The Boston Marathon is happening right now, and like last year, I’m sure I’m not the only one holding my breath, and hoping for a safe run. Then again, with all the security, it’s probably the safest place on the planet right now. Anyway, here’s how I covered it two years ago. By the way, two years ago this week, … Read More
Rambos Go To Prison
A little justice from Bush’s horrid war: A federal judge Monday sentenced a former Blackwater Worldwide security guard to life in prison and three others to 30-year terms for killing 14 unarmed civilians in a Baghdad traffic circle in 2007, an incident that fomented deep resentments about the accountability of American security forces during one of the bloodiest periods of the … Read More
Tsarnaev Found Guilty On All Charges
Dzokhar Tsarnaev was convicted Wednesday of all 30 charges for his role in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing: Tsarnaev kept his hands folded in front of him and looked down at the defense table as listened to the verdict, reached after a day and a half of deliberations. He was found guilty on charges that included conspiracy and use of a … Read More
Ted Cruz Started Liking Country Music On 9/11
HuffPo: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who announced Monday he’s running for president in 2016, said he started listening to country music because of 9/11. During an interview with CBS’ “This Morning,” Cruz revealed he didn’t like the way rock bands reacted to the terrorist attack. “Music is interesting. I grew up listening to classic rock, and I’ll tell you sort … Read More
The Muslim Terrorist Victims?
So here’s what happened: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Three people were shot to death at a quiet condominium complex near the University of North Carolina, and the suspect was scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday — though police had not yet released a motive or given details of the crime. Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was arrested and has been … Read More
The American Sniper Controversy
I don’t expect “historical” movies to be documentaries. I have no problem with some artistic license for dramatic purposes. I saw “American Sniper” recently, not knowing that it was based on the real life events of Chris Kyle, known as “The Legend” for his abilities during the Iraq War. It was clear from the end of the film (which cut … Read More
Free Speech Or Picking Sides In An Ideological Battle?
The march in Paris on Sunday, attended (sort of) by world leaders, was about free speech. Ostensibly. But it seems that it is not only the terrorists who can’t take a joke: Anti-semitic French comedian Dieudonné was arrested after he seemingly compared himself to the terrorist who murdered four people at a kosher supermarket in Paris last week. Dieudonné M’Bala … Read More
Subway Fires
NYC subway fire early this morning and DC subway fire yesterday. It’s just a coincidence, right?
US Military Gets Hacked By ISIS
That’s actually the headline here, but it is a little misleading. The twitter account of the CENTCOM got hacked. It’s not like ISIS broke into CENTCOM’s computers. And that’s a big difference. Hacking a Twitter account is not some grand feat. Same with Youtube accounts (which also got hacked by ISIS).
“Where’s The Moderate Muslim Outrage?”
Fox’s Monica Crowley: “I Haven’t Heard Any Condemnation” Of The Paris Attack From Muslim Groups.While discussing reactions to the Charlie Hebdo attack on the January 7 edition of Fox News’ The Real Story, contributor Monica Crowley argued that Muslims “should be condemning” the attack and that she hadn’t “heard any condemnation.” [Fox News, The Real Story, 1/7/15] Fox Guest: “You Don’t … Read More
Why I Am Not Charles Hebdo
Referring to the Charles Hebdo massacre, Jonathan Chait writes this: The right to blaspheme religion is one of the most elemental exercises of political liberalism. One cannot defend the right without defending the practice. Oh, but one can. One can defend free speech without having to publish, let alone embrace, the offensive ideas being targeted. And I will in a … Read More
Paris Standoffs
Two intense standoffs with gunmen are underway in and around Paris now — one involving the two brothers wanted in the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the other a hostage situation at a kosher grocery store The two situations are apparently related to each other as well as Wednesday’s killing of 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The 12 victims … Read More
Ronald Reagan on Torture
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Convention Against Torture and Inhuman Treatment or Punishment May 20, 1988 With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, subject to certain reservations, understandings, and declarations, I transmit herewith the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Convention was adopted by unanimous … Read More
Thoughts On The Right Wing’s Response To The Torture Report
It’s been more than a little disturbing to see the conservative reaction to the Senate Intelligence Committee report on torture released yesterday. There was a time within recent memory when the right wing’s argument was “what we do is not torture”. Clearly, THAT argument has now flown the coop. Now, the argument seems to be “I don’t care” with shockingly little … Read More
What? Dick Cheney Lied About Torture?
Comes now Mark Fallon, an interrogator for 30 years, telling us that according to a Senate Intelligence Committee report coming out today, torture does not work and never did: It’s official: torture doesn’t work. Waterboarding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of 9/11, did not in fact “produce the intelligence that allowed us to get Osama bin Laden,” as former Vice … Read More