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Travesty of Justice By / NYT — Permalink No question: John Ashcroft is the worst attorney general in history. For this column, let's just focus on Mr. Ashcroft's role in the fight against terror. Before 9/11 he was aggressively uninterested in the terrorist threat. | |
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Michelle Malkin: KRUGMAN LIES — In today's column, Paul Krugman of the New York Times argues that John Ashcroft is the worst attorney general in U.S. history. Jeralyn Merritt: John Ashcroft: 'Worst Attorney General Ever' — TChris wrote earlier about Paul Krugman's column in today's New York... The Poor Man: Justice Department Credibility Officially Hits Zero — My, but that Paul Krugman is shrill: [snipped quote] Here's the kind of credibility John Ashcroft has now. |
Dale Franks: Or, at least, that's the impression he seems to trying to give in today's New York Times column. Shawn @LiquidList: But I can't resist posting today's column. I was sold at the first line: "No question: John Ashcroft is the worst attorney general in history." TChris: Ashcroft Must Go — Paul Krugman argues that John Ashcroft is "the worst attorney general in history." |
| Also: Jeff Goldstein, John Cole, Oliver Willis, Captain Ed, Joe Drymala, Hugh Hewitt, Mathew Gross, KJL, Atrios, Stephen Green | |
Poll of Iraqis Reveals Anger Toward U.S. By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - A poll of Iraqis commissioned by the U.S.-governing authority has provided the Bush administration a stark picture of anti-American sentiment — more than half of Iraqis believe they would be safer if U.S. troops simply left. | |
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Oliver Willis: Poll of Iraqis Reveals Anger Toward U.S. A poll of Iraqis commissioned by the U.S.-governing authority has provided the... Tim Dunlop: American occupy — I can't imagine why the Bush administration kept the results of this poll, commissioned by the... |
Ezra Klein: These markers of success are, after all, far more important than the attitudes of a few pesky Iraqis: "A poll of Iraqis... Steve Soto: A poll of Iraqis in six cities conducted for Paul Bremer's CPA last month, but never released to the American people,... |
Islamic Group Shows Tape of U.S. Hostage AP — Permalink Islamic Group Shows Tape of Blindfolded U.S. Hostage in Saudi Arabia, Threatens to Kill Him CAIRO, Egypt June 15, 2004 — An Islamic Web site showed videotape Tuesday of a blindfolded American hostage in Saudi Arabia, and said abductors threatened to kill him unless Saudi authorities free al-Qaida prisoners within three days. | |
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Charles Johnson: Islamic Savages Parade US Hostage — The savages have released another videotape, gloating over an American hostage who... Jeralyn Merritt: American Paul Johnson, kidnapped in Saudi Arabia a few days ago, appears blindfolded in a video made available on an Islamic website. |
KJL: INFURIATING Cori Dauber: Did you notice that ABC, CBS, and NBC all start with the story that a video is out of Paul Johnson, the man being held hostage in Saudi. |
Bitter at the Top By / NYT — Permalink It's been said that every society has two aristocracies. The members of the aristocracy of mind produce ideas, and pass along knowledge. The members of the aristocracy of money produce products and manage organizations. | |
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Matthew Yglesias: Today's column points squarely at my gripe with Brooks, the persistent refusal to acknowledge that economics plays any role in American politics. Vanderleun: It doesn't matter that they are wrong, and have been shown consistently to be wrong over the years, what matters is that... Roger L. Simon: He does that again in this morning's NYT in a plea for some kind of understanding between the rival elites in our... |
Kevin Drum: Here's the basic thesis: "The economy has produced a large class of affluent knowledge workers — teachers, lawyers,... Nathan Hallford: Bitter At The Top: David Brooks has an especially good piece today looking at the conflict between the educated class. Josh Chafetz: DAVID BROOKS IS EXCELLENT TODAY, as he frequently is. |
| Also: Betsy Newmark | |
Group pushes for vote switch By / Denver Post — Permalink The wealthy president of a Brazilian university is bankrolling an initiative to end Colorado's winner-take-all presidential electoral system. J. Jorge Klor de Alva is the major donor to The People's Choice for President - a nonprofit group seeking voters'... | |
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Betsy Newmark: A Colorado businessman is pushing to have Colorado allocate its electoral votes proportionately as Maine and Nebraska do. James Joyner: There is a move afoot in Colorado to allocate that state's nine Electoral College votes via proportional representation. Taegan Goddard: Colorado May Change Allocation of Electoral Votes — An initiative campaign seeks to end Colorado's winner-take-all... |
Jane Galt: Well, it looks like 2000 may soon be in re-runs: [snipped quote] Democrats are understandably excited about this idea because it would split a probable Republican bloc in two. Kos: Colorado may change EV allocation — This is extremely big news in the world of Election 2004, though its impact may be misunderestimated by most. |
Clarification: Iraq-Al-Zarqawi story AP — Permalink CAIRO, Egypt (AP) In a June 14 story, The Associated Press reported that Islamic Web sites posted the text of a letter purportedly to Osama bin Laden from the leader of militants in Iraq saying his fighters were being squeezed by U.S.-led coalition troops. | |
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Smash: Why hasn't the media picked up on this? UPDATE: The AP has issued a clarification. |
Arthur Chrenkoff: Well, it seems that the Associated Press has simply published the old al Zarqawi letter without realising it's four months old. |
Iran massing troops on Iraq border Washington Times — Permalink Beirut, Lebanon, Jun. 15 (UPI) — Iran reportedly is readying troops to move into Iraq if U.S. troops pull out, leaving a security vacuum. The Saudi daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, monitored in Beirut, reports Iran has massed four battalions at the border. | |
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Dan Darling: There is a report today in al-Sharq al-Awsat that Iran is massing 4 battalions at the Iraqi border. KJL: IRANIAN TROOPS AT THE READY, ON IRAQ'S BORDER? Steve M.: Yikes — UPI reports: Iran massing troops on Iraq border Iran reportedly is readying troops to move into Iraq if U.S. troops pull out, leaving a security vacuum. |
Charles Johnson: Iran Massing Troops on Iraq Border — Is Iran getting ready to make the big play? Iran massing troops on Iraq border. Hugh Hewitt: Add into the mix that a crisis with Iran looms —here's the latest on mullah-stonewalling on their nukes, a New York... |
Hillary and Condi's Split Second of Grafted-On Fame By / WaPo — Permalink Somehow we failed to mention a major event in which the media, Hollywood and politics converged last week. No, not the services for Ronald Reagan — we mean a movie promo for "The Stepford Wives" that depicted Condoleezza Rice as a topless hottie and Hillary Clinton as a bosomy housewife holding a baking sheet. | |
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Jeralyn Merritt: Alterman v. O'Reilly — Eric Alterman has retained a lawyer to go after Fox News' Bill O'Reilly for a retraction of a... Glenn Reynolds: STILL MORE REASON for Bush to pick Condi as his running mate! Trust me, Kerry won't respond with matching photos of Dick Gephardt. |
Moe Lane: I just want to know: what story did you spike to make room for a piece about how Paramount Photoshopped Condi Rice's and... Oliver Willis: June 15, Washington Post: On his show the other day, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly apologized to Texas columnist Molly Ivins for calling her a socialist. |
