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Making The Case That McCain Isn't 'Ready To Lead' on National Security

What I'm really hoping is that Obama will use this downtime to regroup, recharge, and come back ready to relentlessly make the case to the American people that McCain isn't "ready to lead" on national security. Voters trust McCain on the war on terror; Obama needs to show them every day why they shouldn't.

"Swing Vote": What It Tells Us About the Race, and Why Obama Needs to Put Kevin Costner on His Ipod

The makers of Swing Vote, the new film starring Kevin Costner, have pulled off a rare double play, producing a smart political satire that is also heartfelt and moving. It's also a film that turns out to be remarkably relevant to the 2008 race.

Obama's Trip Bounce - Media Obsession With Polls Leads to a Bad Case of Premature Pontification

Isn't it strange that Barack Obama didn't get a bounce from his wildly well-received overseas trip? Of course, almost all of this analysis is based on polls taken before the end of Obama's trip -- a serious case of premature pontification.

Tell Me Again, Why is Obama's Popularity With Our Allies A Bad Thing?

I understand why John McCain's campaign is desperately looking for negatives in Obama's overseas trip. But why have so many in the media internalized the McCain campaign's claptrap?

The Latest Media Blind Spot: Viewing All Criticism of Obama Through a Right-Left Prism

In the last two weeks, there has been a flurry of stories that has tried to portray criticism of Barack Obama's recent stands as the sole province of disenchanted members of "the left" -- also referred to as "the far left", "left-winger bloggers", ...

Surge Amnesia : The Media's Newest Affliction

John McCain, aided and abetted by his loving protectors in the media, is running a victory lap on Iraq. Buoyed by a reduction in violence in Iraq, war supporters are crawling out from the shadows and beating their chests

Memo to Obama : Moving to the Middle Is For Losers

I looked at the Obama campaign not through the prism of my own progressive views and beliefs but through the prism of a cold-eyed campaign strategist who has no principles except winning. From that point of view, and taking nothing else into consideration, I can unequivocally say: The Obama campaign is making a very serious mistake. Tacking to the center is a losing strategy.

McCain's Campaign Funding Hypocrisy: Why are the Media Looking the Other Way?

Isn't it interesting how, after largely ignoring the issue for the last 30 years, during which the GOP consistently outfundraised and outspent Democrats in election after election, the media are suddenly all atwitter about whether the campaign finance system is "basically fair"? How dare Obama inspire 1.5 million donors, giving an average of $197 apiece, to help him raise more money than McCain?

John McCain: The Second Coming of Bob Dole

"Prominent Republicans . . . have been for the first time openly critical" of John McCain's "floundering campaign." An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released last week asked the question, "Who do you think will win?" The answer: Barack Obama 54; John McCain 30. Obama is unlikely to win in such a landslide, which means that millions planning to vote for McCain expect him to lose -- as was the case with Dole.

Scotty Come Lately - Seven Takes on Scott McClellan's New Book

In his book "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," Scott McClellan offers withering portraits of George Bush, Karl Rove, Condi Rice and Scooter Libby, confirms that we went to war in Iraq under false pretenses, and that we were serially lied to about the outing of Valerie Plame.

Unmasking McCain: His Reactionary Record on Reproductive Rights

We've seen the exit polls. I get the anger and the disappointment. Really? In Clinton vs. McCain. And nowhere is the difference more profound than with reproductive rights.

Hillary Clinton's Defeat: A Historic Triumph

A front page story in Monday's New York Times wonders whether Hillary Clinton's flagging run for the presidency is "a historic if incomplete triumph or a depressing reminder of why few (women) pursue high office in the first place."

Political News Commentary and Opinion by Arianna Huffington

Political Commentary and Opinion by Arianna Huffington

 

'Boss' Fans Share Tips On Rockin' A Political Party
Barack Obama will accept the Democratic presidential nomination in an outdoor stadium with 70,000 screaming onlookers, a light show and music. It'll look like a rock concert rather than a political rally. Bruce Springsteen concertgoers give advice on how to keep your cool and not look like an Obama poseur.

Democrats Make Historic Pick: It's Obama
Barack Obama sailed into history Wednesday as the first African-American to head a major-party presidential ticket. Prompted by Hillary Clinton, the party nominated him by acclamation. And after VP pick Joe Biden spoke, Obama joined him onstage.

The McEnroe Rule: Less Punditry Is More
Sportscaster John McEnroe, who as a tennis champ was known for his temper tantrums, has declared that in covering a great match, sometimes the key is to withhold comment till things play out. If only his brethren in the cable news world followed suit more often in covering politics.

Transcript: Joe Biden's Acceptance Speech
Joe Biden accepted his nomination Wednesday as Barack Obama's running mate on the Democratic ticket. In his speech, he said Obama was the great American success story.

Transcript: Bill Clinton's Prime-Time Speech
In his speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, Bill Clinton said Barack Obama is ready to be president. The former president also praised Obama's choice of Joe Biden as a running mate, saying, "He hit it out of the park."

Eyes On The Pride
The Democratic Party, as assembled and packaged at its national convention, does not seem especially proud that it is about to become the first major American political party to nominate an African-American to be president.

Strange Bedfellows Behind Anti-Obama 'Turban' Ad
Who was behind the inflammatory ad that showed Obama wearing a turban? The answer could be the start of a joke: a hypnotherapist, an apolitical wedding videographer, and a felon now on the run. And they still haven't paid for the ad.

Postcard From Outside The DNC
Each night, delegates from the Democratic National Convention encounter a raucous scene outside the arena. Street vendors peddling Obama buttons and Hillary Clinton T-shirts, evangelists and anti-abortion protesters are all part of the chaos.

