 a.m. A person briefed on the contract told The Associated Press earlier that the agreement would shift the burden of retiree health care … [Read more...] about UAW & GM Reportedly Reach Tentative Settlement
Burma Dharma: What is the Sound of 20,000 Monks Marching?
Can you imagine 20,000 Rabbi's taking to the streets of Manhattan to protest the treatment of the poor? How about 20,000 Bishops and Cardinals marching in the streets of say, Venice, holding hands? Could you imagine 20,000 Imams marching in Baghdad protesting the deaths of innocents? It would be awe-striking. Such a searing statement. But we don’t need to imagine holy men … [Read more...] about Burma Dharma: What is the Sound of 20,000 Monks Marching?
Tom Purcell: Bullies, Technology and Bullets
Tom Purcell is a columnist syndicated by Cagle Cartoons. Bullies, Technology and Bullets By Tom Purcell Bullying isn't like it used to be. Contemporary bullies are also using technology. They're making nasty cell-phone calls, sending e-mails and text messages and posting embarrassing things on the Internet. The anonymous cowards. When I was a kid in the '70s, … [Read more...] about Tom Purcell: Bullies, Technology and Bullets
Iran Ahmadinejad
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Iran Ahmadinejad
War Stories
Here is a scene that won’t be part of Ken Burns’ new series about World War II on PBS this week. In 1945, a 20-year-old foot soldier arrives at General Patton’s Third Army in France. Before being sent to a rifle company, he is assigned to stay up every night and on the battalion’s only typewriter, which is not available during the day, copy officers’ notes about … [Read more...] about War Stories
House Vote To Expand Children’s Health Insurance Too Weak To Survive Bush Veto
The good news for those who've backed expansion of children's health care coverage is that it passed after a bipartisan vote in the House. The bad news for them -- and Republicans running for re-election, most likely -- is that many members of the Republican Party have continued the 2007 trend in following the administration's wishes so the vote margin means there won't be … [Read more...] about House Vote To Expand Children’s Health Insurance Too Weak To Survive Bush Veto
Supporter Launches Ron Paul YouTube Video Contest With Money Prize
OK ... perhaps the prize isn't as whopping as America's Got Talent's or American Idol's. But a Ron Paul supporter is insisting that he's launching a Ron Paul video contest on YouTube with the top prize $4,000. Yes, friends, this is indeed the Age Of You Tube. First, you had weblogs where any citizen could be his/her/it's own editor, publisher at a shockingly low cost. The … [Read more...] about Supporter Launches Ron Paul YouTube Video Contest With Money Prize
Republican Watts Calls GOP Front Runners’ No Show Decision On Minority Debate “Stupid”
The n.s. has hit the fan in the Republican Party. "N.S." stands for no shows, the GOP's top, leading candidates who insisted they just could not squeeze in the time to participate in a debate focusing on minority issues. Of course, it's merely a coincidence that it just happened that none of the four big front-runners showed up. And former Rep. J.C. Watts, a charismatic … [Read more...] about Republican Watts Calls GOP Front Runners’ No Show Decision On Minority Debate “Stupid”