There was the news about Al Qaeda terrorist bigwig Abu Musab al-Zarqawi literally going out with a bang, courtesy of two heavy bombs dropped on his "safe house" by U.S. military airplane. And now there's there's this news from Haaretz and AP that proves once and for all that it hasn't been a banner week for top officials of groups considered terrorist groups:The Popular … [Read more...] about Israel Air Strike Kills Hamas Security Chief

Florida legislators take a bold stand against post-modernism in the schools. The fact that most of these people couldn't even give you an accurate definition of post-modernism is, of course, irrelevant. I'm just glad that they're focusing on what's important to the Florida students. PS: I think Powerblogs had a crash or something early today (or at least, I couldn't access … [Read more...] about More Dangerous Than Gay Marriage, Even

Vice President Cheney has responded to Senator's Specter's letter with a missive of his own, in which he called his lobbying of Judiciary Committee Republicans "government at work" and "not unusual." Cheney added "The respectful and candid exchange of views is something to be encouraged rather than avoided." That is true, and had that been what Cheney was doing, I'd agree with … [Read more...] about The Specter Letter II: Cheney Responds

When Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would saw the head off a bound, terrified and screaming hostage, at the end of his display of almost humanless barbarity he would hold up the head and gleefully show the world. Now it's the Bush administration, American intelligence agencies and American military who are figuratively holding up his head in light of the terrorist and insurgent leader's … [Read more...] about Intelligence Work Kills al-Zarqawi: Long Term Impacts?

The clamor to oust Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld wasn't just limited to retired generals (who were later blasted and demonized by some talk show hosts as they defended the administration): apparently President George Bush The First was trying to find a way to have Rumself spend more time with his family, too. Sidney Blumenthal writes in Salon:Former President George … [Read more...] about George Bush Sr. Tried To Get Rumsfeld Fired

Updating my recent post on the dangerous idiocy of Ann Coulter, the AP is reporting that Senator Clinton has "lashed out at Ann Coulter for a 'vicious, mean-spirited attack' on a group of outspoken 9/11 widows, whom the right-wing television pundit described as 'self-obsessed' and enjoying their husbands' deaths". Good for Hillary. … [Read more...] about Clinton v. Coulter

The Globe and Mail is reporting that "[t]he RCMP has quietly broken up at least a dozen terrorist groups in the past two years". These were "disruptions of national-level terrorist groups across the country," according to RCMP briefing notes for Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day. ********** It has been widely reported that one of the arrested suspects' targets was … [Read more...] about Toronto terrorism threat (UPDATE 7)

Due to an emergency, TMV's own posts are delayed by two hours. He'll be posting on some of the big stories of the day at that time — but in the meantime, check back and either see if our cobloggers have added some new posts OR join in the spirited discussions in comments. TMV WILL be posting...but the other events prevent him from doing so until a bit later. … [Read more...] about TMV’s Own Posts Resume In About Two Hours

Alas, I neglected to post on Peru's run-off presidential election held this past Sunday. As no presidential candidate received more than 50 percent of the popular vote in April's election, the run-off election pitted the top two candidates from the first election against each other, Ollanta Humala (30.6 percent) and Alan Garcia (24.3 percent). Results show that Garcia won the … [Read more...] about Garcia’s Peruvian comeback

Has Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter finally reached the end of his rope when it comes to patience with this Administration's stonewalling? A letter [PDF] he sent to Vice President Cheney yesterday seems to indicate that he's getting pretty close. This week, Specter was planning to seek approval from his committee to hold a closed session with telephone … [Read more...] about The Specter Letter

On a non-political note: Astronomers have an unusual problem that those of us who have to clean our houses wish we had: they are not seeing enough dust, at least in the supernovae they are examining. What are the implications? An article at ScienceDaily explains it well. --- Cross-posted to Random Fate. … [Read more...] about An unusual problem

While I was sleeping, BBC, CNN & MSNBC all emailed me that Zarqawi has been killed. Details from New York Times: BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 8 - Al Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in an American airstrike on an isolated safe house north of Baghdad at 6.15 p.m. local time on Wednesday, top U.S. and Iraqi officials said on Thursday. At a joint news … [Read more...] about UPDATED: My 1st Thought: I hope they CONFIRMED this!

Professor Eric Muller of Is That Legal? is hosting an online symposium on Ex Parte Endo (Sister case to Korematsu) over at his blog. I've got links to individual posts, as well as brief reflections, at my own site. … [Read more...] about The Endo and The Beginning

32,731. That's how many words I've written, not counting drafts, for papers and research work for my just concluded 10 week term. It covers 52 double spaced pages, plus another 38 single spaced pages. And of course, I've been blogging pretty much at my normal rate through most of that period. So, I'm a bit written out. That's why I've been blogging slower over the past few … [Read more...] about Written Out

E.J. Dionne says it well: This month's offensive by President Bush and his allies in Congress against gay marriage and flag burning proves one thing: The Republican Party thinks its base of social conservatives is a nest of dummies who have no memories and respond like bulls whenever red flags are waved in their faces. Yes, but they keep voting for him. In large enough numbers … [Read more...] about Wedging the base

If you're interested in checking out my latest take on the incomparable Ms. Coulter, click here. I don't need to take up any space here at TMV on such a loathsome topic. … [Read more...] about Ann Coulter is a talking obscenity

There was a major development yesterday regarding Iran's nuclear program: From the NYT: "In a sign that Iran may be willing to restart talks on its nuclear program, the country's chief negotiator did not immediately reject an incentive plan delivered by the European Union today, saying that the proposal deserved further study." But that's not all. From the AP: "A package of … [Read more...] about Iranian development

The proposed amendment to define marriage in the Constitution failed in the Senate today (hardly surprising to anyone). It needed sixty votes to achieve cloture, and only got 49. Forty-eight senators voted in opposition. I'll update this with a link to the roll call when it's available. Now, Senate, get back to work on some important issues. Update: The roll call is here. … [Read more...] about Marriage Amendment DOA in Senate

Just a few weeks ago, many Democrats were cautiously optimistic that local school board member Francine Busby could win the House seat once held by disgraced and jailed Republican Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Now, in the wake of the news that former Housemember and GOPer Brian Bilbray has won the seat by some 5,000 votes, Democrats should look at the results — and be … [Read more...] about Republican Bilbray’s Win of Bellwether Seat Means “Caution” To Democrats (UPDATED)

Target: Harper The Globe and Mail is reporting that the PM was a possible terrorist target: "At least one of the 17 terror suspects arrested last weekend is accused of wanting to behead Prime Minister Stephen Harper during an attack on Parliament Hill." In addition: "The alleged plot also involved taking political prisoners in exchange for the withdrawal of Canadian troops … [Read more...] about Toronto terrorism threat (UPDATE 6)