New Ads Rip Obama, But Democrats Fight Back
A new ad linking Barack Obama to a former member of the Weather Underground is playing in key swing states. It's being sponsored by the American Issues Project. Obama's campaign is fighting back with its lawyers and a counter-ad targeting John McCain.

Democrats Confuse Joe, Eugene McCarthy
A tribute Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention to members of the party who died over the past four years included the name of former Wisconsin GOP Sen. Joseph McCarthy. It seems the party confused him with former Minnesota Sen. Eugene McCarthy.

Mark Warner's 'Value-Add' Politics
In an interview with All Things Considered on Tuesday, U.S. Senate candidate and former Virginia Gov. Warner used the term "my value-add." Though it's a business term, he was referring to his ability to forge a bipartisan consensus.

Democrats To Focus On Foreign Policy Vision
Wednesday's speeches are designed to show how Biden and Obama will mesh in their approach to America's role in the world. But some question how closely their ideas align.

Was Clinton's Speech Enough?
In her speech Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton called Sen. Obama "my candidate" and "our next president." Some of her followers are listening and others are not. Mark Friedland, a delegate from North Carolina, explains why he plans to vote for Clinton in this week's roll and for Obama in November.

A Clintonite Who Won't Vote For Obama
Hillary Clinton is pushing hard to unite the Democratic party behind Sen. Barack Obama. Her speech Tuesday night did not convince Will Bower to vote for Sen. Obama, however.

And The Undecided Superdelegates Go To ...
The Democratic primary season boiled down to one thing: superdelegates. Last time we spoke with superdelegates Eileen Macoll and Jennifer DeChant, they hadn't endorsed a candidate. We check in with them again at the DNC.

NPR Topics: Politics & Society
NPR coverage of national and world politics, the latest news from Congress, the White House, and election updates. Subscribe to podcasts and RSS feeds.

 

Credit Crisis: Government role?
P-I Editorial: How far should the government go when it comes to bailing out the housing mess?

Global Warming: Soot-covered gold
P-I Editorial: China is taking the soot-covered gold. A new report says the electric utilities of the Olympics host will emit more greenhouse gases this year than any other country, including the United States.

High anxiety in the Mile High City
Hillary Clinton offered the electrifying fight that the limpid Obama has not -- setting off paranoia among some Democrats that they had chosen the wrong nominee or that Obama had chosen the wrong running mate.

Michelle Obama's winning ways
Michelle Obama portrayed herself as the appreciative product of the American Dream, someone the average American can look at and say, yes, she may be of a different race, but her values are the same as mine.

Hillary's pledge for Obama as neon as her tangerine pantsuit
Whatever their private feelings, the Clintons are now publicly full-square behind the party's nominee.

So is Obama the savior of his party?
Angst hangs over the Democratic Party, as tangible as the mountains etched on Denver's western horizon. The foreboding is simple: have we picked the wrong person and is it possible we will lose the most winnable election in a generation.

Obama as an advocate for change
The man who, four years ago, briefly fired the imaginations of Americans tired of the extremes of partisan politics has left and gone away -- if he ever really existed.

Mavericks don't have to remember how many houses they own
McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has lately been the subject of some unfair criticism that demands a more vigorous rebuttal. It seems that he couldn't remember how many houses he owns.

We need an old approach for the new global politics
When history is written, Georgia will figure as a defining moment. But a defining moment for what? Russia has broken the rules by its actions. But then so did the U.S., Britain and the rest of the world that recognized Kosovan independence.

A biblical seven years
Obama got this far because many voters projected onto him that he could be the leader of an American renewal. They know we need nation-building at home -- not in Iraq, not in Afghanistan, not in Georgia. Obama cannot lose that theme.

Iraq: Whose law must private contractors obey?
The U.S. agency that monitors progress in rebuilding Iraq recently gave warning to Congress that proposed changes in Iraqi law could provoke an exodus of private contractors, who remain a crucial part of the American presence there.

Un-diplomatic Cheney off to Russia's hot spots
The White House is sending Dick Cheney, whose diplomatic skills are not famous, to Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, all to varying degrees, under the gun of Russian intimidation. Is Washington taking this confrontation at all seriously?

Musharraf's Pakistan had true potential
Musharraf was sincere about wanting a secular, moderate Pakistan free of extremism, and that he might have been the best person to restore democracy. But his tragedy was that he began to believe that the state was him and he was the state.

City Council: Digging loopholes
P-I Editorial: If you're in a hole, stop digging. Heeding such mundane advice would apparently be beneath Seattle City Councilman Richard McIver, who has decided to make use of what may be a loophole in city law to refuse to pay an ethics fine himself.

Obama still stumbling in polls
Bonnie Erbe, guest columnist: The race is far from over, but Obama has a bare two months to convince Middle America he is not as liberal as his record shows him to be. In the process, he has to manage the very tricky track of not being accused of flip-flopping.

Guest Columnist: Online schools simulate real world
Lisa McClure, guest columnist: Online schools provide the very benefit that most point to as a pitfall of online education -- a social atmosphere and teamwork skills.

Soul missing from Chinese Olympics
Chi-Dooh Li, guest columnist: Something was missing from the spectacular Summer Olympics. Not from the athletes, or the Chinese people, but from the Chinese government that managed to put on the greatest of shows ever seen. Some would call it heart. I call it soul.

Setting priorities a must for Sound
John Lombard, guest columnist: Kathy Fletcher's Aug. 21 Op-Ed, "Puget Sound: Treat the whole patient," argues against an approach "that focuses protection and restoration resources in certain areas at the expense of the rest." Would setting no priorities be better?

