The Taliban claimed yet another Indian on Sunday (April 30, 2006) killing and beheading Indian telecom engineer K Suryanarayana, less than 48 hours after abducting him from Zabul province on the main highway linking Kabul and Kandahar. Suryanarayana's killing, as also M Raman Kutty's murder last November, is an unambiguous message from the Taliban which India can ill-afford … [Read more...] about Pakistan & Taliban: An Unholy Nexus?

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Will the American media overlook his situation? … [Read more...] about A Moderate Muslim’s Plight

Political jazz, that is. Real jazz can be incredibly sweet... … [Read more...] about I’ve Had Enough Of All That Jazz

If the United States decides it must go to war with Iran it better not expect much support from Europe, The Washington Times reports:The United States, in any military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program, can expect even less support from its European allies than it received during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. "Europeans have already gone as far as they can … [Read more...] about Europeans Not Ready To Support Iran War

The question continues to rage: Where's Osama? The latest suggestion: he's in the remote area of Pakistan.A top U.S. counterterrorism official said Saturday that parts of Pakistan are a "safe haven" for militants and Osama bin Laden was more likely to be hiding there than in Afghanistan. Henry Crumpton, the U.S. ambassador in charge of counterterrorism, lauded Pakistan for … [Read more...] about Where’s Osama?

John Kenneth Galbraith (center) was presented with India's second-highest civilian award by Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh (left) in 2001. Also present on the occasion was Galbraith's wife, Kitty. (photo courtesy Harvard University Gazette) John Kenneth Galbraith, former US envoy to India, who died on Sunday (April 30) at the age of 97, wrote in his book Ambassador’s … [Read more...] about John Kenneth Galbraith: Last of the Old-Style Liberals

TMV was pleasantly surprised. … [Read more...] about Blogometer Blog Poll

Once again: another headline about another Kennedy in crisis after being in a vehicle — but this time not a limousine, car near water, or airplane but a car in Washington, D.C. Once again, as in the case of his father, Senator Edward Kennedy, a mea culpa from a Kennedy, this time Rep. Patrick Kennedy amid allegations that proper procedures were not followed in the … [Read more...] about Police Disciplined And Kennedy Will Go To Rehab In Latest “Kennedy Curse” Incident

It's truly getting to the point where writing about "new lows" in polling for President George Bush and the GOP-dominated Congress isn't getting to be news anymore — but the norm. And the latest AP-Ipsos poll, AP Political Writer Ron Fornier writes, illustrates why Republicans fear "an Election Day massacre":Six months out, the intensity of opposition to Bush and … [Read more...] about New Poll Driven Lower By Conservatives Leaving Bush

The ever-original The Talking Dog has another original Q&A interview. Profiled this time: Professor David Scheffer, Professor of Law and Director, Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern University School of Law. Scheffer served as the United States Ambassador for War Crimes Issues from 1997 to 2001 during the second term of President Bill Clinton. This is MUST … [Read more...] about Interview With A Former United States Ambassador for War Crimes

It's a real life horror story. Remember the story of the Florida teen whose death was viewed all over the world in a videotape, as he was surrounded — engulfed, really — by a sea of boot camp guards? The one where the autopsy set off a firestorm because it blamed his death on sickle cell anemia? In other words: natural causes. A NEW autopsy found something … [Read more...] about New Autopsy Says Florida Teen Was Suffocated At Boot Camp

Once again it's time for another gem from TMV's favorite poet, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: Cash, Cash, Wonderful Cash Stock markets may tumble, bond issues default Home prices are quirky, they can somersault Gold's upward eruptions, they come and they go Derivative products, you just never know Cash, cash, wonderful cash You can flash it or stash it, there's no … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: Cash

More details are starting to trickle out on the surprise, abrupt announcement by President George Bush that CIA Director Porter Goss had submitted his resignation — and it had been accepted. The rapidity with which this announcement took place, the lack of a full, public explanation about why Goss was exiting, and the fact that he submitted his resignation and it didn't … [Read more...] about CIA’s Porter Goss Was Forced Out

British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered a message after his party lost in local elections: "No more Mr. Nice guy. "Really. "Honestly. "Not kidding you..." The political carnage was so great that perhaps Hollywood is eying it to make a new movie "Friday the 5th" (it doesn't have as catchy a sound as "Friday the 13th," but it's "high concept." The changes were more … [Read more...] about Tony Blair Wields Political Axe After Poll Losses

Other recent changes in the White House were expected, but the announcement today that CIA Director Porter Goss resigned came abruptly ...with little explanation, when President George Bush announced it:CIA Director Porter J. Goss resigned today after less than two years on the job, President Bush announced at the White House. Bush said Goss offered his resignation this … [Read more...] about CIA Director Porter Goss Abruptly Resigns (UPDATED)

No, it's not a joke. That's what the costs are looking like for the NYC tribute. Is this irresponsible? Or should price not be a barrier? Sean Aqui shares his thoughts. … [Read more...] about 9/11 Memorial To Cost Nearly $1 Billion?

Be sure to check out J. Kingston Pierce's latest link-filled post over at The Reaction. Whatever his many criticisms of Bush and the Republicans, he says "there are reasons to be optimistic again". Indeed, he's hopeful and "ready for a change" after being "pessimistic for a long time now". … [Read more...] about Happy days are near again

According to the BBC, "A three-week voyage of discovery in the Atlantic has returned with tiny animals which appear new to science. They include waif-like plankton with delicate translucent bodies related to jellyfish, hundreds of microscopic shrimps, and several kinds of fish." It's a fascinating story. Be sure to check out the "In pictures" feature, too. … [Read more...] about New animals found in Atlantic

We may not be the only ones experiencing global warming. A new storm on Jupiter suggests that that planet "is in the midst of a global change that can modify temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit on different parts of the globe". Space.com has the story here. … [Read more...] about Climate change… on Jupiter