Hiring Plans Near Boom Levels-Survey By / Reuters — Permalink NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. companies are gearing up to create jobs at rates not seen since the height of the 1990s boom, a survey released on Tuesday showed, adding to evidence that job growth will keep the U.S. economic recovery rolling. | |
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Pejman Yousefzadeh: BAD NEWS FOR KERRY, GOOD NEWS FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY — Robert Tagorda directs my attention to this article, which... John Cole: I wonder how Kerry will downplay this good news: ".S. companies are gearing up to create jobs at rates not seen since... |
Robert Garcia Tagorda: "Doom and Gloom" — That's how the Bush campaign describes John Kerry's economic platform, and it seems to be an... |
WHITE HOUSE ANGER AFTER TIME MAGAZINE DETAILS LOCATION OF CHENEY'S 'SECRET BUNKER' Drudge Report — Permalink Top White House officials expressed anger after TIME magazine detailed the location of Vice President Dick Cheney's secret bunker, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. In new editions, TIME revealed "Site R," an underground bunker on the Maryland-Pennsylvania border where the Vice President spent much of his time in 2001. | |
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Michelle Malkin: So Drudge reports that the loose-lipped scribes at Time Magazine have divulged Dick Cheney's secret location. Steve M.: Matt Drudge says White House officials are upset because Time revealed the location of Cheney's secret bunker. |
Robert Cox: Matt Drudge is asking whether it was really necessary for Time to publish Dick Cheney's undisclosed location. KJL: "SITE R" — Seems unexcusable. [NOTE: YES, this should beinexcusable. Ombudsperson Derbyshire has sent author of this post back to Ronald Reagan nursery school. |
Reporters fight subpoenas in terror trial AP — Permalink NEW YORK (AP) — Reporters at three news organizations are resisting subpoenas issued in the trial of a lawyer charged with conspiring to support terrorists. | |
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Eugene Volokh: Journalist subpoenas and dutiful citizens as "lap-dogs": InstaPundit points to a story about journalists' refusal to... |
Glenn Reynolds: WE REFUSE TO SAY WHETHER OUR QUOTES ARE ACCURATE: [snipped quote] Huh? When you quote someone, you're putting their words in public. |
Kerry: 'I'm Running for President Because ....' By / Reuters — Permalink ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Reuters) - Armed with a five-word refrain, Democrat John Kerry on Tuesday fought back against the perception that many voters don't know what he stands for or why he is challenging President Bush. | |
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Robert Garcia Tagorda: Though I doubt that Kerry would acquiesce, he may want to consider one possible benefit: A resignation could help... C. D. Harris: John Kerry, 6/14/04 If Kerry really believed this pabulum you'd think he would, you know, show up for work more often. |
Steven Taylor: Trying to Explain Himself — Kerry: 'I'm Running for President Because ...' [snipped quote] Ok, so he wants a vibrant... |
Stereotypes run amok: Slate's misleading "Bushisms" and "Kerryisms" By / Spinsanity — Permalink George W. Bush has a habit of mangling his words. John Kerry tends to speak at length when simpler phrasing might suffice. Both of these statements are true. There's plenty of evidence to back them up. | |
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Eugene Volokh: Spinsanity criticizes Slate's Bushisms and Kerryisms. Glenn Reynolds: SLATE'S BOGUS "BUSHISMS" AND LAME "KERRYISMS" are the topic of a new item on Spinsanity by Ben Fritz. |
Jesse Taylor: Will Saletan is a far better writer and commentator than that, and as Spinsanity points out, part of what the feature does is to abridge Kerry's actual positions as superfluous. C. D. Harris: Bill Clinton, 6/14/04 I anxiously await Jacob Weisberg's deconstruction of this, um, odd turn of phrase. |
U.N. STAFF OUTRAGE By / New York Post — Permalink WASHINGTON — Many U.N. employees fear reprisals from their bosses if they step forward with information on the Iraq oil-for-food scandal or report other allegations of corruption, according to a shocking internal survey released yesterday. | |
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Cori Dauber: FOLLOW-THROUGH — Well, it figures that the Fox News story about a finding of deep concern inside the UN bureaucracy... Glenn Reynolds: UNSCAM UPDATE: [snipped quote] Sounds about right to me. And this scandal is much bigger than Enron. So what are we going to do about it? |
Tim Blair: UN OUT OF THE UN — Not even its own staff trust the UN: "A recent poll of 6,086 employees and managers released on the... |
A Moral Chernobyl By / Slate — Permalink In a recent public debate, so I was told, an American officer referred to the Abu Ghraib scandal as a "moral Chernobyl." You might think that this was overstating matters, even if in one important sense—because Chernobyl was morally an accident, albeit in some ways a "systemic" one—it is actually understating them. | |
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David Allan Pell: Worse Yet to Come in Torture Scandal? Hitchens on Abu Ghraib: [snipped quote] Hitch has been on the left and the right when it comes to international issues. Stephen Green: Hitch says that, regarding Abu Ghraid, the worst is yet to come: [snipped quote] Heads.Must.Roll. Andrew Sullivan: I'm concerned because, as Hitch has written, we are about to find out much more about Abu Ghraib, where rape and murder of inmates occurred. |
Damian Penny: The worst is yet to come — Christopher Hitchens says we should brace ourselves for an onslaught of Abu Ghraib photos... Steve M.: In an angry and surprisingly good column called "A Moral Chernobyl," he says of the prison torture scandal, ...get ready. |
Bush Touts Afghanistan as Model for Iraq By / Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Tuesday held up progress in Afghanistan as a model for Iraq as he tried to paint the U.S. involvement in the Asian state as a success in his run-up to the November U.S. election. | |
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The Poor Man: In a totally unrelated story: "President Bush on Tuesday held up progress in Afghanistan as a model for Iraq as he... |
Steve Soto: But remember, we will be treated as liberators, and Bush wants Iraq to follow the Afghanistan model. |
David Brooks By / Slate — Permalink If a liberal who's been mugged is a conservative, what's a conservative who's been mugged? Let's ask David Brooks! For the past few months, the lovable house conservative of the New York Times and satirical sociologist has been taking a beating. | |
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Matthew Yglesias: It's a big week for David Brooks bashing, as Tapped's own Nick Confessore reviews On Paradise Drive while David Plotz... Nathan Hallford: Speaking of Brooks, Slate provides another fisking of not only his book but his column at the Times as well. Andrew Sullivan: Grrr. David Plotz's latest slam-job is particularly harsh, and undeserved. |
Kevin Drum: Sasha Issenberg busted his chops in March for lazy and inaccurate reporting (although I wasn't really convinced by... Roger L. Simon: Brooks Shnooks — I'm not positive Andrew Sullivan is correct in ascribing envy to David Plotz's hatchet-job on NYT... |
Purported Letter: Iraq Holy War in Danger By / AP — Permalink CAIRO, Egypt - A leader of militants in Iraq has purportedly written to Osama bin Laden saying his fighters are being squeezed by U.S.-led coalition troops, according to a statement posted Monday on Islamic Web sites. | |
