"Our military has increasing moral authority in Iraq, but the same cannot be said for our government at home. In fact, it’s in moral deficit. . . . Washington has no moral clout in Iraq. Washington looks like a circus act. The authority is coming from our military. The importance of this fact would be difficult to understate." -- MICHAEL YON * There is nothing funny … [Read more...] about My Dog Ate My Moral Authority
Carrying a Heavy Burden
An interesting article at the Washington Post about Don Rumsfeld, former US secretary of defense: Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was spotted today having lunch at Morton's on Connecticut Ave. What was remarkable was not what he ordered, or with whom he dined, or how quintessentially condescending he may have been to the waiter. No, what was remarkable was how, … [Read more...] about Carrying a Heavy Burden
Karl Rove Has Left The Building: Or HAS He?
The news that White House political maven Karl Rove is resigning August 31st to basically spend more time with his family (supposedly...really...no kidding) has sent shock waves through political circles, the mainstream media and the blogosphere yesterday. The stories and opinions are still percolating. But a lingering question now becomes: So the Republicans' political … [Read more...] about Karl Rove Has Left The Building: Or HAS He?
Rove Resigns
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Rove Resigns
Less Is More In Afghanistan…Or Is It?
With the Taliban gaining strength in recent months, it is widely agreed upon that the Bush administration has underdone it in Afghanistan. In particular, critics allege that Afghan reconstruction and counter-insurgency efforts have been hampered by a lack of political will and an unwillingness to deploy enough American/NATO troops. But Rory Stewart, in a compelling op-ed in The … [Read more...] about Less Is More In Afghanistan…Or Is It?
Italian Politician Promotes Genocide of Homosexuals
"I will immediately give orders to my forces so that they can carry out an ethnic cleansing of faggots," says the deputy mayor of the town of Treviso. … [Read more...] about Italian Politician Promotes Genocide of Homosexuals
Catholic Judge Asked To Recuse Himself
For having too many links to conservative Catholic organizations. Disgusting. … [Read more...] about Catholic Judge Asked To Recuse Himself
Crooked CongressCritters Eye Their Staffers Nervously
This news must be making many ethics-challenged politicians nervous: Washington Post: Ney's Chief of Staff Wore Wire, Was Key To Boss's Conviction … [Read more...] about Crooked CongressCritters Eye Their Staffers Nervously
Changes
Because quite some of you read my blog as well as TMV, I thought that you all might appreciate it if I informed you about some changes at my blog, thus not at TMV. The changes? I will get myself co-blogger (besides the columnists), I will blog less myself, it will be more of a joint effort, I hope "to go mainstream" as it is called and... the blog has been renamed. From now on … [Read more...] about Changes
Rove’s Out. Check. Next?
If you just can't get enough on Karl Rove's exit, scroll down the page. Several of my TMV colleagues offer a formidable series of reactions for your consideration, including this round up by our revered Editor-in-Chief. For my part, as I noted at Central Sanity this morning ... I sincerely hope [Rove's] resignation is the end of short-sighted, divide-and-conquer politics, … [Read more...] about Rove’s Out. Check. Next?
Sudden Timing Of Karl Rove’s Departure Surprises And Intrigues Most
White House political maven Karl Rove's sudden and unexpected announcement via a friendly news organization (the Wall Street Journal) that he'll quit at the end of the month because it's time has been met with surprise. And few believe he is just quitting because he has had enough of politics. The Bush administration is staving off a host of Congressional and other … [Read more...] about Sudden Timing Of Karl Rove’s Departure Surprises And Intrigues Most
Stu ‘9/11’ Bykofsky Backpedals
Stu Bykofsky, a former colleague at the Philadelphia Daily News who broke the dog-days torpor of last week with an outrageous column stating that another 9/11 terrorist attack would unify America, has now predictably backpedaled. Some 2,000-plus emails and nearly 100 voicemails tend to have a clarifying effect. Stu now writes that: "I led my column saying, 'I was … [Read more...] about Stu ‘9/11’ Bykofsky Backpedals
Gül and Erdogan
Turkish Daily News has two interesting articles up about Erdogan and Gül. - The first one: "Gül’s presidency will fade Turkey’s apartheid, not secularity." - The second one: "Is ErdoÄŸan undecided, or trying to impose?." In the second article, Yusuf Kanli wonders, "What should we understand from the remarks of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan that while the July … [Read more...] about Gül and Erdogan
Who Said It?
It was October 2002 when these prescient words were uttered by someone whose views on the Iraq war some people are now trying to discredit: "I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and … [Read more...] about Who Said It?
Bush’s Brain is Going
They can start disinfecting the White House now. Karl Rove is leaving “for the sake of my family.†It will take reams of obloquy to write his political obituary, but it’s not too soon to start. Never the master strategist or shrewd tactician of Bush folklore, he was the greasy mechanic of the White House sleaze machine. His first significant sighting came on … [Read more...] about Bush’s Brain is Going
Hook Line and Sinker
Mike Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Hook Line and Sinker
Sad, very Sad News
This will break quite some hearts I am sure: Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson dropped out of the race for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination tonight, a day after he finished a disappointing sixth in the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa. Thompson explained: "I have no regrets about running," Thompson said in a statement released by his campaign. "I felt my record as Governor of … [Read more...] about Sad, very Sad News
Happy Birthday, Abeer Qassim Hamza
(Clockwise from top left) Abeer's ID card, crime scene, ringleader Steven Green, "Abeer" insurgent rocket * Iraq was a rather different place when Abeer Qassim Hamza came into the world 15 years ago this week. It was a year and a half after the first Gulf War ended with a whimper with the withdrawal of nearly a half million troops from the U.S. and 34 other nations … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday, Abeer Qassim Hamza
Check it Out!
A blog, owned by a fellow Dutchman who works and lives in Istanbul: Internations Musings. He writes about various issues: sometimes politics, then entertainment, then traveling, and then business. Click on the link and check it out yourself (he has been added to my blogroll). When you are there, also click on the "My Columns" link. Hans writes columns for Turkish Daily News … [Read more...] about Check it Out!
Karl Rove to Resign
Karl Rove - political spinmaster and Bush's most important advisor - will resign at the end of August. Shaun Mullen sent me an e-mail about the news, writing, "this story is a biggie and as far as I'm concerned, we can't do enough on it." I agree completely with him - if other authors have something to say about Rove's resignation, they should write about it as well - this is … [Read more...] about Karl Rove to Resign