Links from weblogs of varying opinions. Senator John McCain Guest Blogged On Captain Ed's Blog and has created quite a stir with his swipe at Clinton administration policy on North Korea:The worst thing we could do is accede to North Korea’s demand for bilateral talks. When has rewarding North Korea’s bad behavior ever gotten us anything more than worse behavior? I would … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere Oct. 11, 2006

From Bull Moose:The Moose observes that the focus shifts from the pervert to the Dear Leader. It took the North Korean nuke (presumed) test to push the Foley story off the front page. While Democrats and Republicans will point accusatory fingers at each other, North Korea has been a bi-partisan failure. Neither Democratic nor Republican Administrations have had success in … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Bull Moose On North Korea

Former Clinton adviser and present Clinton nemesis Dick Morris, writing in The Hill, says North Korea has "changed the subject" for President George Bush and that he can use it to beat back what seems to be a Democratic party surge in the polls:In one deadly moment, North Korea has succeeded in doing what no amount of backtracking by Speaker Dennis Hastert or his beleaguered … [Read more...] about Will North Korea “Change The Subject” For Bush And The GOP Away From Foley Scandal? (UPDATED)

UPDATE: May Have Been A False AlarmNo signs of possible new N. Korean nuclear test - Early reports of second blast-related tremor apparently unfounded SEOUL, South Korea - South Korean and U.S. seismic monitoring stations said early Wednesday they hadn't detected any activity that could indicate a possible second North Korea nuclear test, responding to media reports of a … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Did North Korea Just Do It Again?

I read yet another fascinating article by author Frederic Grare "Islam, Militarism, and the 2007–2008 Elections in Pakistan". Those who wish to read the Pakistan elections article in full may visit the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace website. Here are some excerpts from Frederic Grare's article on "Islam, Militarism, and the 2007–2008 Elections in … [Read more...] about Pakistan: Islam, Militarism, and the Coming Elections

If you're interested, I've done a fairly long round-up of reaction from around the blogosphere to North Korea's nuclear test. You can find it here. And a question: What now of the expected October Surprise? … [Read more...] about Fallout: Reaction to North Korea’s nuclear test

Nobel Prize winner Edmund S. Phelps wrote a very interesting article for the Wall Street Journal. In it he deals with the differences between the economical system in, for instance, the US on the one hand and the one in West Europe on the other. He explains: There are two economic systems in the West. Several nations--including the U.S., Canada and the U.K.--have a … [Read more...] about Prof. Phelps about Dynamic Capitalism

Crooks and Liars has an interesting video up. Tucker Carlson made extremely clear to Matthews what "Republican elites feel about the Extreme Christian Right". From the transcript: CARLSON: It goes deeper than that though. The deep truth is that the elites in the Republican Party have pure contempt for the evangelicals who put their party in power. Everybody in… MATTHEWS: … [Read more...] about Christian Right: Despised By Republican Elites

Daata Durbar in Lahore, Pakistan is the tomb of Ali Hajweri, eleventh century Sufi saint. People come each year to pay their respects and to say prayers. The large complex also includes Jamia Hajweri, or Hajweri Mosque. Pakistan has so far been able to sustain the myth in the West that only President General Parvez Musharraf can ensure stability in the region. And after him … [Read more...] about “Pakistan: The Myth of an Islamist Peril”

It sounds as if Barbra Streisand's latest final concert has proven to be a huge success artistically and in terms of liveliness:It was an evening that elicited tears, standing ovations, raucous laughter and shouts of joy from the audience _ and was just in the first few minutes. Yes, Barbra Streisand's return to touring after a 12-year absence was the extravaganza that it … [Read more...] about Barbra Streisand’s Final Concert A (Lively) Success

....at the new, revised Dilby News Monitor. The Dilby News Monitor was one of those sites that took the format of the You-Know-Who Report and adapted it with a perspective that wasn't of that of someone rooting for one political party in America's electoral wars. In fact, on some controversial issues you could say it was an equal opportunity offender. It's original website … [Read more...] about Take A Peek

The New York Times has an interesting article up about the FBI: it seems to be struggling to reinvent itself as to be able to fight terrorism effectively. … [Read more...] about The FBI Struggling To Reinvent Itself

German police have arrested a 36-year old Iraqi man - Ibrahim R. - earlier today. The prosecutor's office said that they suspect him of aiding Al Qaeda: "by posting messages from Osama bin Laden and other leaders of militant Islamist groups on the Internet." Authorities believe the 36-year-old suspect, identified only as Ibrahim R., broadcast numerous audio and video messages … [Read more...] about Germany Arrests Iraqi Man Suspected of Aiding Al Qaeda

Saddam Hussein was thrown out of court earlier today. It seems that the former dictator could not control himself any longer and "began to shout during his trial on charges of genocide against Iraq's Kurdish population." He suddenly shouted a verse from the Koran: "Fight them and God will punish them!" he yelled. I am not sure whether you are helping yourself there Saddam. … [Read more...] about Saddam Hussein Thrown Out of Court

(A cartoon by Angel Boligan, El Universal, Mexico City, Mexico, caglecartoons.com) While the world leaders watch helplessly, and make meaningless noises, at the brazen manner North Korea has exploded the nuclear device, it is also time to jog our memories. For full five years the USA and the world leaders knew for sure about the major involvement of Pakistan in clandestinely … [Read more...] about Nuclear Bomb Circus: Pakistan, North Korea & USA

Three polls show the GOP is reeling from the scandal involving resigned Rep. Mark Foley, his salacious emails to underage teen pages, and the House and party elites' handling of it. The question: how will these poll numbers change as other stories begin to dominate the news cycles — for instance, not irrelevant items such as North Korea's nuclear test. But it's hard to … [Read more...] about Three Polls Show Foley Scandal Is Political Poison For Republicans

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Poll: Majority of Americans Fear Being Instant-Messaged By a Republican Tops Terrorism, North Korean Nukes in New Survey A new survey released today indicates that a majority of Americans are more afraid of being instant-messaged or emailed by a Republican congressman than they are of terrorism, rising oil prices, or … [Read more...] about This Just In!

...on this Reuters photo showing President Bush and former Rep. Mark Foley that has been run on several weblogs now. (Your comments and captions should be interesting...) … [Read more...] about No Comment From Us

No oxymoron. Col. Pete Devlin, Chief of Marine Intelligence, wrote a great letter home detailing a few of the superlatives he's encountered while in Iraq. Many are depressing. A few are cheering. I decided to focus on the funny ones. But read the whole thing and decide for yourself. … [Read more...] about Marine Intelligence

I don't want to dwell on the fate of Lt. Commander Charles Swift too long, but I do want to direct TMV readers to this powerful homage by a former classmate of his. Stellar stuff. … [Read more...] about Tribute to Swift