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Cori Dauber: This terrorist is telling his colleagues that he believes his strategy is on the brink of failing. Glenn Reynolds: FRANCE IS NICE this time of year. I think this is another argument for early elections in Iraq. |
Smash: Excerpts from the "new" memo, as reported in an Associated Press article by Nadia Abou el-Magd, match up with passages... Tim Blair: It all depends on your point of view: "A leader of militants in Iraq has purportedly written to Osama bin Laden saying... |
Study calls for larger private sector role in Nasa By / Financial Times — Permalink The future role of Nasa has been thrown into question by a high-profile report that concludes the agency is not able to send crewed missions to the Moon and Mars on its own. | |
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Gary Farber: "By turning NASA's field centers into FFRDCs run by a university, non-profit or even a for-profit organization, according..." |
Daniel Drezner: Victoria Griffith reports in the Financial Times that NASA proper won't be responding to President Bush's call for a manned mission to the moon or Mars anytime soon. |
Videotape purports to show kidnapped American CNN — Permalink (CNN) — Al Qaeda gunmen posted a videotape online Tuesday showing a man who identified himself as Paul Johnson, an American who works for Lockheed Martin and has been missing in Saudi Arabia since Saturday. The gunmen threatened to kill the man within 72 hours unless their demands are met. | |
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Jeralyn Merritt: CNN reports: [snipped quote] Both the Saudis and the U.S. have policies of non-negotiation with terrorists. |
Dan Darling: The situation is continuing to degenerate in Saudi Arabia to the point where Westerners are now being killed or taken hostage with reckless abandon. |
The father of 'www' finally gets his due IHT — Permalink HELSINKI If Tim Berners-Lee had decided to patent his idea in 1989, the Internet would be a different place. Instead, the World Wide Web became free to anyone who could make use of it. Many of those who did became rich: Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com), Jerry Yang (Yahoo), Pierre Omidyar (eBay) and Marc Andreessen (Netscape). | |
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Gary Farber: THE MAN WHO DESERVES A MILLION BUCKS, Tim Berners-Lee, finally gets it, and explains the patent scandal. |
Daniel Drezner: Tim Berners-Lee finally makes a buck — Victoria Shannon has a nice story in the International Herald Tribune about how... |
He Pushed the Hot Button of Touch-Screen Voting By / NYT — Permalink Kevin Shelley is a big and voluble Irish politician, the son of a former San Francisco mayor, and not the sort you would figure for the heretofore semi-obscure job of California secretary of state. | |
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Dan Gillmor: Here's a profile of Shelley in today's New York Times. The tide is beginning to turn on this issue, and it's not a minute too soon. Ed Cone: NYT: [snipped quote] — Good for Mr. Shelley, as discussed here, here, here, here, here, and here. |
Mary InLosGatos: The NY Times has a piece on the current California Secretary of State, Kevin Shelley. |
Massachusetts Republican urges Kerry to resign Senate seat By / AP — Permalink BOSTON (AP) A top Massachusetts Republican on Tuesday called on Democrat John Kerry to resign from the Senate while he seeks the presidency, a vacancy that would allow the GOP to fill the seat. | |
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Robert Garcia Tagorda: According to the Associated Press, Massachusetts Republicans have grown so tired of John Kerry's absences and... |
Shawn @LiquidList: Today, he's got his henchwoman Lt. Gov. Healy telling Senator Kerry to step down. [snipped quote] Yeah, right. |
Battling the Bishops By / Time — Permalink It made only the faintest blip on John Kerry's campaign radar screen— or anyone else's—when an Archbishop from St. Louis, Mo., told a local television station four months ago that the Massachusetts Senator with a staunchly pro-choice voting record should "not present himself for Communion" in that archdiocese. | |
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Matt Yglesias: Kerry, Communion, Etc. I continue to be baffled by the Kerry communion story. Taegan Goddard: A new Time poll confirms this, showing Sen. John Kerry and President Bush running even among Catholics. |
Nick Confessore: Karen Tumulty's article — the one on Kerry — advances the story with poll data showing that the vast majority of... |
Kerry Will Hit Bush Harder on Economy WaPo — Permalink Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), dismissing economic and jobs growth as too little, too late, will step up his campaign accusing President Bush of saddling the middle class with lower wages and higher costs for health care, education and gasoline, top advisers said yesterday. | |
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Ruy Teixeira: Kerry and the Economy — The Washington Post had a story today on how "Kerry Will Hit Bush Harder on the Economy". Taegan Goddard: The Washington Post has more on Kerry's strategy: "The Democratic nominee will paint a gloomy picture: the worst jobs... |
Hugh Hewitt: The Washington Post details that Kerry is committed to badmouthing the boom, but the account admits that "a recent spate... |
Ralph Nader: Conservatively Speaking The American Conservative — Permalink The long-time progressive makes a pitch for the disenfranchised Right. Ralph Nader recently accepted Pat Buchanan's invitation to sit down with us and explain why his third-party presidential bid ought to appeal to conservatives disaffected with George W. Bush. | |
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Nathan Newman: Nader is No Progressive Now — Read this interview with Nader in Pat Buchanan's American Conservative magazine. David Neiwert: Now he's gone and removed all doubt: Nader does Buchanan There are many choice bits worth commenting on, but most... |
The Poor Man: If some of this seems a little surreal - like, for example, this business about "corporate pornography" - it might start... |
Bad Debts By / NRO — Permalink Even as the Islamic Regime of Iran accelerated the number of arrests, tortures, and death sentences it carried out, on May 29, the World Bank awarded it with two loans totaling $369 million. As justification for granting the loans, the World Bank claims they were awarded to help the people of Iran. | |
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Roger L. Simon: Now it's the World Bank singing the "same old song," only the sadistic Mullahs are setting the beat: Even as the Islamic... |
Pejman Yousefzadeh: AIDING AND ABETTING — The World Bank has much to answer for in the assistance that it has given to the Islamic regime... |
State Adds Jobs for 3rd Month in a Row By / LAT — Permalink California employers added jobs in May for a third straight month, a milestone that hadn't been achieved in more than three years and a sign that the state's fragile recovery is sustainable. | |
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Robert Garcia Tagorda: Writes the Los Angeles Times: "California employers added jobs in May for a third straight month, a milestone that... |
Hugh Hewitt: Job growth is even up in California, where the Sacramento Democrats have been tied down by Arnold who has led a reversal... |
Switzerland in the Desert? By / TCS — Permalink With the official transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi government on the horizon a monumental new challenge will soon begin: the drafting of a permanent constitution for a democratic government. Chief amongst the difficulties is the oft-cited problem of religious, ethnic and geographical divisions within Iraq. | |
