Well, someone went ballistic (so to speak) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is all unfolding now, but he apparently shot up a Navy Recruitment Center. This pic was posted on Twitter The suspect has been killed. That is confirmed Not much known about him other than he was white and drove a Mustang. A police officer has been shot but … Read More
The Iran Deal
Iran (on the one hand) and the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany (together with EU foreign policy chief)(on the other hand) finally reached an agreement to end the sanctions against Iran this morning after 22 months of intensive talks. As a result of the agreement sealed within the Islamic Republic’ outlined framework and red lines, the following … Read More
Greeks Vote “No” — Now What?
The economic crisis in Greece is a pretty serious thing. And pretty easy to summarize if you haven’t been following it. Greece is part of the European Union, meaning that its monetary unit is the same as that of all the other European countries. Therefore, its economy is tied to theirs and (more importantly) vice versa. To join the EU, … Read More
No Shooting At Washington Navy Yard
Also no shootings at the White House, Capital, Pentagon, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, or the Smithsonian. Yes, the nation is at Threat Level Bravo because of the fear that ISIS-inspired lone wolf terrorists may blow things up during our Fourth Of July, and the commentators in the news are saying that it is a good thing that dozens of federal, … Read More
US-Cuba Diplomatic Ties Re-established
It won’t even make the biggest headline today, but historically this is big. President Barack Obama said Wednesday that it was past time for the U.S. to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba as he announced that the two countries were reopening their embassies after more than 50 years. “When the United States shuttered our embassy in 1961, I don’t think … Read More
Hey, Let’s Train The Iraqi Soldiers
Things have gone to hell in Iraq, especially in the fight against the Islamic State group (ISIS) in Iraq. The strongest evidence of this is the recent takeover of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province by ISIS forces. Although Iraqi soldiers “vastly outnumbered” their opposition in Ramadi, they quickly withdrew last week, leaving behind a half-dozen tanks, a similar number of artillery … Read More
In Case You Missed It
In my opinion, there should me more fanfare about the US relations in Cuba. I mean, this happened today: In December 2014, the President instructed the Secretary of State to immediately launch a review of Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and provide a report to him within six months regarding Cuba’s support for international terrorism. On April … Read More
Religious Bigots Use First Amendment Protections To Spew Hate…. Again
Another crazed anti-Muslim right winger — this one in Phoenix — is planning to hold a ‘Draw Muhammad’ Contest right in front of the Islamic Community Center. The organizer of the event, Jon Ritzheimer, has held two protests in Phoenix since the Texas shootings. The chants and slogans at the protests are brash and hateful. Some supporters wear t-shirts that … Read More
Bin Laden’s Bookshelf
Some interesting… well, not interesting interesting, but interesting…. materials were released by the Director of National Intelligence this morning. It is all accessible on the interwebs, on a government site: Bin Laden’s Bookshelves. I suspect he didn’t read a lot of the English language books, like the Adobe manual. Here’s something recently declassified and translated into English — bin Laden’s concerns … Read More
You Go, Girl — Uh — John Cole!
At Balloon Juice, John Cole – a better writer than me (not a high bar, I confess) — puts words to my sentiments: [I]f one more motherfucker tells me that unless I stand up and yell “You go girl” every time Pam Geller opens her noxious piehole to spew venom that I am responsible for creeping Sharia and am a hopeless … Read More
How Abhorrent Is Pam Geller?
Want a good measurement of the toxicity level of Pamela Geller, whose American Freedom Defense Initiative worked so hard for so long to attract the sort of violence that struck its Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest in Texas on Sunday? Two survivors of theCharlie Hebdo murders went on Charlie Rose’s show to make it clear they want nothing to … Read More
Extremists Attack Extremists
So this happened yesterday evening: A cartoon contest featuring controversial images of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed turned deadly Sunday night when two men pulled up in a car and opened fire. Police returned fire, killing both men after one wounded a security guard. None of the approximately 200 people attending the event were hurt. A federal law enforcement source told … Read More
The Stewart- Miller Interview
People wonder if The Daily Show will be as funny when Jon Stewart moves on. Maybe, Maybe not. But comedy aside, I wonder if the new host will have the same journalistic chops as Stewart. Judith Miller is making her rounds with a new memoir titled “The Story: A Reporter’s Journey.” She reportedly got a $1.2 million dollar advance for the book … Read More
Drone Collateral Damage
Unlike other liberals, I’m not terribly troubled by the use of drones, even if they are used to kill Americans without due process. Assuming, of course, that those Americans are enemy combatants. I mean, yes, I would prefer that we update and amend the Constitution so that it can take into account the peculiarities of modern warfare, but generally, I … Read More
Boston Marathon And Memory Lane
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