Obama must address Russian crisis in acceptance speech
George F. Will, syndicated columnist: When Barack Obama feeds rhetorical fishes and loaves to the multitudes in the football stadium Thursday night, he should deliver a message of sufficient particularity that it seems particularly suited to Americans.

Initiative 1000

Shopping Bags: It's a worthy fight
P-I Editorial: Brought to you by business interests: an election to decide whether Seattle will deal with the waste of an endless stream of plastic shopping bags. The manipulation makes sense when you consider other cities' interest in Seattle's plan

Health Care: It's time to rock
P-I Editorial: It's time for an honest debate. We already have a government-funded health care system; we only pretend that we don't. And what do we get for our extravagant spending? A total mess.

Food Safety: Burden of trust
P-I Editorial: The Food and Drug Administration is willing to ease some of the restrictions on Chinese seafood imports. We would rather see the FDA focused on strengthening its entire system than lifting burdens on some producers.

Legacy of LBJ endures 100 years after his birth
LBJ's larger-than-life traits, from legislative acumen to leadership on civil rights and faults as a war leader, are being assessed anew in the centennial year of his birth.

Tarnished gold: Questioning China's sporting triumph
Supporters of juguo argue that without it China might end up like India, which this year won its first individual gold medal. But an article in a Shanghai paper argued China should give up sporting elitism even if it meant fewer medals.

A sore loser or a potent advocate, it's time for Bill to make up his mind
It'll be terrific on Wednesday night. With Bill Clinton it always is. Far less certain is whether his convention speech will lay to rest the lingering uncertainties about his involvement in the Obama campaign this autumn.

I'd love to think the U.S. is ready for a black president
An increasingly color-blind America, many Democrats insist, is ready for a black president. Well, I'm sorry to spoil the party in Denver, but I don't believe them. Race is a problem for the Obamas, however model their all-American family.

Editorial Commentary: Echoes from another era of American liberalism
Like Obama today, candidate John F. Kennedy was widely seen as inexperienced and untested. But Americans took the chance, and the gamble paid off. With his very presence on stage, Ted Kennedy was promising that the same can happen now.

P-i Editorial Cartoonist: Michelle Obama proves she's all-American
It may be that Michelle Obama's speech will be seen as the equivalent of her husband's convention keynote address four years ago -- a pivotal moment that moved voters to look at this unfamiliar political figure in a new and positive light.

Obama must recover core focus
Obama is being pulled by his party in a thousand directions. The Dems are in danger of doing to him what they did to their last two nominees: burying authentic individuals under a layer of prefab themes.

Obama's first big mistake
It looks as though Obama simply didn't have the courage to compete any more against the star power of his chief rival -- and her husband. This is not a good omen for standing up against tough world leaders and congressional leaders.

Going for gold in India
It is not that India does not care about sports, as any cricket fan knows. But it is also interesting that the nation's first individual gold medalist happens to be the CEO of a company that makes controllers for computer games.

Race -- the dog that isn't barking
After many years of watching black candidates run for public office, and paying especially close attention to this year's Democratic primary race, I've developed my own (very arbitrary) rule of thumb regarding the polls in this election.

And now, the Democrats turn the page
18 million primary voters felt more comfortable with the known Clinton than unknown Obama. That's why the Clintons are getting prime-time speeches on consecutive nights. The Clintons must get their "propers" as they give up center stage.

'RomneyCare' should keep Mitt off McCain ticket
McCain would be wise to keep Romney at arm's length. Choosing him for VP would infect McCain with the worsening symptoms of RomneyCare. The former Massachusetts governor's signature "achievement" already looks destined for the ER.

Scared of flying? Don't sit next to a pilot at dinner
The fate of flight JK5022 was hideous and pitiful but not unimaginable. Every nervous flyer will have empathized with the man who sent a text on the runway to his wife: "My love, there's a problem with the plane ... They won't let me off."

P-i Editorial Cartoonist: Michelle Obama proves she's all-American
David Horsey, P-I editorial cartoonist: It may be that Michelle Obama's speech will be seen as the equivalent of her husband's convention keynote address four years ago -- a pivotal moment that moved voters to look at this unfamiliar political figure in a new and positive light.

Who's the most common one of all?
Joan Vennochi, guest columnist: Who has the most common touch, Barack Obama or John McCain?

Guest Columnist: State more diverse, less safe
Marc Brenman, guest columnist: From a business and community perspective, hate incidents and hate crimes generate fear and are a drag on communities and local economies.

Lower the national drinking age
John Young, guest columnist: It's amazing that this nation could trust an individual to tote an M-16 and fly a gunship but not allow him to lift a beer to his lips. A group of college presidents is urging the national drinking age be lowered.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Opinion
Read editorials, letters and op-eds from seattlepi.com

 

Editorial: Something of a coup for Zardari in Pakistan?
The editors claim the nomination of Alif Zardari for the Pakistan presidency is a surprise and a political coup for him. Given his corruption and problematic past, the path to the presidency will not be easy. The editors describe the nomination as due to Zardari's "Machiavellian maneuvering" which caught his opponents unawares. The nomination spells further instability for Pakistan, and the failure to restore the judges dismissed by former president Musharraf is ominous.

Mark Your Calendars: June 2009 in Iraq (Updated)
US and Iraqi negotiators have agreed on a text for a Memorandum of Understanding that US troops will be out of Iraqi cities by June, 2009. The author notes that this is also the same date when the Sunni militia group, The Sons of Iraq (SOI), will come off the US payroll and go onto the state of Iraq. Maliki and the governmet do not favor these developments. Maliki may well crack down on the SOI when he gets a chance.