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James Joyner: PoliColumns — Steven Taylor has his first column at TCS (on designing a government for Iraq) and an exclusive eColumn at PoliBlog (on the myth of Reagan as a unifier). |
Steven Taylor: PoliColumn at TCS — I have my first-ever piece at Tech Central Station: Switzerland in the Desert? |
Torture Tumult By / NRO — Permalink There is much talk about whether the attorney general or Secretary Rumsfeld or maybe even the president gave the signal to torture detainees of the present war. Much of this talk is centered on a March 6, 2003, Pentagon working-group memorandum and an August 2002 Justice memo that have now to one degree or another been made public. | |
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Tarek @LiquidList: Professor Kmiec has a piece in that laudable journal, the National Review seeking to defend the team of lawyers who, in... |
The Poor Man: Shorter Douglas W. Kmiec — The President didn't have anything to do with bad things happening because bad apples did it while he was out fighting terror. |
Go Negative on the Allies By / NYT — Permalink DURHAM, N.C. — For months, Senator John Kerry has been among the loudest in the chorus criticizing President Bush for not persuading our allies to shoulder more of the Iraq burden. But now it is time for Mr. Kerry to start admonishing the allies. | |
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Richard Reeb: Seeking the Presidential Kerry — Another New York Times op-ed contributor attempts to graft moderation onto Democratic... James Joyner: Go Negative on the Allies — Duke political scientist Peter Feaver argues in today's NYT that we should "Go Negative on the Allies." |
Cori Dauber: Not just that — but it's actually a piece that criticizes Sen. Kerry, if in a fairly subtle way. . . . Stephen Green: Required Reading — John Kerry might have a bigger problem with Iraq than even George W. Bush does |
Transcript From Portrait Unveiling Ceremony WaPo — Permalink President Bush Delivers Remarks at the Unveiling of Former President Clinton's Official Portrait at the White House, June 14, 2004. Speakers: President George W. Bush, former president Bill Clinton, former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and first lady Laura Bush | |
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Gary Farber: VERY GRACIOUS are these remarks of President Bush regarding President and Senator Clinton. Kudos to President Bush for making them. Taegan Goddard: Quote of the Day — "You know, Most the people I've known in this business, Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and... Atrios: Clintons, Today — Transcript from portrait unveiling. I'll give Bush his due on this one - he appeared to try his best to be a class act for once. |
James Joyner: WaPo has the transcript of the ceremony, and Bush's remarks went beyond the couple of short clips I saw on television last night. Harley: I Know We're All Supposed To Loathe Each Other, But... The Prez did a nice job at the portrait unveiling ceremony today. |
'Fahrenheit 9/11' Gets Standing Ovations By / Fox News — Permalink The crowd that gave Michael Moore's controversial "Fahrenheit 9/11" a standing ovation last night at the Ziegfeld Theatre premiere certainly didn't have to be encouraged at all to show their appreciation. From liberal radio host and writer Al Franken to actor/director Tim Robbins, Moore was in his element. | |
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Tgirsch: Now I've Seen Everything — Fox News has given Fahrenheit 9/11 a positive review: [snipped quote] Wow. |
Paradox: No, it's not a mirage: Roger Friedman at Fox News has this to say about Fahrenheit 9/11: "...a tribute to patriotism,... |
Howard Dean looks back at his presidential campaign By / AP — Permalink SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) One of Howard Dean's most poignant memories of his presidential campaign is of a woman in a wheelchair who gave him $50 in quarters at a breakfast meeting in Iowa last summer. The money came from her federal supplemental income check. | |
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Taegan Goddard: Dean Looks Back — Howard Dean dicusses some of the "things he would have done differently" with the Associated Press:... |
Jerome Armstrong: The Revolution will be Blogged — I only ran across yesterday, somehow missing a very uncirculated AP interview which... |
Schoolgirl loses Muslim gown case BBC — Permalink A 15-year-old girl has lost her High Court battle to wear a style of Islamic dress to school. Shabina Begum has been out of her Luton school since September 2002 in a row over her wish to wear an ankle-length jilbab gown. | |
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Harry Brighouse: School Uniforms — I don't know enough about this case to feel comfortable commenting on the all-things-considered rights and wrongs of it. |
Charles Johnson: The High Court has turned her down, and the Islamovictim groups are already going into seethe mode: Schoolgirl loses Muslim gown case. |
League of Women Voters drops support of e-vote machines By / AP — Permalink The League of Women Voters rescinded its support of paperless voting machines on Monday after hundreds of angry members voiced concern that paper ballots were the only way to safeguard elections from fraud, hackers or computer malfunctions. | |
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Dan Gillmor: Influential Group Supports Verifiable E-Voting — AP: League of Women Voters drops support of e-vote machines. |
Mary InLosGatos: Yesterday, the League of Women Voters withdrew their support for DREs if they didn't have an auditable paper trail. |
Professor Sir Stuart Hampshire Telegraph — Permalink Sir Stuart Hampshire, the philosopher who died on Sunday aged 89, was one of the anti-rationalist Oxford thinkers, others being Isaiah Berlin and Bernard Williams, who gave a new direction to moral and political thought in the post-war era. | |
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Josh Chafetz: PROFESSOR SIR STUART HAMPSHIRE, rest in peace. Chris Bertram: The Telegraph has a very interesting obituary . I'll add others to this post as they appear. |
Iain Murray: His Telegraph obituary contains some fascinating details about his career in military intelligence, about which I knew... |
Space Vision Misunderestimated By / TCS — Permalink "Where are they going without ever knowing the way?" Asked the band Fastball in their hit "The Way." The same question could have been asked of the U.S. manned space program for the last several decades. Where it manifestly was not headed was to the stars — or anywhere out of low earth orbit for that matter. | |
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Hanah Metchis: Bush, with his talk of a moonbase and men on Mars, is trying to bring a new grand goal to the space program. |
Glenn Reynolds: MISUNDERESTIMATED? Charles Rousseaux thinks that Bush's vision on space is much grander than is generally realized. |
The Picture of Bipartisan Camaraderie By / WaPo — Permalink The line about "so much promise to no great purpose" that had Republicans cheering at their 2000 convention was forgotten. So was the unusually ugly transition — with the exaggerated allegations about missing "W" keys on computers and mischief aboard Air Force One. | |
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James Joyner: WaPo - The Picture of Bipartisan Camaraderie [quote] The line about "so much promise to no great purpose" that had Republicans cheering at their 2000 convention was forgotten.[end quote] Arthur Chrenkoff: This from President Bush, on the occasion of unveiling Clinton's portrait in the White House: "The years have done a lot to clarify the strengths of this man. |
Betsy Newmark: Here is what Clinton said about the White House portraits. [snipped quote] Now check out the portrait Clinton is... |
