From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about Master the Disaster
‘Mission Accomplished’: ‘What Mission, Mr Bush?’ asks Hillary Clinton
(Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses the California Democratic Convention in San Diego, Saturday, April 28, 2007. Photo courtesy AP) Public memory is notoriously short. Let us jog our memory a bit. US President George W. Bush once made a dramatic statement that the 'mission in Iraq has been accomplished'. In the next two or three days … [Read more...] about ‘Mission Accomplished’: ‘What Mission, Mr Bush?’ asks Hillary Clinton
Iraq Bloodbath: ‘Imminent US Defeat,’ Says A Serving Army Officer
While the US President and the American Congress play their own games on the subject of withdrawal of the US troops from Iraq, the everyday bloodbath continues unabated in the strife-torn country. "A car bomb exploded Saturday in the Shiite holy city of Karbala as the streets were packed with people heading for evening prayers, killing at least 58 and wounding scores near … [Read more...] about Iraq Bloodbath: ‘Imminent US Defeat,’ Says A Serving Army Officer
Love Affair Between Saudia Arabia And Bush May Be Ending
It sounds as if the longtime political love affair between the Bush administration (and President George Bush himself) may be coming to an end...with the Saudis being the first ones to fall out of love. Part of this appears to be an administration miscalculation that it was essentially talking to Saudi Arabia by talking to one of the Bush family's favorite Saudi officials. … [Read more...] about Love Affair Between Saudia Arabia And Bush May Be Ending
Rice Deputy Quits Over Escort Service Scandal
He quit but insists he wasn't doing to her what many say the Bush administration is doing to the country: Randall L. Tobias, the deputy secretary of state responsible for U.S. foreign aid, abruptly resigned yesterday after he was asked about an upscale escort service allegedly involved in prostitution, U.S. government sources said. Tobias resigned after ABC News contacted … [Read more...] about Rice Deputy Quits Over Escort Service Scandal
Falling Dollar
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Falling Dollar
A Missed Opportunity: The Bush Administration’s Failure to Push for Reform in the Middle East
Democracy promotion, once the centerpiece of the Bush administration's foreign policy, has now almost completely been forgotten. It's been interesting to watch how this has happened. Just two years ago, in the summer of 2005, Condoleezza Rice made a major speech at the American University of Cairo calling for economic and political reform throughout the Arab world. At the time, … [Read more...] about A Missed Opportunity: The Bush Administration’s Failure to Push for Reform in the Middle East
He’s Baaaack!
If you liked him before (the first, second, and third times) -- you'll love him this time. Bigger, bolder, and brasher than ever, we proudly bring you ... The Return of Stan. … [Read more...] about He’s Baaaack!
More Terrorism in Pakistan
This time, an assassination attempt on the Interior Minister: AP via MSNBC: Pakistani official wounded, 12 killed in attackPESHAWAR, Pakistan - A suicide attacker detonated a bomb as Pakistan’s interior minister finished speaking at a meeting in the country’s northwest on Saturday, killing at least 12 people and wounding the official. Security guards blocked the … [Read more...] about More Terrorism in Pakistan
Former Majority Leader Bill Frist Cleared Of Stock Wrongdoing
This blog and many other blogs and websites reported last year that then-Majority Leader Bill Frist was being investigated on insider-trading charges. It's now over and Frist has been cleared, the Washington Post reports: Ending an investigation that clouded the tenure of former Senate majority leader Bill Frist, federal prosecutors have decided not to file insider-trading … [Read more...] about Former Majority Leader Bill Frist Cleared Of Stock Wrongdoing
Life of Jews in ‘Islamic’ Iran
(Photo courtesy Ramin Farahani, who has made a film on Iranian Jews.) The Iranian Jews make up the largest community of Jews in the Middle East outside Israel. But despite what appears to be a dwindling minority under constant threat of persecution, Iranian Jews say they live in relative freedom in the Islamic Republic (of Iran), remain loyal to the land of their birth, … [Read more...] about Life of Jews in ‘Islamic’ Iran
David Broder and Warren Spahn
I have been reluctant to join the David Broder lynching party. First, the guy obviously has lost a step or two and is in the twilight of a distinguished career. Second, I never thought that he was as important as he is given credit for, but that’s because "Dean of the Washington press corps" is about the same as "Dean of a Midwestern cow college" to me. But I’ve been … [Read more...] about David Broder and Warren Spahn
A Strange Case of a Nigerian Lesbian
A leaflet given out to wedding guests on Sunday as a souvenir showing Aunty Maiduguri in the centre surrounded by her four 'brides'. A Nigerian lesbian who 'married' four women last weekend in Kano State has gone into hiding from the Islamic police, with her partners, says BBC. "Eyewitnesses say there was a large turnout for the marriage and guests were given leaflets as … [Read more...] about A Strange Case of a Nigerian Lesbian
George Tenet: ‘Al Qaeda is in USA Waiting to Strike’
When top Intelligence officials start penning down books containing highly uncomfortable secrets about the on-going top-priority issues, there is usually a public and media outcry. However, a plethora of shocking revelations about President Bush & Co's policy and conduct with regard to the Iraq tragedy/fiasco, seems to have no effect on the present US power coterie. And the … [Read more...] about George Tenet: ‘Al Qaeda is in USA Waiting to Strike’
Iraq Chaos
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Iraq Chaos
Rush Limbaugh Runs Obama Race Song Parody In Wake Of Imus Firing (UPDATED)
So much for all the talk about how talk radio and American culture entered into a more respectful era when it comes to racial sensitivies. The talk about how times had changed already seem quaint since the New Era lasted not even two weeks. Rush Limbaugh is now embroiled in a new controversy involving literally playing the comedy race card about a Democrat named Barack … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh Runs Obama Race Song Parody In Wake Of Imus Firing (UPDATED)
Rostropovich: ‘Magnificent Maestro’ Passes Away
(Photo courtesy Pierre Verdy -- AFP/Getty Images) The celebrated Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, affectionately known as "Slava", has died at the age of 80, reports BBC. James Jolly, editor-in-chief of Gramophone magazine, looks back at his musical legacy. "With the death of Mstislav Rostropovich, the musical world has lost not just one of its … [Read more...] about Rostropovich: ‘Magnificent Maestro’ Passes Away
Writing (for Blogs, etc.): And How Not to Bore Readers
(Photo Courtesy N. Ram -- The Hindu) Writing is a an art and a craft. Some are born with it. Others have to struggle to become good writers through hard work and perseverance. To put it in a bit of Shakespearean language: 'It blesseth him that writes...and blesseth him that reads...' Many people do not realise but an invisible relation/bond develops between the writer … [Read more...] about Writing (for Blogs, etc.): And How Not to Bore Readers
The French Connection
In the 20th century, many public Black figures (James Baldwin, Josephine Baker) moved to France to escape rampant discrimination in America. Today, many conservatives support a color-blind ideology that has found its purest manifestation in France and French law. Recent scholarship has explored the difference between contemporary American racial policy, which has grudgingly … [Read more...] about The French Connection
Meet the Congressman
He supports public financing for campaigns for the typical reasons: to encourage more people to run and limit the influence of special interest groups. That, plus ... "I hate fundraising," he admitted on the plane ride we shared Thursday night from DC to St. Louis. "It takes too much time away from the job I was sent to Washington to do." He gets frustrated when he … [Read more...] about Meet the Congressman