Will the Afghanistan Surge Doom Pakistan?
A US-led military surge into Afghanistan might forestall the collapse of the Karzai regime, but it could also doom Pakistan, writes the author. The salient development in Pakistani politics in 2008 has been the collapse of the political fortunes of two would-be American clients--Pervez Musharraf and the leader of Benazir Bhutto's PPP, her widower Asif Zardari--and the political ascendancy of Nawaz Sharif of the opposition PML-N, whose conservative, non-aligned policies have resonated with Pakistani voters since his return from exile last November.

Musharraf's Resignation and Beyond
Musharraf's departure is just one step in the process of democracy for the continuation of which Pakistan and its allies will need all the patience they can muster. For the time being there would be no dramatic change. Inflation would continue to break people's backs, violence in the name of religion would continue to take lives, unprincipled forces would continue to try and sabotage the democratically elected government, and the lawyers would continue to agitate for restoring the judiciary, says Sarwar.

Obama listens to marbury
Although the author says Biden will cause Obama a few problems during the campaign--his past is too long and his mouth too big not to--he is glad Biden has been picked. He is, as even his opponents would admit, a big-hearted guy and somebody who really knows his stuff when it comes to foreign policy. It says that Obama's a realist when it comes to bringing change to Washington. He knows he can't just sweep in there, light up the city with his beautiful words, and smile beatifically as Congress passes a comprehensive health care plan. He needs somebody who knows every lever and string to pull in that town, and Biden's the guy.

Thoughts on Musharraf's Resignation
The author speculates on what Pakistan's future will look like without a military dictator to keep peace and security. Already there have been several suicide attacks since Musharraf stepped down and it will probably only get worse. Thurston hopes the US will stand by the civilian government as it did the dictator. However, the US has its own interests in the region and might take matters into its own hands.

Pakistan: Musharraf Resigns - What Is His Legacy?
Morgan gives a summary of Pakistani history and the tensions between the army and civilian rule. With Musharraf resigning, the glue that holds the coalition government together could easily, under enough pressure, split apart. While there will be a semblance of unity, there will be handouts from the international community. However, sooner or later the government must fulfill its pledge to deal with Pakistan's almost insurmountable domestic, social, and religious problems. There are no guarantees that it can deliver on this promise.

BCL Sells Lands to Singaporean Investor
Beijing Capital Land revealed that it will sell several of its real estate projects to overseas interests. Strained by tightening credit, many real estate companies in China have begun courting foreign investors to help develop current holdings. An industry insider said that a number of foreign investors including Morgan Stanley, Blackstone, RZP, and the Singaporean firm Capitaland are vying for bargain-basement real estate deals while the market is in the doldrums.

Hua Guofeng, Mao's Successor, Dies at 87
Hua Guofeng, former Chinese leader, died August 20 in Beijing. Joining forces with senior leaders such as Ye Jianying, Hua ended the Cultural Revolution by jailing the so-called Gang of Four. Hua promoted his doctrine called "Two Whatevers" in an effort to continue Mao Zedong's legacy. But the doctrine was heavily criticized by other senior leaders, including Deng Xiaoping, who later replaced Hua as the top leader and ushered in a three-decade economic reform movement that continues today.

Economists Doubt JPMorgan's Stimulus Estimate
According to Frank Gong, head of JPMorgan Chase & Co's China research, China's policymakers are carefully considering an economic stimulus package of at least 200-400 billion yuan. "It is only a guess, but I agree with the point of saving the market," said Liu Xiahui, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The government has the ability to help stabilize the market through funding or other channels, said Liu.

Touch Your Heart, Touch Your Soul
The Olympic moments that touch your heart belong to those who are fighting destiny, triumphing over adversity, or proving to the world that love can be as deep as ocean. Gold medalist Matthias Steiner of Germany holds a photo of his deceased wife as he poses with his gold medal during the victory ceremony of the men's weightlifting competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. "I'm not the superstitious type, don't believe in higher powers, but I hope she saw me. I wish," he said. Van der Weijden's win at the grueling swimming marathon is one of the greatest triumphs over adversity. The Dutchman compared his 10 kilometers swim victory to his personal fight against cancer seven years ago. His conquest of extreme adversity is as inspiring as that of South Africa's Natlie du Toit, an amputee swimmer who completed the women's open water race one day earlier.

ICBC Becomes most Profitable Bank in World
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China's largest lender, said its first half after-tax profit totaled 9.47 billion US dollars, which made it the world's most profitable bank. The bank said the biggest profit came on greater fee income and better operations to evade risks from the US subprime crisis, which had ravaged profitability in many of ICBC's international competitors. HSBC, the world's most profitable bank last year, said its net profit in the first half was 7.72 billion US dollars, down 29 percent from a year earlier. China's economy maintained a growth of 10.4 percent in the first half, boosting earnings in banks, analysts said.

Towards a stronger nation
India's emergence as a modern nation owes greatly to the mass popularity of the patriotic sentiment. Without it, people wouldn't have stood behind the Indian National Congress in the numbers they did. Other political parties from the communists to the BJP also benefited, but only in decreasing degrees. Partition greatly tampered with the process of transforming the patriotic spirit of the national movement into a consensual consciousness of the independent nation, says Sinha.

To Sharif and Zardari
Pakistan does not have the luxury of time to embark on an impeachment move. Neither is it the time to focus on such divisive issues. It is a country where a lot of sacrifice has been made. It is important that a mockery not be made of the thousands of martyrs who gave their blood for a homeland for the Muslims of the Subcontinent. What are needed are leaders who do not leave a legacy of fire and blood but rather of peace and prosperity, says Almaeena. Sharif and Zardari possess the qualities of statesmen and have the interests of Pakistan at heart.