Nation Builders and Low Bidders in Iraq By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON — From the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison to the mutilation of American civilians at Falluja, many of the worst moments of the Iraqi occupation have involved private military contractors "outsourced" by the Pentagon. | |
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Phillip Carter: Outsourcing problems — Peter Singer, an expert on private military contractors now in residence at the Brookings... David Adesnik: If the accusations in this column are correct, then the Pentagon has been complicit in a process that is very, very disturbing. |
James Joyner: Outsourcing Soldiering — P.W. Singer has an interesting op-ed in today's NYT entitled, "Nation Builders And Low Bidders In Iraq." |
Cheney Claims al-Qaida Linked to Saddam By / AP — Permalink ORLANDO, Fla. - Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday that Saddam Hussein had "long-established ties" with al Qaida, an assertion that has been repeatedly challenged by some policy experts and lawmakers. The vice president offered no details backing up his claim of a link between Saddam and al Qaida. | |
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Oliver Willis: Cheney Claims al-Qaida Linked to Saddam Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday that Saddam Hussein had "long-established... Kos: If this administration is going to lie, can they at least get their story straight? Is that too much to ask? |
Mathew Gross: Unbelievable — I don't know why Dick Cheney's lying continues to surprise me. Or, for that matter, that some people continue to believe him. |
The lunatic mainstream had better start worrying fast By / Telegraph — Permalink Well, they may be Little Englanders, but they're getting bigger, and the big parties are getting littler. In Sunday's results, the only two governing parties most Britons have ever known couldn't muster 50 per cent of the vote between them. | |
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Iain Murray: Steyn on form — It's a pretty good column from Mark Steyn in the Telegraph today, but this paragraph may be the... Betsy Newmark: Mark Steyn looks at the comeuppance the pro-EU parties got in recent elections where the electorate basically said euwww. |
McQ: For Brits it isn't "EU" but Eeeewww — Mark Steyn explains some of the reasons European voters (and especially Brits)... |
21 Killed in Iraq and Dozens Hurt in Bomb Attacks By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 14 - A suicide bomber rammed a truck packed with explosives into a convoy of foreign contractors on Monday, killing at least 13 people in a busy Baghdad neighborhood during the morning rush hour. | |
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Cori Dauber: The Times this morning takes a slightly different approach. |
David Adesnik: THE VIOLENCE CONTINUES: Car bombings in Iraq, today and yesterday. I have to admit, I'm amazed at how many of their fellow Iraqis the insurgents are willing to kill. |
Dean Bertram: We'll be back after this message The Australian — Permalink THE 1 million or so viewers who tuned in to Sunday night's Big Brother live eviction show got a little more reality with their television than they expected. Merlin Luck, the show's fifth evictee, shocked home and studio audiences as he covered his mouth with gaffer tape and unveiled a fabric sign that read "FREE TH[E] REFUGEES". | |
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Damian Penny: Reality Bites — The candidates for the latest CBS version of Big Brother haven't been announced yet (although, in what... |
Arthur Chrenkoff: The current "Big Brother" household is, of course, an intellectual powerhouse as far as politics are concerned:... |
Crowds Celebrate 13 Deaths in Iraq Blast By / AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq - A car bomb shattered a convoy of Westerners in Baghdad Monday, killing at least 13 people, including three General Electric workers and two bodyguards. Crowds rejoiced over the attack, dancing around a charred body and shouting "Down with the USA!" | |
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Cori Dauber: "Crowds Celebrate 13 Deaths in Iraq Blast," reads the headline. Blackfive: Crowds Celebrate 13 Deaths in Iraq Blast By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq - A car bomb... |
Glenn Reynolds: IRAQIS RESCUE AMBUSHED CONVOY: Via BlackFive. |
Bush Praises Clintons as Portraits Are Unveiled By / NYT — Permalink Saying that "the years have done a lot to clarify the strengths" of former President Bill Clinton, President Bush today unveiled the official portraits of Mr. Clinton and his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, that will hang in the White House along with those of other former presidents and first ladies dating to George and Martha Washington. | |
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James Joyner: NYT — Bush Praises Clintons as Portraits Are Unveiled [RSS] [quote] Saying that "the years have done a lot to clarify the...[end quote] Tim Blair: THE NEW YORK GUARDIAN — Confused by the friendliness between George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, the New York Times aims... |
Arthur Chrenkoff: I was hoping that for the decency's sake Clinton would have been painted from the waist up, but apparently not. David Allan Pell: A Portrait of Friendship? Bill and George make nice at the White House as the Clinton portraits were unveiled. |
CBS RADIO HEAD ORDERS 'MUST CARRY' TO STATIONS FOR CLINTON BOOK SPECIAL Drudge Report — Permalink Move over Rush Limbaugh! Bill Clinton is set to hit the talkradio waves with a live special promoting his new book — one that CBS has ordered a "must carry" directive for all of its news affiliates, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. | |
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Steve M.: Well, I guess Viacom's sinister plot to sell Viacom books worked so well that now Viacom is hatching a sinister plot to... James Joyner: Update: Now that Drudge actually has a link with a story, the controversy is more obvious: [snipped quote] From the... |
Edward Driscoll: DEJA MOO: The feeling that you've heard the same bull once before. Maybe Mrs. Reynolds is more right than she knows. |
No Itsy-Bitsy Bikinis or Suntan Lotion, Please, We're British By / NYT — Permalink CAMBER, England - It was another lovely day at the beach in England. Pockets of black clouds were massing ominously in the east and the west. The wind was propelling the sand in a horizontal direction. | |
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Josh Chafetz: THE WEATHER HERE IS GORGEOUS — but this article on Brits going to the beach is still really funny. (Thanks to JDB for pointing it out!) |
Jan Haugland: Sunbathing in the rain — The New York Times has an amusing travel piece about how the Brits spend their days on the... |
Columnists 'Honor' Rumsfeld With Sitting Duck Prize By / Editor and Publisher — Permalink NEW ORLEANS Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld won this year's Sitting Duck Award as an easy target for columnists. He received the "honor" from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists during its June 11-13 conference here. One reason? | |
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SK Bubba: Rumsfeld honored — Secretary of State and Defense Rumsfeld received a national award. Lewis Carroll would be proud of Rumsfeld. |
S.L.: The Longer View — Rumsfeld Edges Limbaugh in Close Vote We couldn't resist this window into the mindset of several... |
Libertarian Candidate Won't Concede to 'Evil' By / Fox News — Permalink WASHINGTON — Smaller government, protecting civil liberties, getting U.S. troops out of Iraq and ensuring that a military draft won't be instituted to fight a protracted War on Terror (search) are all staples of the Libertarian Party's (search) presidential campaign this year. | |
