A reminder to those who use RSS feed reading software that the URL for The Moderate Voice feed is now: http://themoderatevoice.com/feed/ Please also note that the site is still undergoing changes associated with the content management software, so do not be alarmed if comments you add to posts do not immediately appear. … [Read more...] about Some blog housekeeping notes
How did we get here?
Reports indicate that President George W. Bush will issue his "The Decider" statement that the correct strategy in Iraq is for a so-called "surge" of troops to retake control of the situation in that troubled land. The new, Democratic leadership in Congress have sent a letter to the President indicating that they will not support any troop increases in Iraq. Some … [Read more...] about How did we get here?
Hola Dictator Chavez!
AP: Venezuela Will Nationalize Telecoms and Power CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez announced plans Monday to nationalize Venezuela's electrical and telecommunications companies, pledging to create a socialist state in a bold move with echoes of Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba. … [Read more...] about Hola Dictator Chavez!
We’ve Apparently Attacked Al-Qaeda in Somalia
CBS News: (CBS/AP) A U.S. Air Force gunship has conducted a strike against suspected members of al Qaeda in Somalia, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports exclusively. The targets included the senior al Qaeda leader in East Africa and an al Qaeda operative wanted for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of two American embassies in Africa, Martin … [Read more...] about We’ve Apparently Attacked Al-Qaeda in Somalia
On training Iraqis to run their country
In working out steps forward in Iraq in the coming days, it is worth reviewing the US model of leadership in a part of the world that does not share its history of civilization. As Washington struggles to find a new approach, training the Iraqi army, police and administration is an option on which there is agreement across the American political spectrum. This is based on the … [Read more...] about On training Iraqis to run their country
No Asylum
A double-dip of incompetence: Our anti-terrorism laws are so broad as to stop even bona fide refugees from receiving asylum in America. Which is tragic. Because if they aren't allowed here, they'll likely be killed. Meanwhile, the President's perpetual fear of admitting failure is likely stopping us from allowing even our allies in Iraq to resettle in America. Which is … [Read more...] about No Asylum
Literary Quote of the Day: W.E.B. Du Bois
Today's literary quote of the day is from W.E.B. Du Bois's The Souls of Black Folk. The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife, - this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost. He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: W.E.B. Du Bois
Ripple Effect
I recognize that something must be done about the disaster that is the War in Iraq. I appreciate the harsh hand of reality, which is forcing the Democrats to engage on this matter and delay other matters, so they can respond effectively to a Commander in Chief who is expected to call for a widely maligned surge in troops. It is not the reality that bothers me; it is the … [Read more...] about Ripple Effect
Haditha, the state of Iraq, and the mainstream media
Over at The Reaction, Capt. Fogg argues that the Iraq War could have been successful -- that is, there was a chance of success -- if the U.S. hadn't failed to maintain order from the outset. But order was not maintained, the country collapsed, and now it may be the events at Haditha that come to define the war itself. It's a provocative argument, to be sure, but it should … [Read more...] about Haditha, the state of Iraq, and the mainstream media
Be Informed
Juan Cole collected a lot of links to articles / news about Iraq. Instead of publishing those links as well, I encourage you all to simply go over to Informed Comment (and read Juan's - short - thoughts on the developments he links to). … [Read more...] about Be Informed
To Publish or Not to Publish, That is the Question
An interesting post over at the All Spin Zone. Debate question: should newspapers publish these photos or not? … [Read more...] about To Publish or Not to Publish, That is the Question
Time for a Change
Read it here. It seems logical to me that newspapers & magazines will focus less on 'printing' and more on websites. More and more people read websites. Websites can be updated continuously. Websites are more economical. Websites can be accessed whenever one wants to... Websites can easily be made 'interactive' so as to let readers participate, the list of advantages goes … [Read more...] about Time for a Change
Europe’s Gypsy Problem
A somewhat interesting article at the L.A. Times. ON NEW YEAR'S day, the European Union swelled by another 28 million people. The inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the European fold is cause for celebration in the streets of Bucharest and the courtyards of Sofia. For two of Europe's poorer countries, inclusion in the EU brings innumerable benefits, not the least roads, … [Read more...] about Europe’s Gypsy Problem
Center of Attention
Some extra attention to a few Centrist blogs: Amba at the AmbivaBlog quotes one of her commenters who wrote: "it is nothing short of magic that with only ink, paper, and able mind we can create something out of nothing; and in our ability to create we glimpse the power of our Gods in ourselves." As Amba points out, the entire comments is truly a "beautiful tribute to the … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
The Khmer Rouge on trial
Cambodia has set up a tribunal to examine the genocidal crimes committed by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge three decades ago -- and to judge the perpetrators. There has been criticism of the process, but the government claims it is still committed to going ahead. I hope so. And I hope that the tribunal is taken seriously and that some measure of justice emerges from it. In … [Read more...] about The Khmer Rouge on trial
If You’re In Pennsylvania
Iraq: ‘The Abyss of Blood and Darkness’
“The plunge of civilization into this abyss of blood and darkness . . . is a thing that so gives away the whole long age during which we have supposed the world to be, with whatever abatement, gradually bettering, that to have to take it all now for what the treacherous years were all the while really making for and meaning is too tragic for any words.â€? -- HENRY JAMES I … [Read more...] about Iraq: ‘The Abyss of Blood and Darkness’
How the Democrats are supporting the troops
On CBS's Face the Nation yesterday -- from Think Progress (which has the video and transcript) -- Speaker Pelosi argued that President Bush should have to justify any troop increase in Iraq in order to receive any funding for it: [I]f the president wants to add to this mission, he is going to have to justify it. And this is new for him because up until now the Republican … [Read more...] about How the Democrats are supporting the troops
New York City Stinks Of Natural Gas
A mini-emergency is unfolding in New York City, where officials are trying to find out why Manhattan has been suddenly smelling like natural gas. The first inclination was to think: it could be part of some kind of new terrorist attack. But officials have been quick to assure New Yorkers that it is not the case, based on everything known so far and the fact that no one has … [Read more...] about New York City Stinks Of Natural Gas
10 Lessons of the Haditha Massacre
I have dialed way back on blogging about abuses committed by U.S. soldiers on Iraqi civilians after beating that drum pretty hard as details of the Mahmudiya and Haditha massacres leaked out last summer. For one thing, these crimes are being committed by a small handful of otherwise honorable troopers. For another, I don't want my home blog, Kiko's House, to be portrayed as … [Read more...] about 10 Lessons of the Haditha Massacre