Candidates offer few nuclear energy specifics
John McCain wants the US to build 45 new nuclear energy plants by 2030, a plan Barack Obama vows to oppose until the nation can figure out how to dispose of nuclear waste. Mr. Obama's stand is particularly troublesome because he speaks about safety and security issues as if nuclear power has never been used in this country or anywhere else in the world. While Mr. McCain clearly gets the urgency of this issue much more clearly than Mr. Obama, the nation deserves many more specifics from him. The typical nuclear plant costs $6 billion to $8 billion to build, an investment many utilities will not make without assurances that the federal government won't pull the financial rug from beneath the industry. Mr. McCain should be proposing tax incentives, regulatory changes, or other measures to encourage utilities to make these sizeable investments. The industry also needs a commitment to build a storage facility to handle the waste, an issue that should have been resolved a decade ago.

Reign of error
Musharraf's has been a reign of error from the word go, as it were. It started with high drama in the skies and ended with a very reluctant, dragging drop scene under the media's glare, says Razvi. There was an uncanny contrast between the speech he made in 1999 and the last one. The only constant in all these years that he stuck to was his penchant to hog the limelight. He was the least camera-shy of leaders and predictable only in his unpredictability.

ISI's role in Pakistan: Dangerous games
Destabilising India is on the top of the ISI's agenda, says Nayar. It does not matter to them that good relations between India and Pakistan are essential to combat the militants who were striking in the subcontinent. Its policy for years is to have Afghanistan under it on the conviction that it will give Pakistan a strategic depth. ISI's anger against New Delhi stems from India's close relations with Kabul. In fact, the militancy in the region cannot go until the ISI gives up its policy on having Afghanistan in Pakistan's backyard.

Why Obama looks vulnerable
The horrible truth that Barack Obama is a weak candidate for the presidency is beginning to dawn on the Democrats, writes Rachman. The fact that Obama is a northerner, a liberal, a former college professor, and black makes him a bold choice, especially when the poor overall record of the Democrats in the last ten presidential elections is taken into account. There is a cynical brilliance behind John McCain's accusation that Obama is "playing the race card." Rachman says this challenges the idea that Obama is a post-racial candidate, yet the Obama camp will have to think twice before responding as they could end up putting race right at the center of the election debate, which is something that can only help the McCain campaign.

An answer at last to the Heathrow horrors
The Competition Commission's recommendation that an end be brought to the British Airport Authority's monopoly of London's airports is as worthy of a celebration as the homecoming of the country's hugely successful Olympic athletes, writes Stephens. Not content with making passengers' lives a misery for the past two decades, the BAA is even pleading for special dispensation to increase the capacity of Heathrow and further increase its profits. Stephens says that Heathrow's problem is not one of capacity but of being run purely to satisfy greed. Real competition between London's three airports is the best way to improve any capacity problems the UK capital may face.

A word in your ear: Keep it slow and simple
Skapinker comments on the increasing use of "Special English" around the world. Despite a challenge from Spanish and Mandarin, English is likely to remain the international language of choice for the foreseeable future. It is imperative that those in the air traffic, maritime, and other high risk sectors be capable of communicating effectively, but the vocabulary of most non-native speakers of English is limited. This has led to simplified forms of English being developed whose ease of use ensures that workplace safety is not compromised. Such forms of English tend to have a soporific effect on native speakers, but as their use will undoubtedly increase, we need to start getting used to them.

Russian embrace of Syria tightens, but for what purpose?
Stern examines the reasons for growing Syrian-Russian ties. Some believe it is due to Syrian requests for advanced weaponry--the Panstyr-1 defense system and other weaponry--aimed at indirectly pressuring Israel in the negotiations. Some believe Israeli concern is being used by Syria to send a message to pressure the US into better ties with Syria. Others assert that despite jockeying for position with better weapons systems, Syria is sincere about the peace process.

Attack isn't the answer
Sadjapour examines Israeli policy options regarding Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei certainly wants to destroy Israel, but not through war. He has stated on many occasions that that is not his preference. He wants to vote Israel out of existence through a referendum. Attacking Iran to destroy its nuclear weapons project will only exacerbate anti-Israel feeling in Iran and in Muslim countries and is therefore not an option.

A Jihad Grows in Kashmir
The author looks at the problems in Kashmir between Muslim extremists and the Indian government since the Clinton era. He says there is a misconception that there is peace in India and Kashmir these days. The area is militarily occupied, curfews have been imposed, non-violent protests have been suppressed through force, and India has not taken steps to resolve Kashmir's long-disputed status. He predicts that a generation of politicized Kashmiri Muslims may grow up to become the next international terrorists.

The Myth of Biden v. Bork
The author worked with Senator Biden on the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. He says Biden tried to keep the focus of the hearings on the candidates' professional rather than personal lives. Biden's experience and decency will make him ideal for shepherding Supreme Court nominees through a politically polarized Senate as vice president, he says. However, he predicts political fights will be fiercer than those in the past with abortion rights at stake.

A Biblical Seven Years
Seven years of planning, investment, and hard work went into China's hosting of the Olympics, Friedman says. America should take note of this. Infrastructure there has been souped up and is state-of-the-art, while America's is crumbling and "dumpy." China has been spending its money to build a nation, while America has been spending its money to fight wars. He says the lesson from China is that the next president must be strong and creative enough to rebuild America rather than spending time "nation-building" abroad.

High Anxiety in the Mile High City
Dowd says the mood at the Democratic National Convention is strained because of Hillary's supporters, who fear that the party chose the wrong candidate. In addition, she says Democrats were nitpicking Obama's appearance on satellite Monday night, Michelle's dress, and more, and many Hillary supporters threatened to leave before his acceptance speech.