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Tgirsch: Hope Springs Eternal — Here's hoping that this guy can do to Bush in 2004 what Nader did to Gore in 2000: [snipped quote] That's right, Rightists! |
Steven Taylor: The Silliness of the Big "L" Libertarians — Libertarian Candidate Won't Concede to 'Evil' [snipped quote] Ok, not only... |
Somali Charged with Plotting to Blow Up Ohio Mall Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Somali man living in Ohio was charged with plotting with al Qaeda supporters to blow up a shopping mall in Columbus, Ohio, Attorney General John Ashcroft said on Monday. | |
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Jeff Goldstein: May the very fires of hell incinerate your Great Steak 'n' Potato Company, what with their seriously overpriced and... Steven Taylor: Ohio Mall Targeted by al Qaeda Member — Somali Charged with Plotting to Blow Up Ohio Mall "A Somali man living in Ohio... |
Captain Ed: Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a new criminal indictment against a Somali immigrant, whom a grand jury has... |
Did We Do War Crimes? NRO — Permalink Justice and Abu Ghraib. The high non-Reagan moment of last week came when Attorney General John Ashcroft contended with Senator Edward Kennedy on the whole business of torture. Ashcroft was explaining something not terribly complicated, but it led to combat. | |
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The Poor Man: Advanced Problems In Moral Philosophy, by Andrew Sullivan — Andrew Sullivan breaks new ground here, as he grapples with... |
Andrew Sullivan: WFB GETS IT: Whenever I think I'm going crazy (having qualms about extra-legal torture while most conservatives are fine... |
Supreme Court Decides Pledge Case on Technicality By / Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that California atheist Michael Newdow lacked the right to bring a constitutional challenge to the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, avoiding a decision on the key church-state issue. | |
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Steve M.: The ruling by the justices was based on the technicality that Newdow could not bring the case before the court because... Jeff Goldstein: Supreme Court to Newdow: "...try minding your own business, Pops."* **** update: Bill defends the right not to be offended by small inconveniences. |
Steven Taylor: Supreme Court Decides Pledge Case on Technicality [snipped quote] This strikes me as a legitimate ruling—it has always... |
Supreme Court Preserves 'God' in Pledge By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court preserved the phrase "one nation, under God," in the Pledge of Allegiance, ruling Monday that a California atheist could not challenge the patriotic oath but sidestepping the broader question of separation of church and state. | |
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Steve Bainbridge: Hence, perhaps I should be relieved that in the Pledge case the court was merely AWOL (they declined to rule on grounds that the atheist father lacked standing). Tgirsch: Supreme Court Wusses Out in Pledge Case — Rather than setting any kind of precedent, the Supreme Court opted to reject... Ezra Klein: Cleared That Right Up — The Cowardly Court has ruled: [snipped quote] So rather than wade into the divisive and tough... |
C. D. Harris: Status Quo Ante — In an 8-0 opinion issued today (Scalia recused himself), the Supreme Court has overturned the Ninth... Edward Driscoll: GOD LIVES: At least for now, in the Pledge of Allegiance. Jeralyn Merritt: 'Under God' To Stay in Pledge — The Supreme Court has ruled that for now, the words "one nation under God" will remain in the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| Also: Greg Ransom, Tarek @LiquidList, Captain Ed, Phillip Carter | |
Doctor Proposes Not Treating Some Lawyers AP — Permalink CHICAGO June 14, 2004 — A doctor's proposal asking the American Medical Association to endorse refusing care to attorneys involved in medical malpractice cases drew an angry response from colleagues Sunday at the annual meeting of the nation's largest physicians group. | |
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Steve M.: At Pandagon, Jesse Taylor offers a thoroughly sensible response to a certain group of angry doctors: So, when a doctor... Jason Van Steenwyk: According to ABC News, one Dr. Chris J. Hawk introduced a motion asking the AMA to endorse refusing medical treatment to lawyers involved in medical malpractice suits. Edward _: First Thing We Do, Let's Not Treat All the Lawyers — I know the costs of malpractice insurance are driving doctors to... |
Jesse Taylor: So, when a doctor stands up at an AMA meeting and proposes that doctors refuse treatment to lawyers involved in medical malpractice suits, what's my response? Thorley Winston: There was an (apparently symblic since the author of the resolution withdrew it) attempt to get the AMA to endorse such... James Joyner: Kill All the Lawyers — ABC News — Doctor Proposes Not Treating Some Lawyers [snipped quote] One presumes this was done tongue-in-cheek. |
| Also: Blackfive, Mike Alissi | |
Washington Whispers US News — Permalink Is it Gephardt? Labor leaders believe union friend Rep. Dick Gephardt has the inside track to be Sen. John Kerry 's vice president. We hear that AFL-CIO execs say it's a done deal. | |
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Jan Haugland: Who will be John Kerry's Vice-President? US News thinks that Dick Gephardt is the chosen one. Steven Taylor: The latest is from US News' Washington Whispers [snipped quote] While harldy a charisma-infusion, I have long thought Gephardt a better choice thatn Edwards. Steve Soto: The AFL-CIO goes farther and says that it will be Gephardt and not Edwards who gets the nod. |
Tom Maguire: Gephardt For VP? That is the Washington Whisper. Our plausibility rating? High. Captain Ed: He Could Do Worse US News and World Report have a cryptic, two-sentence, anonymously sourced report that John Kerry has... Ezra Klein: But let's be honest, some no-name Iowan isn't taking the slot, it's going to be one of Labor's guys, or so they think. |
| Also: Chris Bowers, Taegan Goddard | |
Doubts Linger as Kerry Advances By / WaPo — Permalink John F. Kerry has shattered fundraising records, unified an oft-warring party and pushed past President Bush in some national polls. Yet many Democratic voters, officials and even members of Kerry's staff express an ambivalence — or angst — about their presidential candidate that belies this strong public standing. | |
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Ruy Teixeira: Kerry and Iraq — A front-page article in The Washington Post today detailed Democrats' concerns that: [Kerry] has not... Tarek @LiquidList: But this line in today's "daily naysayer" about Kerry from the Post caught my eye: "These Democrats say the enthusiasm... Liz Cox Barrett: We turn next to Mathew Gross, another blogger featured in the aforementioned Time article—not as one "to watch," but... |
David Allan Pell: Just Say Something Other Than No — John Podesta voiced the concern of many in the Democratic Party when it comes to... Pejman Yousefzadeh: John Kerry has a major problem in going into the fall elections: People don't know what policy stances matter to him. Hugh Hewitt: John Kerry's week begins with a long Washington Post piece detailing his shortcomings, and the apathy about him within the ranks of the Democratic Party. |
| Also: Steve Soto, Noam Scheiber, S.Q.S., Steven Taylor, Aaron @LiquidList, Taegan Goddard, Robert Garcia Tagorda, Mathew Gross | |
A Low-Key Iowa Governor Receives the V.P. Treatment By / LAT — Permalink SAN FRANCISCO — Here's the thing about a vice presidential nomination. You're not supposed to look like you're pursuing it. It's considered best to lie low and let the job come to you. | |
