By implementing his threat to veto legislation to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq on Tuesday, US President George W. Bush (who appears more and more like a knight in shining armour), has begun to brandish his sword at Congress (or for that matter whoever crosses his path). It appears that he wouldn't mind riding solo in his 'War Against Congress'! At this rate, he may be taking … [Read more...] about President Bush to Congress: “I Am The Greatest”
‘War on Terrorism’: A Humbling Experience for US & Allies
India's leading and respected 129-year-old newspaper, The Hindu, carries an interesting and in-depth write-up The War of Ideas: Mindsets and Options. The author of the article is Hamid Ansari, a former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. Excerpts: "The problem essentially is with definitions and the assumptions underlying them: Tyranny, freedom, … [Read more...] about ‘War on Terrorism’: A Humbling Experience for US & Allies
I Thought I Was The One Who Hated America
I always thought ol' liberal me was the traitor to America. Lord knows I've been called it enough by my friends on the right. But I have to say, it's not my side's "respectable" columnists who are musing on whether what America really needs is a military coup. I just get so confused sometimes. … [Read more...] about I Thought I Was The One Who Hated America
GWB’s Second Veto
GWB's second veto just happened - it's of the Iraq funding bill. … [Read more...] about GWB’s Second Veto
And Now For the Really Big Iraq Story of the Day
Let’s save a little of that “Mission Accomplished†fourth anniversary hysteria over the alleged death of Abu Ayyub al-Masri for the day’s really big story. No, not President Bush’s intended veto of the Democratic war spending-with-deadlines bill. It’s this bombshell from CNN: BAGHDAD -- Iraq's prime minister has created an entity within his government that … [Read more...] about And Now For the Really Big Iraq Story of the Day
Addressing Theocracy: Just the Facts
[For the record: I do not believe Jesus votes Republican. I simply thought the image above was an appropriate illustration for the topic that follows.] If you're old enough to remember Dragnet, you should also remember Joe Friday and one of his signature lines: "Just the facts." Long before the amazing science employed by the fictional members of the CSI crews in Las … [Read more...] about Addressing Theocracy: Just the Facts
Media Hysteria Over al-Masri’s Reported Death: Why?
It is indeed becoming pathetic. The blogosphere and the media is going berserk over the reported death of the Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri. But it is typical of the trivialization of the news. The manner in which the media is panting over this bit of news, at the cost of other 'real' news, is reflective more of a drowning person ready to clutch at any straw … [Read more...] about Media Hysteria Over al-Masri’s Reported Death: Why?
Mission Accomplished IV
Cagle Cartoons: RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Mission Accomplished IV
Scotland: Bringing Alive ‘Frozen Music’
(Locate the moon: The moon is seen behind the Orthodox church Christ the Saviour in Pristina, a Scottish church which featured in the best-selling novel 'The Da Vinci Code' has revealed another musical mystery hidden in secret code for almost 600 years. photo Hazir Reka/Reuters) Any mention of Scotland and the Rocky mountains in Canada evokes in me a wonderful nostalgia. … [Read more...] about Scotland: Bringing Alive ‘Frozen Music’
Happy Law Day, Y’All
National Law Day was established in 1958 as a pushback against that socialist Mardi Gras -- May Day. Presidents dutifully issue proclamations, and today’s by George Bush is sodden with irony: Our Nation is built upon the rule of law and guided by our founding promise of freedom, equality, and justice for all. Law Day is an opportunity to celebrate the Constitution and … [Read more...] about Happy Law Day, Y’All
‘Terrorists Attacks in Iraq & Afghanistan Skyrocketing’
This tell-tale table in The Washington Post is based on figures compiled by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and released with the annual US State Department Country Reports on Terrorism. However, the figures relate to non-combatants. "The number of terrorism incidents in Iraq -- and resulting deaths, injuries and kidnappings -- skyrocketed between the years 2005 … [Read more...] about ‘Terrorists Attacks in Iraq & Afghanistan Skyrocketing’
George Tenet Book
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about George Tenet Book
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. David Schraub highlights the recommitment of the American Jewish Congress to a "progressive domestic policy focus." Continuing his frustrated search for moderate Republicans in office, Jim Martin concludes there aren't any because (a) the base is so extreme and (b) all the … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
(Updated) Terrorist’s Death a Hollow Victory?
As Ed Morrissey well puts it over at Captain's Quarters, we’ll have to wait for the official scorer before we can be sure that Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the successor to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as head of Al Qaeda in Iraq, has indeed been killed in a battle with other insurgents. Iraq’s Interior Ministry claims that Al-Masri is dead, but its track record is piss-poor and it turns … [Read more...] about (Updated) Terrorist’s Death a Hollow Victory?
Iraq: US-Controlled ‘Green Zone’ Under Attack
(A man carries the body of a child killed in mortar attack, in Sadr City, Baghdad's Shiite slum, Iraq, Tuesday, May 1, 2007. AP photograph) At times I marvel at those who create a web of lies and then gradually come to believe in them. The world is informed that the US troops' two-month-old 'surge' was 'progressing well' in Iraq. And in September the US chief commander in … [Read more...] about Iraq: US-Controlled ‘Green Zone’ Under Attack
Iraq & The Month of Lowered Expectations
Well, those wild and crazy folks who are stage managing the Mess in Mesopotamia from the White House may be stoopid, but they sure aren't dumb, which is why April should be remembered as The Month of Lowered Expectations. First, the Bush administration signaled that it doesn’t expect the Iraqi government to accomplish anything substantive any time soon (as opposed to not … [Read more...] about Iraq & The Month of Lowered Expectations
Opinion Poll: ‘Tony Blair’s Bloody Iraq Legacy’
Of late we have not heard of any public opinion poll results concerning President George W. Bush. But his friend and ally at No 10, Downing Street, seems to be on the verge of being mauled by his countrymen. Four years after the US-led invasion, Iraq still dwarfs all other issues in Britain as Prime Minister Tony Blair prepares to announce his resignation next week. "An … [Read more...] about Opinion Poll: ‘Tony Blair’s Bloody Iraq Legacy’
Obama Gains On And Surpasses Clinton In Polls
New York Senator Hillary Clinton has a good reason to be glancing over her shoulder as she and her highly efficient and well-funded campaign proceed with what they hope will be her march to the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination: Illinois Senator Barack Obama is quickly playing catch up with her in the polls -- and has surpassed her in one survey to become the 2008 … [Read more...] about Obama Gains On And Surpasses Clinton In Polls
The Stephanie Miller Show Debuts On MSNBC
This is the first 9 minutes of what was essentially a quickly-arranged on-the-air-audition as a Don Imus replacement: What's always refreshing about Stephanie Miller is that on her radio show she doesn't have that perpetually angry, outraged attitude that most talk show hosts (and, alas, many of us bloggers) have. She looks at most things with a sense of bemusement and … [Read more...] about The Stephanie Miller Show Debuts On MSNBC
Tillman Truth
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Tillman Truth