Jordan's behavior, a harbinger of change
Jordan has hitherto been careful to support the cause of moderate Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, notes Khouri. However, it has recently begun to approach the rival Hamas as well. Jordanians are good at reading public opinion in Palestine and assessing political options. They understand that Abbas is weak and that a Hamas takeover is on the horizon.

Exit of a military dictator
Musharraf's departure validates the opinion that two very important factors--the army and the US, both of which have been key to Pakistan's existence as a state and to the formulation of its domestic and external policies--continue to play a vital role in its politics. His regime was called a period of controlled democracy guided by enlightened moderation, says Khan. And he will perhaps go the way his predecessors have, to oblivion for the so called "good acts" he is supposed to have done for his country during his nine-year rule.

Ignite lignite
The Civil Nuclear Agreement (CNA) is being celebrated as a solution to India's poverty of power. The most optimistic forecast of nuclear power's contribution to the total commercial energy requirement of India in 2038 is 10%. That by itself is a 400% increase from today's contribution, calculated on installed capacity which is double the actual generation, says Raha.

Pakistan After Musharraf: What's New...?
The author says Pakistan's democratically-elected government is functioning no better or worse than under the military dictator Pervez Musharraf's regime. However, the difference between a democratically-elected government and a dictatorship is that democracy has a moral and popular platform to wage a war on terror. Fighting the Taliban and the ISI inside Pakistan is going to be a tough job. The author hopes that General Petraeus can aid Pakistan with the same counterinsurgency techniques he used in Iraq.

Getting rid of a President
One of the hopes being entertained in Pakistan is that the manner of Musharraf's departure will stop any future imposer of military rule. His exit differs from his predecessors in being an oddly civilian one. He proved politically astute in his departure by making a confusing speech, says Niazi. It was confusing in his refusal to admit any responsibility for the shambles the economy was in and was probably the main reason why so many want him tried.

An Unsettling End
Musharraf's exit is not a calamity for India, but the UPA government's handling of the events that led to a change of government in Islamabad is a disaster, says Nayar. Since India's Pakistan policy at this time will have an impact on the deteriorating situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it is a crisis that is, in real terms, far more serious for the country than the cosmetic crisis that was precipitated by the possibility of a change in government in New Delhi last month on account of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Don't Give In To Them
Secessionism on the basis of religion from a federal democratic republic, which has assured autonomy to Kashmir, is an irrational act, says Subrahmanyam. Such irrationality is unfortunately not the exclusive privilege of one faith only. India has seen the repercussions of events in the Kashmir valley, in Jammu ,and in other places in India. There are forces in India that are likely to take advantage of such secession to unleash massive ethnic cleansing elsewhere in the country.

Why Fannie and Freddie Will Survive (Alas)
Jenkins argues that as long as Fannie and Freddie's debt is backed by the full faith and credit of the US government, they don't need to be solvent. They can continue to function because the world's lenders will continue to lend to them. Jenkins says that perceptions of political risk is the factor presently inhibiting the recovery of their share price, but that may change as politically astute capitalists realize that their privileged existence can be secured by putting the necessary money into them. Fannie and Freddie will, Jenkins thinks, likely survive and, tragically, America will have missed a rare opportunity to get rid of them.

Obama Should Find His Inner Kansan
Frank relates the lessons of his journey across Kansas. He notes that everywhere he stopped while crossing the perennially red-state he met voters who expressed dismay with the GOP and are considering leaving it. Last year, the Kansas Republican Party went as far as establishing a "loyalty committee" to stamp out dissent in the ranks after a series of defections rocked the organization. Frank believes Republicans might just listen to a Democrat this year if they were to speak the way liberals used to. America is in the midst of a populist moment, he says, and to capture it Obama will have to find his own inner Kansan.

We Need a National Market for Health Insurance
Turner considers a new study suggesting that we could insure 12 million more Americans. She says freeing Americans to buy health insurance across state lines would give people more choices in health care. And giving individuals a direct tax break for purchasing coverage would put armies of consumers to work to find affordable policies. That would force states to lighten their regulations or lose out to other, less regulated states. Turner concludes that the complex problems in our health sector are best cured by a bigger dose of market competition, not more government intervention.

Russia Is Brazen, Europe Weak
Lévy asserts that the Kremlin is shameless about twisting law and principle. In the post-Soviet era, Russian power has been exercised in a brutal fashion, as its actions in Chechnya demonstrated. Moscow is also indifferent to international protests, admonishments, and warnings. Lévy notes that Western public opinion is too easily swayed by the thesis advanced--from the very first day--by the Kremlin's propaganda. He concludes that we must analyze in greater depth the mechanisms of a blindness that may, if ignored, perpetuate the Western "decline in courage" denounced in his time by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, which we thought belonged to the past. Reason, if not honor, demands that we go to the rescue of Europe in Tbilisi.

Lieberman Would Be a Bad Veep Choice for McCain
The possibility that McCain might choose Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman as his running mate has sent the right into a tizzy, writes Olsen. He believes a McCain-Lieberman party would have so many disagreements on so many issues that it would be defined by one issue only: war. As Lincoln showed, a "war ticket" isn't the formula for lasting success. Olsen says that although McCain's personality is sufficient to inspire loyalty, he must ensure that his vice presidential selection cultivates support among party members.

Obama Should Just Be Himself
Gerstein says there is no reason for Obama supporters to panic about the polls and is convinced that Obama does not need to fundamentally change his message or strategy to win over undecided voters. He just needs to be himself or, to be more precise, to be more of himself. No need for reinvention and repositioning--he only needs to recount the tough stands and political risks he has already taken and reinforce those points for the next three months. Although it could be argued that the Obama campaign should have emphasized these points earlier, Gerstein concludes that the general election campaign is now moving into high gear and Obama's acceptance speech tomorrow night will be an ideal time to begin closing the strength gap.