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Howard Kurtz: The Los Angeles Times looks at the Iowa governor: "Why Vilsack? Ezra Klein: VP Round-Up — Wondering who this Tom Vilsack cat is? The LA Times has got you covered. Chris Bowers: Here is an article claiming he is on the super-short list. The VP buzz entirely surrounds only these three candidates. |
Jan Haugland: Also on the shortlist, says LA Times, is the rather unknown Iowa governor Thomas J. Vilsack, and they explain why he would be such a good choice. Betsy Newmark: Gov. Tom Vilsack is the newest guy getting the "possible Veep candidate for Kerry" treatment. Taegan Goddard: Vilsack On Kerry Short List — Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) is getting the V.P. treatment, according to a Los Angeles Times profile. |
From the Senate, a Chorus Rises in Support of Edwards By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, June 13 - Democratic senators and Senate candidates are pressing John Kerry to name one of their own, John Edwards of North Carolina, as his running mate, in part because they believe Mr. Edwards would help Democrats in five tossup races in the South and give the party a fighting chance to recapture control of the Senate. | |
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Howard Kurtz: Edwards doesn't seem suited to the VP candidate's traditional attack-dog role, but he's got plenty of backing, the New... S.Q.S.: Uh, wait. Tom Vilsack. Er, John Edwards. Tip to campaign press: We can wait until Kerry tells us who he has chosen. Chris Bowers: Supposedly, Edwards is the favorite of Democrats in the Senate as well. Additionally, Edwards is actively campaigning for the spot. |
Jan Haugland: The NYT, however, says Kerry's fellow senators are pressing him to chose John Edwards, who has the advantage of being a... Ezra Klein: If they're right, Southern Senators are going to be some unhappy campers, wondering why their chosen one wasn't good enough. Shawn @LiquidList: Today, the New York Times reports that : From the Senate, a Chorus Rises in Support of Edwards. |
| Also: Taegan Goddard | |
Justice Dept. Memo Says Torture 'May Be Justified' By / WaPo — Permalink Today washingtonpost.com is posting a copy of the Aug. 1, 2002, memorandum "Re: Standards of Conduct for Interrogation under 18 U.S.C. 2340-2340A," from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel for Alberto R. Gonzales, counsel to President Bush. | |
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Gregory Djerejian: In two PDF attachments, here and here, the WaPo has made public the memo. A few general points. Oliver @LiquidList: Where is the huffing and puffing about Ashcroft's stonewalling on the torture memo? The Poor Man: The Memo — The Washington Post has posted the complete Aug. 1, 2002 memo in which the Justice Department instructed the... |
James Joyner: Torturing the Law — WaPo has published, in PDF format, the entire August 2002 memorandum by the Office of Legal Council... Brad DeLong: It seems very clear to me that Jay Bybee should not be a judge, on the 9th Circuit or anyplace: "Discourse.net: OLC's... Gary Farber: Don't confuse your torture memos; here is an account of the latest, this time official, legally in force, memo. |
| Also: Jack Balkin, Aaron @LiquidList, Katherine R, Michael Froomkin, Jeralyn Merritt, Andrew Sullivan | |
Feeding the Minotaur NRO — Permalink Our strange relationship with the terrorists continues. As long as the mythical Athenians were willing to send, every nine years, seven maidens and seven young men down to King Minos's monster in the labyrinth, Athens was left alone by the Cretan fleet. | |
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Vanderleun: TerrorWar — When 3,000 Dead is Still Not Enough to Say "Enough" HANSON HINTS THAT AMERICA WILL REQUIRE A GREATER... Mike Hendrix: VDH notices something damning, unnerving, revealing, and ultimately depressing: "Ever since the storming of the Tehran... Jesse Taylor: After far too much time spent pretending that detailing exactly why bin Laden is evil is a substitute for explaining how... |
Cori Dauber: You should most definitely read the whole thing, but here's a taste to whet the appetite: In the European mind, and that... Charles Johnson: Feeding the Minotaur — A recurring theme of many LGF entries is that we are not yet serious about the war against... |
Tackle the Nuke Threat By / MSNBC — Permalink June 21 issue - The G8 Summit in Sea Island, Ga., produced no new cooperation on Iraq. No surprise there. The rifts over it are deep, and though the United States has changed course, it will take time before other countries jump in. | |
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Jan Haugland: How to keep nukes out of the hands of terrorists — Newsweek's Fareed Zakaria warns that policies to tackle the most... Gary Farber: AVOIDING THE BIG BOOM. Fareed Zakaria is mostly right (as he often is) on nuclear non-proliferation. James Joyner: Nukes for Al Qaeda — Fareed Zakaria argues that we're not doing enough to prevent terrorist groups from getting nuclear weapons. |
Tom Smith: On a related point, this is also why we cannot let Iran get nukes. Dale Franks: Today, The Telegraph, and the Wall Street Journal are engaging in a bit of grumbling about the worldwide indifference to... |
Supreme Court Dismisses Pledge Case on Technicality AP — Permalink The Supreme Court preserved the phrase "one nation, under God," in the Pledge of Allegiance, ruling Monday that a California atheist could not challenge the patriotic oath but sidestepping the broader question of separation of church and state. | |
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Steve Dillard: Supreme Court Dismisses Pledge Case on Technicality: Supremes: "Thank God we don't have to address the merits of a case... James Joyner: Update: Interestingly, WaPo gets the headline right: Supreme Court Dismisses Pledge Case on Technicality (they use the same AP wire text). Joe Drymala: Supremes Weasel Out of a Ruling — The Supreme Court this morning wormed its way out of a ruling on the Pledge of... |
Bird Dog: Supreme Court Settles Nothing on the Pledge Case — From the Washington Post: [snipped quote] My prediction: While it's... Jack Balkin: The Washington Post has the story. The text of the opinion is available here. This is exactly what I hoped the Court would do. |
In Race to Give Power to Iraqis, Electricity Lags By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 13 — Tripped up by problems ranging from sabotage to its reliance on by-the-book engineering, the United States has failed by a wide margin to meet its long-stated goal of reviving Iraq's electricity output for the start of the searing summer. | |
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David Adesnik: Or in the case of jihadis, how many of their fellow Muslims. UPDATE: The electrical power grid is also a mess. Cori Dauber: Well, what do you know, now that it's summer again, and targets won't be hit for higher demand, suddenly the question of electrical power demand is back on the media radar screen. |
Ted Barlow: Iraq's power production is still below pre-war levels, as insurgents hold Falloujah. It sounds to me like it's time for another manufactured Kerry scandal. |
Tear Down This U.N. Stonewall By / NYT — Permalink The secretary general of the U.N. tapped me on the shoulder at a recent luncheon and said, "May I have a word with you?" Because several columns of mine zapped the U.N. for its cover-up of the costliest financial rip-off in history — even calling it "Kofigate" — I braced myself for an icy rebuke. | |
