Pakistan explains why its diplomats were reticent in paying parking tickets: "In the pre-9/11 era, there was a different understanding of diplomatic privileges." I bet the terrorists didn't park their cars legally either. … [Read more...] about 9/11 Really Did Change Everything

The Economist of London in its latest issue presents a virtual three-dimensional view of Pakistan. It is the strongest indictment of General Pervez Musharraf's seven-year rule on almost all fronts. First, a hard-hitting editorial. "The West has invested a huge amount in Pakistan's General Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in October 1999. This newspaper was prepared to give … [Read more...] about General Musharraf and War On Terror : An Assessment

It's over. A debate that would have been mostly a blip on the national news except for the fact that the incumbent running for re-election has stirred up a hornet's nest of enemies who are working feverishly to boot him out of office. But enough about anti-war Democrats and Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.... Actually, WAS it enough? Early news reports indicate that the … [Read more...] about Lieberman Lamont Debate: Less Lincoln-Douglas And More Reagan-Carter?

A good wrap up is here. … [Read more...] about Calderon Now Leads In Mexico

File this in your "hmmmm" department:People in Britain view the United States as a vulgar, crime-ridden society obsessed with money and led by an incompetent president whose Iraq policy is failing, according to a newspaper poll. The United States is no longer a symbol of hope to Britain and the British no longer have confidence in their transatlantic cousins to lead global … [Read more...] about At Least We’re Beloved Abroad

Do the words "Pearl Harbor" suddenly come to mind?North Korea targeted waters near Hawaii when it test fired a long-range missile this week, according to a Japanese newspaper. Japanese and US defence officials, after analysing the missile's path from intelligence data, have concluded that the Taepodong-2, had been targeted near the Pacific island, the conservative daily Sankei … [Read more...] about North Korea’s Missiles Targeted Hawaiian Waters

From MSNBC: President Bush said Thursday that the United States is seeking a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff with North Korea, but cautioned that diplomacy will take time. The seven missiles tested yesterday apparently landed harmlessly in the sea. Nonetheless, the situation remains tense. So tense — and so worrisome — that, as usual, there seems to be … [Read more...] about On the crisis in North Korea

Yesterday, Reaction co-blogger Creature commented on Senator (for now) Lieberman's lame attempt to distance himself from President Bush (and to vilify his "zealous" pro-Lamont critics -- presumably those in the Kossack blogosphere). That's a tough triangulation play. I don't think it'll work. Lieberman is indeed "out of touch," and his unwillingness (or inability) to take … [Read more...] about Joe Lieberman gets a little help from his friends

As some of you may know, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon has put a "hold" on a telecommunications bill that, if passed, would allow Internet providers to discriminate with respect to the content they provide to consumers (see here). Similarly, Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts has launched his own "Fight to Save the Internet" (see here). For more on the issue of "net neutrality" and … [Read more...] about In defence of net neutrality

So is it illegal to publish it or not? … [Read more...] about Classified Information

AP via New York Times: Judge Robert Smith said the state's marriage law clearly limits marriage to between a man and a woman, and changes should come from the state Legislature..... * The Ruling (courts.state.ny.us) … [Read more...] about AP: N.Y. Court Sidesteps Gay Marriage

This time against the (conservative) New York Post. UPDATE: A plagiarism check software reportedly indicated she borrowed quite profusely. … [Read more...] about Ann Coulter Is At War Again (UPDATED)

More live blogging (this time district results) from Mark In Mexico. … [Read more...] about Mexico’s Controversial Elections

It's now clear: the effort to discredit a prominent critic came from the top...President George Bush directed his vice-president, Dick Cheney, to take personal charge of a campaign to discredit a former ambassador who had accused the administration of twisting prewar intelligence on Iraq, it emerged yesterday. The revelation by the National Journal, a respected weekly … [Read more...] about So Where Did Plamegate Start?

Enjoy (and cringe...).. … [Read more...] about Some Tidbits About North Korea’s Leader

A cry for attention or a deliberate provocation?North Korea has three or four more missiles on launch pads, and the South Korean defense minister warned that further tests were possible, South Korean media reported Thursday. “There is a possibility that North Korea will fire additional missiles,â€? Yonhap news agency quoted Yoon Kwang-ung as telling lawmakers. The missiles … [Read more...] about North Korea Could Launch More Test Missiles

TMV is extremely limited on the posting he can do over the next few days. It boils down to logistics involving travel as he does programs in his other incarnation. TMV leaves here early in the morning between traffic jams in two (or three) Southern California counties, programs, and returning (in traffic) he is barely able to blog -- not even having time on some days to go to … [Read more...] about TMV’s Own Posts Continue To Be Limited Today

It happens less often than you think. And the stigma attached to it prevents real victims from coming forward. … [Read more...] about Playing the Victim

Note to Iraq leaders...the US has tried this before...it doesn't work. The enemy of your enemy is still your enemy. Especially in this new Islamic extremist fight we find ourselves in. Example: Osama Bin Laden. And we've seen how that movie ends already. I'm not too keen on seeing the sequel. From USA Today:BAGHDAD — Iraq's government is studying a request from some local … [Read more...] about The Enemy Of My Enemy…

John Boehner is describing the Dems calls for raising the minimum wage a cynical ploy to drum up support for the fall elections. I'm sorry...a Republican politician describing a non-wedge issue as cynical? I share my thoughts here. … [Read more...] about Minimum Wage…Important Fall Issue or Cynical Ploy?