It seems that Saudi Arabia has learned one important lesson the last couple of years: money talks. The Saudi daily Al-Watan reported, citing an anonymous security source, that the Saudi interior ministry has spent over 115 million riyals over the last three years in financial aid for eligible prisoners and their families. The source stated that the aid given to the prisoners … [Read more...] about Money Talks
Wolfowitz-Riza: All’s Fair in Love & War!
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and his girl friend Shaha Ali Riza romance stirred gossip way back in March 2005. Read more... He was one of the chief architects of the Iraq war - a Bush favourite and leading light among American neo-conservatives. And she, an Oxford-educated British citizen, was born in Tunisia and grew up in Saudi Arabia. She's known for her … [Read more...] about Wolfowitz-Riza: All’s Fair in Love & War!
US-Iran Initiative to Ease Iraq Violence?
Iran will attend a conference of key powers, including the United States, this week that will focus on stabilizing Iraq, a meeting Baghdad said might be a turning point for regional cooperation in easing the violence, reports Reuters. "Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Sunday there was a 'high possibility' arch foes Tehran and Washington would hold bilateral … [Read more...] about US-Iran Initiative to Ease Iraq Violence?
‘Time Is Now the Biggest Enemy in Iraq’
Rick Moran is a thoughtful, eloquent, long winded and sometimes infuriating conservative blogger who has the rare virtue of being able to change his mind. Moran has had a catharsis about the Iraq war that is well worth reading in its entirety. Money quotes: I have come to the conclusion over the last few days that, due to domestic conditions here in the US and the … [Read more...] about ‘Time Is Now the Biggest Enemy in Iraq’
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Two posts that caught my eye from Justin Gardner: one on losing the WOT, and one on Karl Rove's (non-)religion. William F. Buckley draws the attention of both Andrew Sullivan and Jim Martin. GTL and Michael Stickings zero in on the U.S. refusing aid in the wake of … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Is Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri Behind Iraq Bombings?
The weekend bombing of a Shiite shrime in Karbala that killed 55 people prompted blogger Charles Amico to wonder aloud whether a thug by the name of Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri not only is still alive, but implicated in this and other acts of savagery. The BBC reported earlier this year that Al-Douri had been named the new leader of the Baath party after Saddam Hussein was … [Read more...] about Is Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri Behind Iraq Bombings?
Pakistan: A Tale of Two Ex-Prime Ministers
The two exiled former Prime Ministers of Pakistan seem to be vigorously working to promote their chances of returning to their country to participate in the General Elections promised by President General Pervez Musharraf in 2007-2008. Benazir Bhutto has announced her determination to return to Pakistan 'by the end of this year whether Mr Musharraf would like it or...not' … [Read more...] about Pakistan: A Tale of Two Ex-Prime Ministers
Should Prostitution Be Legalized?
So Deputy Secretary of State Randall L. Tobias has resigned after confirming that he was a customer of a Washington, D.C., escort service whose owner has been charged with running a prostitution operation. Tobias was the Bush administration's so-called "AIDS czar" and emphasized faithfulness and abstinence over condom use to prevent the spread of AIDS. But let's put aside … [Read more...] about Should Prostitution Be Legalized?
Australian Flavour: Cricket, Wine & World Cup
Cricket arouses unbelievable passions around the world, especially during the Cricket World Cup tournament in the former colonies of (what was described as) the British empire - 'where the sun would never set'. For cricket lovers Saturday was a special day as the TV beamed the 2007 Cricket World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka from Barbados in the West Indies. The … [Read more...] about Australian Flavour: Cricket, Wine & World Cup
Around The Sphere April 29, 2007
Our famous linkfest offering readers links to weblogs of varying viewpoints. Links do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Moderate Voice or its writers. Firedoglake Had A Guest Blogger Named Hillary Clinton and it has caused quite a buzz... HERE IS A POST by the Senator. Has The Justice Department's Monica Put Her Foot In Her Mouth? This new Monica is Attorney … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere April 29, 2007
The Roaring Fork Rope Bridge Adventure
I republish this tribute each year on the anniversary of my friend's death. I have a lifetime of wonderful memories of Rochelle, from the first time we met at a party when we were high school seniors to her radiant presence at my sister’s birthday celebration last November. We had many adventures over those 40 years, but I’ve recalled one in particular since her passing. … [Read more...] about The Roaring Fork Rope Bridge Adventure
Virginia Tech Memorial-There’s No Sunset in Virginia
A haunting tribute to the Virginia Tech victims written by Evanmusic and posted on You Tube. He writes:It is to send a message of healing": The TV, replaying like a broken record. The image, it's numbing, another record broken. More questions, no answers, left to imagination Alarming, disturbing, what are the implications? All as one and all at once, we ask why they had … [Read more...] about Virginia Tech Memorial-There’s No Sunset in Virginia
Master the Disaster
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!