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Oliver @LiquidList: This morning I read his well-written dissection of the UN's oil-for-food scandal, and the cover-up that he sees occurring before his very eyes. Tim Blair: PALESTINIAN HOUSING BOOM — William Safire on the UN's oil-for-everything-but-food scandal: "Two BNP Paribas sources... James Joyner: U.N. Stonewalling — William Safire's latest column, "Tear Down This U.N. Stonewall," is worth reading. |
Roger L. Simon: Mr. Annan, Tear Down that Wall — Not in Berlin... On 41st Street... William Safire is advancing the UNSCUM Oil-for-Food... Cori Dauber: The UN talks a great game, but they haven't coughed up enough money to get their in-house investigators going. Glenn Reynolds: I'm shocked. UPDATE: William Safire writes "Tear down this U.N. stonewall!" "Let's advance this story. |
| Also: Stephen Green | |
Recruiters Try New Tactics to Sell Wartime Army By / NYT — Permalink LYNDON, Kan. , June 13 — Katherine Jordan, who marched self-consciously across a basketball court in a black robe and orange flip-flops the other afternoon to collect her diploma, has just a few days left to fill the high school scrapbook she keeps here on the floor of her bedroom. | |
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Gary Farber: WARNING: WAR IN MIRROR MAY BE CLOSER than it appears. [snipped quote] To be sure, it's hardly as if most soldiers will wind up in Iraq, or some other battlezone, under fire. Cori Dauber: Well, here it is, right here on the front page of the New York Times: But the world of recruiting has shifted significantly. Phillip Carter: It takes a village... to build an army — The New York Times has an interesting article on the challenges to military recruiting in the months since the Iraq War. |
Nathan Hallford: Here's an article looking at tactics used by recruiters (you may be deployed to Iraq; you may not) along with the ideas... James Joyner: Recruiting During Wartime — NYT — Recruiters Try New Tactics to Sell Wartime Army [RSS] [snipped quote] Of course, there is a wide range of scores one can have on the ASVAB. |
Fallujah Brigade tries U.S. patience By / USA Today — Permalink FALLUJAH, Iraq — A top Marine officer here says the compromise that gave control of Fallujah to an Iraqi brigade in exchange for the withdrawal of Marines may be a failure. "This was a noble experiment that may not work out," Col. Larry Brown, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force's operations officer, said this weekend. | |
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Juan Cole: Meanwhile, some Marine commanders consider the deal worked out with the Fallujah Brigade a failure because it has not... Mike Hendrix: Updated update! And Bill Quick links to a couple of depressing examples of what Hanson is ultimately talking about here. |
Smash: While this agreement has brought relative calm to the city, the "Fallujah Brigade" appears to be a flop. Steve M.: It's been over a month now and to be frank, the progress hasn't been what we wanted it to be," Brown said... —USA... |
Unit Says It Gave Earlier Warning of Abuse in Iraq By / NYT — Permalink FRANKFURT, June 13 — Beginning in November, a small unit of interrogators at Abu Ghraib prison began reporting allegations of prisoner abuse, including the beatings of five blindfolded Iraqi generals, in internal documents sent to senior officers, according to interviews with military personnel who worked in the prison. | |
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Jason Van Steenwyk: Again. Apparently the editors of the New York Times think brigadier generals command battalions. Mary InLosGatos: A further problem for the Bush administration is the news that the reports of abuse in Abu Ghraib had been raised to the... Jeralyn Merritt: Abuse Warnings Began Last November — The New York Times reports that interrogators at Abu Ghraib prison began reporting... |
Ted Barlow: It's considerably harder to hold on to the "few bad apples" theory. Michael Froomkin: Gen. Janis Karpinski, the commander of the 800th Military Police Battalion, and Maj. Gen. Barbara Fast, the top Army... Digby: More Paper Trails To Torture — Unit Says It Gave Earlier Warning of Abuse in Iraq: "Military officials said the... |
Galloway's Euro ambitions dashed By / Guardian — Permalink George Galloway's attempt to enter the European parliament with his anti-war party Respect ended in failure last night. The former Labour MP secured 91,175 votes but was beaten by Labour and the Conservatives, who each picked up three seats, and the... | |
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Jan Haugland: Update: George Galloway's neo-Stalinist anti-war party Respect was crushed, or more correctly ignored, by British voters... Tim Blair: NEWS BRIEFLETS — George Galloway failed to win a seat in the European parliament and his Respect Party claimed just 4.79% of the vote. |
Will Collier: It's An Ill Wind That Blows No Good (huh huh, he said "blows") I really didn't mean to make this a full afternoon of... |
Contractor Immunity a Divisive Issue By / WaPo — Permalink BAGHDAD, June 13 — In an early test of its imminent sovereignty, Iraq's new government has been resisting a U.S. demand that thousands of foreign contractors here be granted immunity from Iraqi law, in the same way as U.S. military forces are now immune, according to Iraqi sources. | |
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Tyler Cowen: Contractor immunity in the new Iraq: This topic is far outside the area of my blogging expertise, but I couldn't help... Phillip Carter: Row develops over contractor immunity in Iraq — The Washington Post reports this morning that a diplomatic dispute has... |
Tim Dunlop: First it was th Geneva conventions on torture and prisoner abuse and now it's the Vienna Convention, the international... Aaron @LiquidList: So whether these people were present interrogating inmates at the Abu Ghraib prison or leading a raid on a political... |
Red Cross ultimatum to US on Saddam Guardian — Permalink Saddam Hussein must either be released from custody by June 30 or charged if the US and the new Iraqi government are to conform to international law, the International Committee of the Red Cross said last night. | |
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Jan Haugland: ICRC: Charge or release Saddam — The International Committee of the Red Cross has issued an "ultimatum" to the United... Steve Antler: An Internet Experiment in Political Science — The Red Cross is now charging the US with potential war crimes over its incarceration of Saddam Hussein. Emperor Darth Misha I: If we had, we wouldn't be dealing with this kind of nonsense now (link thanks to LC Joe Dromedary) "Jonathan Steele in... |
James Joyner: Red Cross: Release Saddam — Guardian — Red Cross ultimatum to US on Saddam [snipped quote] This is Exhibit A in... Jesse Taylor: The Idjit Brigade Is Tuning Up The War Machine — The Red Cross has issued an ultimatum against the U.S. - either charge Saddam by June 30th, or free him. Jason Van Steenwyk: Link. "The United States defines Saddam Hussein as a prisoner of war. |
| Also: Jeralyn Merritt, Charles Johnson, Atrios | |
Poll: Edwards Top Choice for Kerry Ticket By / Newsday — Permalink WASHINGTON — Sen. John Edwards, the smooth-talking populist who emerged from the nominating campaign as John Kerry's chief rival, is favored among registered voters to be the Democratic vice presidential candidate, according to an Associated Press poll. | |
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Steve Soto: A recent AP poll shows that a Kerry/Edwards pairing polls slightly better than Bush/Cheney, and that other combinations poll slightly behind Bush/Cheney. Taegan Goddard: Poll Shows Edwards Favored For Veep — An AP poll finds Sen. John Edwards "is favored among registered voters to be the Democratic vice presidential candidate." |
Chris Bowers: The nation wants Edwards, but by a plurality rather than a majority. Supposedly, Edwards is the favorite of Democrats in the Senate as well. |