Wind Jammers
The greens are blocking the transmission network needed for renewable electricity to move throughout the economy. The best sites for wind and solar energy happen to be in the sticks: the desert Southwest where sunlight is most intense for longest or the plains where the wind blows most often. To exploit this energy, utilities need to build transmission lines to connect their electricity to the places where consumers actually live. Transmission lines have become disputed in Indiana, California, and Oregon. The liberal push for alternatives has the look of a huge bait-and-switch. Washington responds to the climate change panic with multibillion-dollar taxpayer subsidies for supposedly clean tech. But then when those incentives start to have an effect in the real world, the same greens who favor the subsidies say build the turbines or towers somewhere else. The only energy sources they seem to like are the ones we don't have.

First Yukos, then Georgia
Few in the West appreciate the degree to which Vladimir Putin and the Russian elite subscribe to a prewar view of power relations and national greatness. The Republic of Georgia, transit territory for two important energy pipelines, is a challenge to Mr. Putin's pursuit of power through control of energy supplies, especially for home heating, to Western Europe. Western governments and oil executives have played an unwise role in Putin's plan. No amount of contract abrogation, outright seizure of property, or subsidiary mayhem by Russian authorities seems able to dissuade them from throwing good money after bad in pursuit of Russian resources. Over time, Putin will find he has created conditions for the emergence of a coalition to contain Russian energy power. Dropping our trade barriers to Brazilian ethanol and opening up our domestic resources to development would be good places to start.

'Snake Oil'
The paper debunks three "truths" about offshore drilling. The first is that drilling is pointless because the US has only 3% of the world's oil reserves. This is misleading because it refers only to known oil reserves. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has estimated that there are 18 billion barrels of oil in the Outer Continental Shelf, but the data was collected before 1981. In 1987 the MMS estimated that there were 9 billion barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. By 2006, after major advances in seismic technology and deepwater drilling techniques, the MMS estimate is 45 billion barrels. Second, oil companies aren't using the leases they already have. According to the MMS, there were 7,457 active leases as of June 8. Of those, only 1,877 were classified as "producing." Only when a lease starts pumping the equivalent of an estimated 130,000 barrels of oil a day at the end of the decade will it be deemed "active." Third, drilling is environmentally dangerous. Between 1993 and 2007, 1 barrel of oil was spilled per 156,900 barrels produced. The strongest argument against drilling is that it could distract the country from a pursuit of alternative sources of energy.

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Impeachment? Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
Never mind that, says Vincent Bugliosi, haul George Bush into a court of law.

Renew America's Promise -- or Cancel Our Future Altogether?
Never mind ignoring low blows or pulling punches in response, there's a third way for Obama to respond to smears.

President Bed-Rest
Do we really want another president whose main concern is his rest and relaxation?

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Headline
Like his pal Madonna, A-Rod shape-shifts, but the name remains the same.

Blow Myself Up or Study Engineering at Caltech?
What's an al-Qaeda sympathizer to do?

Hey Pentagon, How Are Nuclear Weapons Working Out for You?
The path to peace may lie in talking to the defense establishment in its own language.

Seven Words You Can't Say In Heaven
George Carlin has been bumped for a summer replacement series.

Iran Attack Not a Problem, Say War Wonks
Hey, what's a lost ship or three and the bloated bodies of a few hundred US naval personnel bobbing on the surface of the Persian Gulf?

Politicians Play General, Generals Play Politics (Part 2)
More from Military.com analyst and novelist Jeff Huber.

Politicians Play General, Generals Play Politics (Part 1)
Neither the military nor the administration escape criticism in Jeff Huber's Military.com column and his new novel, Bathtub Admirals.

Hell on Earth? How About Hell in Heaven?
Suffocated by your family? It could be worse in the afterlife.

Nunn of the Above
Imagine a secretary of state whose idea of foreign policy is abolishing nuclear weapons?

Genius: Hidden in Plain Sight
The breathtaking work of Santiago Calatrava is seen by many, known by few.

There Will Be Krov
Blood, oil, and Borat in Azerbaijan.

Freezerbox Magazine
Freezerbox is an independent, opinion-based magazine about political, cultural and social life as it pertains to the global community. It maintains that understanding and defining the boundaries of our surroundings within a progressive perspective is paramount to improving our contemporary circumstances.

 


 

Darfur's Real Death Toll
THE BUSH administration's challenge on Darfur is to persuade the world to wake up to the severity of the crisis. On his recent visit to Sudan, Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick took a step in the opposite direction. He said that the State Department's estimate of deaths in Darfur was 60,000 to 160,000, a range that dramatically understates the true scale of the killing. If Mr. Zoellick wants to galvanize action on Darfur, he must take a fresh look at the numbers.

The Senate's Hypocrisy
CONGRESS IS spitting fire about China's allegedly unfair trade practices, which it blames for the enormous U.S. trade deficit. But that deficit is as much a reflection of Congress's habit of spending more than it raises in taxes, which contributes to the dearth of national savings. For the latest example of shameless congressional pork, consider a bill recently marked up in the Senate to lavish at least $10 billion on the Army Corps of Engineers.

Viewer Beware
PRODUCT PLACEMENT has become a cynical fact of modern life. When you see a store logo in a movie or a character with a brand-name beverage, you can be pretty sure it didn't get there by chance: Money changed hands. What you might not know is that a similar but more insidious transaction takes place in television news.

washingtonpost.com - Opinion
Opinion

 

Franz Kafka would have been shocked by our lack of privacy
What item could Franz Kafka have been so ashamed of that he kept it in a locked safe on his bookshelf - even taking the key on holiday with him, asks Glenda Cooper.

