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Niall Ferguson / Telegraph:
The origins of the Great War of 2007 - and how it could have been prevented — Are we living through the origins of the next world war? Certainly, it is easy to imagine how a future historian might deal with the next phase of events in the Middle East: — With every passing year …
Discussion:
Secular Blasphemy, Trey Jackson, Transterrestrial Musings, www.AndrewSullivan.com and Austin Bay Blog
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Newsweek:
Diplomacy and Force — Interview: The United Nations' top inspector is prepared to issue a report on Iran's nuclear program that will 'reverberate around the world.' — Jan. 23, 2006 issue - The man in the middle of the escalating tensions between Iran, Europe and the United States is Mohamed ElBaradei …
Robert Tait / Observer:
West is in dark ages, says Iran's President — Leader threatens retaliation if the US and EU continue to try to block nuclear programme — Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the hardline President of Iran, launched an angry tirade against the West yesterday, accusing it of a 'dark ages' mentality …
Alexandra von Maltzan / All Things Beautiful:The Rules Of Engagement — President Bush as Napoleon Bonaparte …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Think Progress, Independent, Brainster's Blog, The Reaction, khaleejtimes.com and Stop The ACLU
Hope Yen / Associated Press:
Feinstein Warns Against Alito Filibuster — WASHINGTON - A Democrat who plans to vote against Samuel Alito sided on Sunday with a Republican colleague on the Senate Judiciary Committee in cautioning against a filibuster of the Supreme Court nominee. — "I do not see a likelihood of a filibuster …
Discussion:
The Next Hurrah, First Draft, The Left Coaster, Happy Furry Puppy Story …, Confirm Them and PunditGuy
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TigerHawk:
Remembering May, the 'gang of 14' and the vindication of various people — The New York Times surrendered this morning. On its front page we read the headline "Glum Democrats Can't See Halting Bush On Courts." The opening paragraphs say it all: … From altitude, the Democrats are losing …
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:Feinstein: Forget The Filibuster
Discussion:
A Chequer-Board of Nights …
William Tucker / Weekly Standard:The Smear that Failed — OF ALL THE SMEARS AIMED at Supreme …
Discussion:
The Y Files
Deborah Howell / Washington Post:
Getting the Story on Jack Abramoff — The Post's two-year investigation into lobbyist Jack Abramoff's dealings is one of the best and most explosive pieces of investigative journalism this town has seen in a long time. — The story has moved inexorably from Abramoff being a top dog lobbyist …
Discussion:
Brad DeLong's Semi …
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Time:
Jack Abramoff's $10,000 Question — Lobbyist Jack Abramoff's Oct. 23, 2000, e-mail to his business partner Michael Scanlon was, as usual, not subtle. "Would 10K for NRCC from Suncruz for Ney help?" Scanlon shot back: "Yes, alot [sic]! But would have to give them a definate [sic] answer—and they need it this week ..."
heraldnewsdaily.com:
Gonzales to testify on US domestic spying program — By Deborah Charles Fri Jan 13, 7:03 PM ET — WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said on Friday he would testify in a Senate hearing to give the administration's legal justification for a secret domestic eavesdropping operation approved …
Discussion:
The Left Coaster
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Allah / Link Mecca:
Debka: Zawahiri Intel Was a Decoy Op — According to DEBKAfile's sources, Minister Sherpao's remark indicates that al Qaeda or Taliban had managed to plant a false lead with US intelligence by means of informers. This decoy operation had two objectives: — 1. To confuse the commanders …
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Zogby:
Bush job approval dips again to 39% New Zogby Survey shows Iraq a Partisan War — In the face of rising gas prices, partisan sniping over Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, and a resumption of insurgent violence in Iraq, President Bush's job approval rating has slipped into a post-holiday funk …
Tim F. / Balloon Juice:
Wishful Thinking — Von at Obsidian Wings has noble and timely sentiments about Iran: … Then he links to a Q-and-O post which sniffs indignantly at lefty bloggers who've done some prognosticating about how the Iran imbroglio will pan out. In a classic example of rhetorical dishonesty …
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John / AMERICAblog:
Just fire the Democrats, please. All of them — From tomorrow's NYT: … Ok, let's get a few things straight: — 1. Yes, Virginia, the country won't just spontaneously rise up in opposition to President Bush. You need to actually LEAD the country, you need to actually CONVINCE Americans that Bush is wrong and you are right.
Discussion:
firedoglake, The Washington Monthly, Simianbrain, PoliBlog, Middle Earth Journal, RedState, The Huffington Post, Bench Memos …, Daily Pundit, The Corner on National …, Factesque, rubber hose, Upper Left, WTF Is It Now??, A Chequer-Board of Nights …, UNCoRRELATED, Link Mecca, Mark A. Kilmer, BrothersJudd Blog and MyDD
Mark Helprin / Los Angeles Times:
The myth that shapes Bush's world — THE PRESIDENT believes and often states, as if it were a self-evident truth, that "democracies are peaceful countries." This claim, which has been advanced in the past in regard to Christianity, socialism, Islam and ethical culture …
Mark Steyn / Chicago Sun Times:
Ham-handed Dems didn't lay a glove on Alito — I find it, as grave somber Senate Democrats like to say, "troubling." Indeed, I find it not just "troubling" but sad that a party once so good at "the politics of personal destruction" has got so bad at it. The last time they had a Supreme Court nominee …
Hugh Hewitt / hughhewitt.com:
Job Application for all GOP Conference Leadership Positions — Thank you for applying for the position of Majority Leader. Please return this completed form to NZ Bear. — Part I. The Money Stuff — 1. Does Jack Abramoff have your cell-phone number in his Blackberry? — Yes.
Discussion:
Betsy's Page
Kristen Mack / Houston Chronicle:
Only half those who voted for him in '04 would do so again, poll finds — A criminal indictment and continuing investigations have severely eroded support for U.S. Rep Tom DeLay in his district, most notably among Republicans who have voted for him before, according to a Houston Chronicle poll.
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