From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about Captain United Nations

Famed Just War theorist Michael Walzer chimes in on the ethics and morality of Israel's response to Hamas and Hezbollah aggression. Since Walzer is a name that keeps popping up in the continuing discussion of ethical military fighting, I thought some TMV readers would be interested. The article is behind a wall at The New Republic, but if you're reading this site you have no … [Read more...] about Walzer Weighs In

I condemn Israel for being immoral? Juan Cole declares that "Israel has every right to defend themselves"? It's like space and time have inverted on each other. … [Read more...] about Parallel Universe

Haaretz: IAF targets top Hezbollah figures in Beirut bunkerIsrael Air Force warplanes dropped bombs late Wednesday on a bunker in south Beirut where senior Hezbollah leaders were thought to be, the Israel Defense Forces said. IDF officials said a wave of aircrafts dropped 23 tons of explosives on the bunker. The officials said top Hezbollah figures were thought to be there, … [Read more...] about Why the IDF is Bombing Southern Beirut

We've already addressed this issue here at TMV — that is, the passage of the stem-cell bill in Congress and the expected veto from President Bush — but I've got a post on a curious sub-issue over at The Reaction that you might find amusing (or disturbing). Senator Brownback of Kansas, an extremist on stem-cell research (as on abortion), performed an act of … [Read more...] about Sam Brownback’s stupid showmanship on stem-cell research

Just over a month ago I wrote about Senatorial sanity on same-sex marriage after the proposed Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was voted down in the Senate. But sanity is relative. 48 Senators voted for the amendment, well short of the required two-thirds majority, but still 48 of 100 Senators. That's an insanity percentage of — hold on, let me do the … [Read more...] about Same-sex marriage survives a majority of insanity in the House

Washington Post: President Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Research Bill In first veto of his presidency, Bush blocks legislation expanding embryonic research. • The Fix: The Politics of Stem Cells | Full Coverage • MAP: Stem Cell Legislation by State … [Read more...] about GWB Vetos Stem Cell Bill But Claims to Care about Human Life

Here's another big story that isn't getting much attention given that so much of our attention is on — because directed towards by the news media and their single-issue herd mentality — Israel-Lebanon-Hezbollah. Big? How about huge? In National Journal, Murray Waas reports: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee today that … [Read more...] about Covering up misconduct: Why did Bush put a stop to the domestic surveillance investigation?

Uh-oh. I know that most of our focus the past week has been on the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, but turn your attention to Iraq for a moment. Not just to the continuing bloodshed in Baghdad and beyond (and there was a good deal more yesterday when, according to WaPo, "[a] suicide bomber killed more than 50 day laborers... in the Shiite shrine city of Kufa") … [Read more...] about Turkey’s temptation

TMV will be on the road all day. He won't be posting but please check back to see what our always talented co-bloggers have to say on breaking and non-breaking stories. … [Read more...] about TMV’s Own Posting Limited Today

According to the AP, "Israel declared Tuesday it was ready to fight Hezbollah guerrillas for several more weeks and possibly send ground forces into Lebanon, raising doubts about international efforts to broker an immediate cease-fire in the fighting that has killed more than 260 people and displaced 500,000." Indeed, "Israel is in no hurry to end its offensive, which it sees … [Read more...] about Israel’s window of opportunity to weaken Hezbollah

Jerusalem Post:Two children were killed and a dozen people wounded in Katyusha falls on the Arab Israeli town of Nazareth on Wednesday evening. Earlier reports indicated three dead, two of them children, when Katyusha rockets directly hit a house in the city. Reports indicated an automotive repair shop was hit along with a three-story building, both in the densely-populated … [Read more...] about Deaths in Arab-Israeli Nazareth

The United States gave Israel the "green light" for its attack in responding to Hezbollah — and the signal light has now turned "yellow" light because it's about to turn red, the Guardian reports:The US is giving Israel a window of a week to inflict maximum damage on Hizbullah before weighing in behind international calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to British, … [Read more...] about The United States’ Green Light And Red Light To Israel

Cherokee Wisdom Two Wolves One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all. "One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. "The other is Good. It is … [Read more...] about Cherokee Wisdom for George Bush & Tony Blair

Cherokee Wisdom Two Wolves One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all. "One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. "The other is Good. It is … [Read more...] about Cherokee Wisdom for George Bush & Tony Blair

The mainstream media's alarming reports about the Civil War in Iraq seem to be the "last and final" call for the U.S. and the U.K. to prepare an emergency exit strategy. What is happening in Iraq now had been predicted right at the beginning when the myopic foreign intervention began in that cursed country. Even CIA had in confidential notes clearly stated the possibility of … [Read more...] about “U.S. & U.K. refuse to admit that Civil War Is On In Iraq”

The mainstream media's alarming reports about the Civil War in Iraq seem to be the "last and final" call for the U.S. and the U.K. to prepare an emergency exit strategy. What is happening in Iraq now had been predicted right at the beginning when the myopic foreign intervention began in that cursed country. Even CIA had in confidential notes clearly stated the possibility of … [Read more...] about “U.S. & U.K. refuse to admit that Civil War Is On In Iraq”

Another gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: Given what's in newspapers these days, it's probably best not to read one shortly after rereading William Butler Yeats "The Second Coming." Doing so may lead to thoughts such as these... The Coming Conflagration The problem with a tenderbox The cause for great dismay Is that once you¹ve stacked … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: The Coming Conflagration

The Moderate Voice always encourages blogs to do original reporting. Why? Because blogs have a potential to be FAR more than just ornate op-ed pages (which is what this one is most of the time as well). Blogging allows ANYONE to create, package and present ORIGINAL reporting to readers — without having an editor to give a green-light on what and how it is … [Read more...] about Original Blog Interview: A Professor On The Influence Of Blogs

It sounds as if even You-Know-Who couldn't help former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed get elected in Georgia — and a guy name Jack Abramoff certainly didn't help:Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed conceded defeat about 9:50 p.m. in Georgia’s Republican primary for lieutenant governor. “Tonight my candidacy for lieutenant governor comes to an end,â€? … [Read more...] about Ralph Reed Defeated In Georgia