David Cameron and John McCain are best suited to defy Russian aggression
As Gordon Brown lies low and Barack Obama looks increasingly insubstantial, their opponents are coming to the fore, says Janet Daley.

Senseless red tape leaves society poorer
Volunteers are the latest victims of this Government's stubborn obsession with needless bureaucracy, says Philip Johnston.

The real hero of the Olympics is John Major
The former prime minister's achievements may not be too memorable, but he did launch the Lottery, which helps to fund our medal-winners, says Jim White.

Yesterday Russia, today the world
Dostoyevsky's insight into the mindsets of psychotic mass killers seems miraculously relevant and up to date, according to A.N. Wilson.

We've not saved the whale yet
While hunting bans have helped protect these magnificent creatures, their future is far from secure.

Four days of silence that condemn Britain
How the West reacts to Russia's action in Georgia will determine how far Russia is prepared to go.

Water liberty
Despite plans to increase water bills, water companies still fail to deliver

Shear exuberance
Summer pruning is a productive chore for the Bathursts of Cirencester

Why can't we tell teenagers what to study at school?
What a pity it is no longer the point of education to open up new avenues, says Melissa Kite

Pakistan's deadly vendetta
Musharraf's life may not be in danger, but few of his countrymen can say the same, writes David Blair

Barack Obama becalmed
Obama's European grand-standing hasn't gone down well with blue-collar voters in middle America.

Lambeth Conference Diary: Sex, drugs but no rocks or rolls
Nick Baines, the Bishop of Croydon, reflects on a dramatic week spent with fellow bishops at the Lambeth conference discussing the future of the Church of England.

Katie Couric is right to criticise sexist US
All women in the American public eye are subjected to savage scrutiny of her appearance, wardrobe and personal life., writes Catherine Elsworth.

Come in Number 16
As a New Zealand judge issues a list of banned names we ask why, save for brute sadism, would anyone call their child "Number 16 Bus Shelter"?

Blood, sweat and tears - but I regret nothing
Lt Col Stuart Tootal explains that the Ministry of Defence's shortchanging of Servicemen contributed to his decision to resign from the Army

I've stolen a march on time, thanks to my Oxford Knee
I like to think I just crack on with life, but running a mile round the village every day for nine months destroyed the cartilage in one of my knees, writes Candida Lycett-Green.

Glasgow no longer belongs to Labour
With Thursday's by-election on a knife-edge, Andrew O'Hagan asks how the party lost the loyalty of a city tied to its socialist foundations

Oh, how I hate the Beautiful Game
Craig Brown hates football and he sometimes feels as lonely as the sole survivor in the last reel of a Zombie film because of it.

Gender pay audits: more inane gibberish
This lot just don't get it, do they? We want fewer laws, not more. And we certainly don't want Harriet Harman of all people telling companies who they can and cannot employ, says Andrew Pierce.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is not the Empress of India
The row that threatens to split the Anglican Communion is about imperialism more than homosexuality, argues Charles Moore.

Go on, have a chuckle... it's by-election time
Oddballs, loonies and red-faced politicians are the essential ingredients of a great British event, says Philip Johnston.

America really has changed for the better
It's not so long ago that innocent black men could be sent to the electric chair just because their accusers were white, says Lionel Shriver.

The riddle of the golden syrup tin
There must be quite a few children pouring golden syrup on their suet pudding who do not realise that the quotation on the tin comes from the story of Samson in the book of Judges in the Bible, writes Christopher Howse.

Zimbabwe: Leftists to blame for Robert Mugabe's blood-letting
A few years ago, when the tyrant of Zimbabwe was moving from being wicked to being downright evil, Simon Heffer wrote that we should invade Harare, depose him, and supervise free elections.

Sean Langan was tested to the limits - but he came out smiling
It takes quite a lot to cheer Toby Young me up these days, but a phone call he got last Saturday did the trick as it was his best friend, Sean Langan, calling to say he had been released by the Muslim extremists who had been holding him hostage.

Conquering the wild west of internet domains
Icann's decision to open up more web addresses will tame the scramble for internet domains, says Ian Douglas.

Liberal Democrats must hone their national message
The Liberal Democrats have yet to develop a compelling narrative to deal with the threat posed by Cameron, argues Mark Littlewood

David Cameron should slash the public payroll
Questioning the size of the state is not a betrayal of the public services, argues George Bridges.

Will Thabo Mbeki ever find the courage to tell Robert Mugabe where to get off?
Zimbabwean tyrant Robert Mugabe will declare victory after the election run-off, but no one will believe him, writes David Blair.

Gordon Brown can lay the ground for Labour's next generation
The vacuum created by Gordon Brown's weak leadership has opened up an interesting space, into which younger, ambitious ministers are leaping, writes John Kampfner.

Baby photos that fall foul of the PC police
How has a naked child become something to censor rather than protect? Lesley Thomas is perplexed.

Wendy Alexander silenced by a sore throat and political rivals
Alan Cochrane couldn't believe his luck when he heard that Wendy Alexander had lost her voice and wouldn't be up for her joust with Alex Salmond.

Terry Wogan's World
Terry Wogan's spy in the far-off Fens reports that a ne'er-do-well there has been hauled before the beak, for not one, but two staring offences.

The Lisbon Treaty has not yet been formally ratified
Gordon Brown has been forced to concede that the Treaty's formal ratification cannot happen until Lord Justice Richards has made his ruling next week, writes Philip Johnston.