Month: June 2010

Out of Control on Videotape

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by Eric Martin Wow.  Just wow. In response to a flood of Facebook and YouTube videos that depict police abuse, a new trend in law enforcement is gaining popularity. In at least three states, it is now illegal to record any on-duty police officer. Even if the encounter involves you and may be necessary to … Read more

L’Étranger

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by von Listening to Bill O'Reilly talk about gay folks is, well, an experience that can be missed.  The guy is an embarrassment.  Not to you, me, the country, or Fox News.  To himself.  He doesn't really get the fact that gay people are, well, people.  And not some stange creatures to be talked about as though they … Read more

Pieces, in one big chess game

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by von And now, from the UN Security Council: WASHINGTON — The White House said Thursday it was confident the UN Security Council would back toughened sanctions on Iran in the next week, despite the furor over Israel's Gaza flotilla raid. Some Middle East observers have warned that the outrage over the raid by America's … Read more

Neocontrol

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by Eric Martin Robert Farley has a very interesting piece on the reaction of the Republican Party establishment to Obama's resumption of Reagan-era arms control treaties with Russia, and what that reaction says about the evolution of foreign policy ideas in the GOP: Ironically, the attacks launched by the conservative foreign policy establishment against the Obama … Read more

To Bert, From Ernie

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by von Look, I understand that you're feeling a little backed into a corner.  It's hard not be feel that way.  Your generals are describing your foreign policy as "incompetent and crazy."  Your Generals!  Imagine what your Lt. Cols. are saying!  It probably starts with "dum" and ends with "ucks".  And it only gets worse when you … Read more

Squalor Victoria

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by Eric Martin Peter Beinart on the disturbing blockade of the Gaza strip: The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations greeted news of the flotilla disaster by repeating a common “pro-Israel” talking point: that Israel only blockades Gaza to prevent Hamas from building rockets that might kill Israeli citizens. If only that were true. … Read more