The best quotes are the ones that can inspire even when one misses the author's point entirely. … [Read more...] about “One Gets Beyond Racism…”

I'm not one of those people who thinks anyone who criticizes Israel is closetly pro-terror. There's no reason for me to think they would be. What I do wonder about, however, is how many people have yet to grasp that no matter how bad or unjust you find Israel's response, it is not the moral equal of randomly shooting off rockets aimed at innocents for the sole purpose of sowing … [Read more...] about Learning Lessons

Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead reading a MySpace blog (alright, so I'm a blog-elitist). But this one had the good sense to link to me, so I decided to see what he had to say. And lo and behold if he doesn't toss off a pretty good line: America's 9/11 lasted a single, terrifying day. Israel has been living it for, quite literally, decades. Well said. … [Read more...] about Good Line

If this is a correct report, Hezbollah's Sheik had better say his prayers NOW. Arutz Sheva - Ma'an: Nasrallah Will Give Tel Aviv Residents One Hour to FleeArab press sources close to the Hizbullah say that residents of Tel Aviv will be given one hour to flee before the terrorist group launches a barrage of missiles at the city. The unnamed sources are quoted by the … [Read more...] about Nasrallah’s Death Wish

The death toll from the new Java tsunami keeps growing: CNN: 340 perish in Java quake, tsunami JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- The death toll from an earthquake and resulting tsunami that smashed into fishing villages and resorts on Indonesia's Java island has reached 340 with more than 200 people missing, officials say. More than 54,000 people have been displaced, they added. … [Read more...] about There’s More to the Mini-Tsunami Than I Realized

My recent posts at The Reaction on the Israel-Lebanon-Hezbollah situation (for lack of a better word) suggest that I support Israel, perhaps even unreservedly so. And some readers no doubt object to this. Consider: In one post, I wrote this: "Right. Israel's aggression and Israel's crimes. That's always the spin, isn't it? When groups like Hezbollah and states like Syria make … [Read more...] about To support Israel or not to support Israel?

Rasmussen Reports has been one of the polling firms documenting President George Bush's slide in the polls. Now, in recent weeks, it is noting a slow rebound:Forty-four percent (44%) of Americans approve of the way that George W. Bush is performing his role as President. Fifty-five percent (55%) disapprove of the job President Bush has been doing. Much of the improvement for … [Read more...] about Bush’s Poll Numbers Rise As Base Slowly Returns

These announcements by the New York Times are NOT the signs of a healthy, thriving newspaper:The New York Times is planning to reduce the size of the newspaper, making it narrower by one and a half inches, and to close its printing operation in Edison, N.J., company officials said yesterday. The changes, to go into effect in April 2008, will be accompanied by a phased-in … [Read more...] about The New York Times Is Ailing: Its Paper Will Shrink

If this report is correct, it is a gross miscarriage of justice and will result in more nurses and physicians leaving the healthcare profession, leading not only to staff shortages but also to rotten pain management for the terminally ill. AP via MSNBC: Doctor, 2 nurses charged in Katrina deaths Suspects arrested in connection with alleged killing of hospital patientsNEW … [Read more...] about More Katrina Victims

Have you noticed a trend in news coverage? Russia's bigwig Vladimir Putin has now taken world center stage as a kind of "high concept" leader — someone who has developed a finely-etched personality that comes across strongly in print and broadcast news reports. In this age of personality-increases-clout-politics acquiring an immediately recognizeable media personality is … [Read more...] about Putin Takes Center Stage

If you don't think they sing the same song, here's definitive proof: UPDATE: Apparently Tony Blair isn't the only one GWB likes. … [Read more...] about The Bush Blair Relationship

Sometimes-Lebanon-resident Michael Totten makes a legitimate point about Israel's retaliation. I dissect it a little over at TDL. … [Read more...] about Focus on Hezbollahland

Uh, oh, the PC (Politically Correct) Police — those who decry how plastic politicians are but leap all over them when they speak in everyday language — will be all over this one:It wasn't meant to be overheard. Private luncheon conversations among world leaders, picked up by a microphone, provided a rare window into both banter and substance — including President … [Read more...] about Big Deal? Bush Swears When Discussing Hezbollah With Blair

In a speech delivered at San Diego State University over the weekend, DNC Chair Howard Dean "accused President Bush... of being weak on national defense and absent in the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon". Some of his remarks: -- You know, people say the Republicans are tough on defense. How can you be tough on defense if five years after … [Read more...] about Dean comes out swinging on national security

As sectarian violence soars, many Sunni Arab political and religious leaders once staunchly opposed to the American presence here are now saying they need American troops to protect them from the rampages of Shiite militias and Shiite-run government forces, says NYT. … [Read more...] about Should the US get embroiled in Shia-Sunni fratricide?

Jerusalem Post: Lebanese bloggers express their views on the crisis Jerusalem Post: Israeli Bloggers LETTER FROM DR. K'S SISTER IN HAIFA: Yesterday was a hard day. (Was it only yesterday)? The first barrage of rockets in Haifa came without warning...They hit a railway garage downtown and killed 8 people, wounding about 40 others. After that, we got sirens throughout the … [Read more...] about Israeli and Lebanese Bloggers

March of Folly By PAUL KRUGMAN Published: July 17, 2006 NYT Since those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it — and since the cast of characters making pronouncements on the crisis in the Middle East is very much the same as it was three or four years ago — it seems like a good idea to travel down memory lane. Here’s what they said and when they said … [Read more...] about Iraq : Costs, quotes and other things

Over at The Reaction, regular guest blogger Capt. Fogg asks this provocative question: Whom would Jesus torture? See here. … [Read more...] about Jesus and torture

Haaretz: The Israel Defense Forces on Monday said it believed Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon attempted to fire an Iranian-made missile with a range of 200 km at Israel which malfunctioned and fell onto Lebanese territory. The falling missile, described as a Zilzal, was the likely source of Lebanese reports that an Israel Defense Forces aircraft had been hit and brought down … [Read more...] about UPDATED: “Downed Plane” An Apparent Hezbullah Missile

Bill Clinton, that is. Here's what he said, via The Boston Globe: If we allow our differences over what to do now in Iraq to divide us instead of focusing on replacing Republicans in Congress; that's the nuttiest strategy I ever heard in my life. Also: "Clinton defended Lieberman's Democratic credentials, mentioning how the senator has been endorsed by labor unions, … [Read more...] about Clinton stands up for Lieberman