(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
Afghanistan: ‘NATO Risks Losing The War,’ Holbrooke
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke While the US administration and the Congress have opted for continued military-centric strategy in Iraq for the next five months or so, it is the same old story in Afghanistan where NATO forces seem stuck endlessly without any diplomatic or political moves. What's the latest in Afghanistan? "NATO risks losing the war in Afghanistan because … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: ‘NATO Risks Losing The War,’ Holbrooke
Any Book Agents Out There?
UNC Law Professor Eric Muller has been detailing on his blog the fascinating story of his Great Uncle Leo. A German war hero in WWI, Leo was slaughtered by the Nazis in the Holocaust. Professor Muller decided to track down all the information he could about his uncle, and succeeded in reconstructing much of his life (as well as recovering the medals he won during World War I). … [Read more...] about Any Book Agents Out There?
Iraq: US Congress Vote, Presidential Veto & Deadlines
A frightening scenario is likely to emerge in the next five or six months if one goes by the Los Angeles Times report on the Iraq situation/strategy. However, some may point that a scary scenario has already been unfolding during the past four years! The LA Times says: "On the surface, there's not much suspense about what happens next in the battle between President Bush and … [Read more...] about Iraq: US Congress Vote, Presidential Veto & Deadlines
Don Imus’ Potential MSNBC Replacement Auditions
Progressive comedian-talk show host Stephanie Miller appears on MSNBC. Will it lead to a full-time gig? … [Read more...] about Don Imus’ Potential MSNBC Replacement Auditions
Bloody Basra
It's not what it used to be: "Once an island of relative tranquillity, Basra has suffered a dramatic turnaround in the last two years": Although the violence pales in comparison to Baghdad's, seven British soldiers have been killed in Basra in April, three in gunfire and four when a roadside bomb tore through their Warrior fighting vehicle. The deaths pushed Britain's … [Read more...] about Bloody Basra
Sarkozy’s Cynical Appeal to the Center
With Royal and Bayrou seeking common ground, and with Bayrou seeming to give his supporters a subtle cue to support Royal in next Sunday's second round of the French presidential election, Sarkozy is now himself trying to woo the center. At a rally in Paris yesterday, Sarkozy explicitly reached out to Bayrou's supporters. He reiterated the rightist views that form the core of … [Read more...] about Sarkozy’s Cynical Appeal to the Center
Democrats & Iraq: Trying To Decipher President Bush
(President Bush, right, meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is President of the European Council, center, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 30, 2007. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) It is a sure sign of serious a health problem - probably schizophrenia - or a reflection of the … [Read more...] about Democrats & Iraq: Trying To Decipher President Bush
Situation Improving in Anbar
I had to read the name of the newspaper that published this article twice: yes it is the New York Times and it has a positive article up about Iraq. It seems that the violence in the Sunni province of Anbar (many Baathists there) has decreased dramatically since the start of the surge. Sunnis are now working with the US to push Al Qaeda out of Anbar province.Anbar Province, … [Read more...] about Situation Improving in Anbar