An extensive recent survey in Canada shows that a clear majority of Canadians consider the mission in Afghanistan "a lost cause", and hints at a "deep public skepticism about the war on terror". Now that baffles me. In the USA too the majority of the people are expressing their opposition to the continued engagement of their armed forces abroad. But the leadership in both … [Read more...] about Canadians: “Afghanistan Is A Lost Cause”

The link below speaks volumes about whether there was an attempt to keep the scandal about Rep. Mark Foley and a teenage male page under wraps: The White House is opposing an independent investigation and praising the House Republican's handling of it. PREDICTION: This November a lot of independent voters are likely to cast protest votes to ensure that one party rule — … [Read more...] about The White House’s Position On The Foley Page Scandal

The New York Times reports: Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Miguel Tejada were among the players that a former major league pitcher accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, according to a federal agent's affidavit, the Los Angeles Times reported. The player reportedly making the accusations was Jason Grimsley, who used to play with Clemens and Pettitte on the New York … [Read more...] about Grimsley Reportedly Accuses Pettitte, Clemens, Tejada, Roberts and Gibbons of Using PED’s

Is a Palestinian civil war about to break out? The Palestinian security service controlled by Hamas moved forcefully in the Gaza Strip on Sunday to disperse demonstrators loyal to the rival Fatah movement who were demanding months of back pay from a nearly bankrupt government. At least five civilians were killed, including two teenage boys, and more than 70 were injured in … [Read more...] about Palestinian Civil War In The Making?

Fox News' Britt Hume compares Rep. Mark Foley and Congressional pages to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, according to Think Progress:This morning on Fox News Sunday, Brit Hume compared Mark Foley’s predatory behavior towards underage pages to President Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Hume said that while Foley is now “in total disgrace in his party,â€? … [Read more...] about The Dumbest Statement By A Professional Journalist

Who can guess what America's "most trusted institution" is? … [Read more...] about Turkey Dinner

This story is GROWING. The New York Daily News blog notes that not only are GOPers pointing fingers at each other but that contributions that raise eyebrows up to one's hairline are surfacing:When it rains in politics, it pours, and the Foley scandal is spilling quickly over onto the House Republican Leadership — particularly Tom Reynolds, the Erie County-based chairman … [Read more...] about A New Scandal In The Foley Congressional Page Scandal?

From Newsweek, this quote explaining why this time a book by Bob Woodward about George Bush won't be on the Bush Administration's required reading list and why his portrayal of the administration has significantly changed:In "State of Denial," Woodward expresses shock and disbelief in interviews with Rumsfeld at his apparent denials and equivocations. Interviewed by Washington … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Bob Woodward On The Bush Administration

(Click on map to enlarge.) "As the Afghan war goes increasingly badly for the Western powers, President Hamid Karzai keeps blaming President Parvez Musharraf for allowing Taliban to operate inside Pakistan and launch cross-border attacks on Afghanistan. Musharraf fired back that Karzai was a figurehead who had no control of his country. Both accusations are true", says Eric … [Read more...] about Afghanistan and Pakistan: The Tribal Dimension

I'm still very much out of pocket today, due to three shows. Usually I keep my weblog life and my non-weblog life separated but I do want to share this with readers. Yesterday, I stood next to the place where more than 50 years ago magic was born. I was in L.A. yesterday performing in Griffith Park at a Roots & Shoots event put on by the Jane Goodall Institute, doing my … [Read more...] about The Merry Go Round Where Magic Was Born

The Washington Post reports: Abortion and race dominate the Supreme Court's agenda for the term that begins tomorrow, with the Bush administration and its conservative allies urging the justices to put limits on abortion rights and affirmative action. Conservatives want the court to uphold a 2003 federal law banning the procedure opponents call "partial-birth" abortion, and to … [Read more...] about Abortion and Integration Dominate US SC’s New Term

Tim Golden reports for The New York Times that there seem to be two, prominent, sides within the Bush administration regarding the treatment of detainees (related to the GWOT). In a memo, Gordon R. England and and Philip D. Zelikow "urged the administration to seek Congressional approval for its detention policies." Furthermore:They called for a return to the minimum … [Read more...] about Misinformation, Deceit, Division

The Times Of London: Is There Blood On His Hands?As Kofi Annan prepares to stand down as UN secretary-general, Adam LeBor investigates the accusations made against the world’s chief defender of human rights. [...] Charge one: Rwanda That in 1994, Annan and the DPKO refused the UN commander General Romeo Dallaire (below) permission to raid Hutu arms caches, despite his … [Read more...] about The Case Against Kofi Annan

As so many pro-Israel bloggers, I am completely fed up with the UN's (negative) bias towards Israel. When one looks at the UN, it almost seems as if Israel is the enemy of Human Rights and of the free world. The UN is, more and more, becoming a charade. That is why I endorse this petition. Excerpt: We, the undersigned, are concerned that the UN has been subverted for … [Read more...] about Petition: Fair Treatment Of Israel At The UN

All in good fun of course: H/t to Interested. Are you a Democrat, Republican or Southerner? Here is a little test that will help you decide. The answer can be found by posing the following question: You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, an Islamic terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, … [Read more...] about Democrat, Republican Or Southerner

It seems that top House Republicans knew about Foley's, umh, questionable correspondence with minors for quite a long while already: Among those who became aware earlier this year of the fall 2005 communications between Mr. Foley and the 16-year-old page, who worked for Representative Rodney Alexander, Republican of Louisiana, were Representative John A. Boehner, the majority … [Read more...] about A Disgusting Cover-Up

Please read this post by one of the best bloggers in the entire blogosphere regarding Islamism: Muslihoon. Excerpt: Two people I admire very much (Dr. Victor Davis Hanson and Oriana Fallaci)—joined with many others I also admire—have made our engagement with Islamism clear: it is not only a war with bullets but also a war of wills and of civilizations (so to speak). If we … [Read more...] about The War Of Ideas

This story reminded me of certain comments left here at The Moderate Voice by more liberal people, accusing 'rightists' or people right of center, of trying to prevent people from exercising their right to vote: A Brazilian law designed to ensure fair elections has kept police from arresting a 23-year-old law student who confessed to hiring hitmen to kill his mother. Adriano … [Read more...] about Overdoing It

There was a near violent and undignified spat between President Hamid Karzai and President General Parvez Musharraf at President Bush's recent White House dinner over the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. Now back in Kabul, President Karzai is still forcefully insisting that President Musharraf is hiding the truth and Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan. This report is published in a … [Read more...] about Where Is Osama bin Laden? In Pakistan?

The New York Times published a review of Bob Woodward's new book State of Denial. In Bob Woodward’s highly anticipated new book, “State of Denial,â€? President Bush emerges as a passive, impatient, sophomoric and intellectually incurious leader, presiding over a grossly dysfunctional war cabinet and given to an almost religious certainty that makes him disinclined to … [Read more...] about State Of Denial: NYT Review