Category: Edgewise

  • No template for you!

    U.S. holds out North Korea deal as model for Iran, Reuters …White House spokesman Tony Snow called the deal a “template…” But this is the precisely the template the US has refused! We talked with North Korea, both in the six-party talks and in bilateral meetings, without preconditions. We could start Iranian talks tomorrow morning,…

  • Serious Word Play

    The specific wording of a widely reported statement by Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, following his recent meeting with Secretary Rice, might actually become significant at some point. “Olmert said any Palestinian government must accept the three conditions laid down by the ‘Quartet’ of Mideast mediators…” Previously, it was also Hamas itself that had to accept…

  • The Military Commissions–Worse than Just Procedures

    Pentagon sets rules for terrorism suspect trials WASHINGTON (Reuters), 1/18/07 – The Pentagon on Thursday gave broad discretion to judges to decide what evidence may be presented against suspected…Taliban members facing trial in the new military commissions court system. DKo: So, suspected terrorists and suspected Taliban members may be regarded interchangeably. And, indeed, that is…

  • The FBI Effort to Drive Dr. King to Suicide

    To me, this was the most disgusting part of the FBI’s campaign against Dr. Martin Luther King. It is pretty well known by now that the FBI had bugged King’s hotel rooms, and had recorded explicit sexual episodes. They used these tapes against him for years, and even played them for selected journalists. I heard…

  • Kurds Killing Arabs to Stabilize Iraq?

    Anger Mounts Over Deployment of Kurdish Forces to Baghdad By Nidhal al-Laithi and Marsi abu Tareq Azzaman, Iraq, 1/7/07 Kurdish leaders have decided to deploy their own militias in the fighting now taking place in Baghdad….This will be the first time Kurdish armed groups will fight in Baghdad, and specifically against their co-religionists, Arab Sunnis.…

  • There are two sides to every question.

    “Mortgage rates jump on strong labor market, inflation pressures “WASHINGTON (Reuters) 1/11/2007— Average interest rates on 30-year mortgages crept upward in the latest week to 6.21% from 6.18%, according to a survey by finance company Freddie Mac on Thursday.”