International:
German court convicts Sept. 11 suspect
A Moroccan man was convicted Thursday of acting as an accessory to murder in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks by a federal appeals court that ruled that he played a direct role in the plot.
"The defendant is guilty not only of membership in a terrorist organization, but also as an accessory to murder of the 246 passengers and crew members of the crashed aircraft," the federal court said in its ruling. More on this story here.
"Should I Stay or Should I Go"?
A host of former advisers to President George H.W. Bush have gained ascendancy in recent weeks. His former Secretary of State James Baker and former deputy national security adviser Robert Gates will assume major roles in determining the future course of Iraq. Both Baker and Gates are protégés and colleagues of Brent Scowcroft, the former national security adviser under Bush 41 who opposed the Iraq war. This assemblage of Baker, Gates, and Scowcroft has been described as "pragmatists" and "realists" by the media. The New York Times, noting his connection to Scowcroft and Baker, suggested the Gates' appointment may be "part of a carefully orchestrated course change."
Neoconservatives have argued that the Baker-Gates-Scowcroft position "presents a clear shift" on Iraq. But these claims by the media and neoconservatives appear to be creating a false myth that the rise of the "realists" will change course in Iraq. In a recent interview with the Turkish Daily News, Scowcroft explicitly argued the U.S. must continue to stay in Iraq. "I think we have to stay and try and manage the situation to get some kind of a resolution where we can have an Iraq that is relatively stable," Scowcroft said. In other words, if Scowcroft's position is representative of his colleagues, the changing face of the Bush administration will bear a close resemblance to the old face.
Fox News' Smith Says Bush Politicization Of Iraq War Strategy ‘Disgusting’
The Pentagon announced today that 2,200 Marines have been ordered into the Iraqi province of Al-Anbar, where fierce fighting has claimed at least 21 U.S. servicemembers this month.
Reacting to the Pentagon announcement, Shephard Smith said “no one should be surprised by any of this” because it “was clear before the election that changes were essential.” But Smith pointed out, “They had to wait until after the election to make changes for political reasons, which I find disgusting.” See video here
National:
Bush Warns Against Isolationism by U.S.
A host of former advisers to President George H.W. Bush have gained ascendancy in recent weeks. His former Secretary of State James Baker and former deputy national security adviser Robert Gates will assume major roles in determining the future course of Iraq. Both Baker and Gates are protégés and colleagues of Brent Scowcroft, the former national security adviser under Bush 41 who opposed the Iraq war. This assemblage of Baker, Gates, and Scowcroft has been described as "pragmatists" and "realists" by the media. The New York Times, noting his connection to Scowcroft and Baker, suggested the Gates' appointment may be "part of a carefully orchestrated course change."
Neoconservatives have argued that the Baker-Gates-Scowcroft position "presents a clear shift" on Iraq. But these claims by the media and neoconservatives appear to be creating a false myth that the rise of the "realists" will change course in Iraq. In a recent interview with the Turkish Daily News, Scowcroft explicitly argued the U.S. must continue to stay in Iraq. "I think we have to stay and try and manage the situation to get some kind of a resolution where we can have an Iraq that is relatively stable," Scowcroft said. In other words, if Scowcroft's position is representative of his colleagues, the changing face of the Bush administration will bear a close resemblance to the old face.
Fox News' Smith Says Bush Politicization Of Iraq War Strategy ‘Disgusting’
The Pentagon announced today that 2,200 Marines have been ordered into the Iraqi province of Al-Anbar, where fierce fighting has claimed at least 21 U.S. servicemembers this month.
Reacting to the Pentagon announcement, Shephard Smith said “no one should be surprised by any of this” because it “was clear before the election that changes were essential.” But Smith pointed out, “They had to wait until after the election to make changes for political reasons, which I find disgusting.” See video here
National:
Bush Warns Against Isolationism by U.S.
From across the world, President Bush took on antiwar and anti-free-trade Democrats who won control of Congress, saying today that any drift toward isolationism would hinder America's security and economic vitality.
"We hear voices calling for us to retreat from the world and close our doors to its opportunities," he said in a speech at the National University of Singapore. "These are the old temptations of isolationism and protectionism, and America must reject them." More here from the Washington Times.
New Leadership
Speaker of the House in Jan 2007 will be Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The second in command will be Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who was overwhelmingly elected as House Majority Leader, 149-86.
In Other News…
Conservative senators say they are "eager" to have Trent Lott (R-MS) return to leadership as Minority Whip. "He's the most effective leader I know," said John McCain (R-AZ), "who has won Lott's support for his likely presidential bid."
President Bush has told senior advisers that the United States needs to make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and "that instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase U.S. forces by up to 20,000 soldiers."
At a Senate hearing yesterday, CentCom commander Gen. John Abizaid publicly said for the first time "that the American position in Iraq had been undermined by the Bush administration's decision not to deploy a larger force to stabilize the country in 2003."
Yesterday, the House once again approved a stopgap spending bill "to keep the federal government running through Dec. 8." An earlier stopgap from September will expire on Friday, which Congress implemented because it "left most of the work on regular spending bills unfinished when it adjourned in early October to allow members to campaign for re-election."
Former Wisconsin Gov. and Bush Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson (R) said yesterday that he plans to run for president. Asked about his reason for running, Thompson said, "Why not?"
From The Right:
Donald Lambro: To save Iraq, follow Reagan's playbook
The search for a solution to the war in Iraq has been put on hold in the government until a bipartisan 10-member commission submits its recommendations next month.
From The Left:
Jason Leopold: Plame Wilson v. White House: Round 1The showdown between the White House, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, and his wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, a former covert operative for the CIA whose identity was unmasked by Bush administration officials, entered its first stage Tuesday. The Justice Department contends that Rove, Cheney ... and the other defendants are immune to civil lawsuits.
Quote of the Day:
“Fox Broadcasting has nothing to do with the Fox News Channel.”
Fox News host Bill O’Reilly as he blasted Fox for its upcoming interview with O.J. Simpson, in which the former NFL star describes “how he would have murdered his ex-wife and her companion.” Actually, Fox Broadcasting is tightly connected to Fox News. See here.
Thought to Ponder:
The Bush administration's plan to build a high-tech "virtual fence" along U.S. borders is likely to cost far more than the $2 billion that industry analysts initially estimated, possibly up to $30 billion, a government watchdog agency warned yesterday.
(Sources: TownHall, TruthOut, FOXNews, Center for American Progress, PoliticalCartoons.com, Orlando Sentinel, Chicago SunTimes, Opinion Journal, NY Times, Turkish Daily News, MSNBC, Time, Guardian UK, AP, Washington Times)
New Leadership
Speaker of the House in Jan 2007 will be Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The second in command will be Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who was overwhelmingly elected as House Majority Leader, 149-86.
In Other News…
Conservative senators say they are "eager" to have Trent Lott (R-MS) return to leadership as Minority Whip. "He's the most effective leader I know," said John McCain (R-AZ), "who has won Lott's support for his likely presidential bid."
President Bush has told senior advisers that the United States needs to make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and "that instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase U.S. forces by up to 20,000 soldiers."
At a Senate hearing yesterday, CentCom commander Gen. John Abizaid publicly said for the first time "that the American position in Iraq had been undermined by the Bush administration's decision not to deploy a larger force to stabilize the country in 2003."
Yesterday, the House once again approved a stopgap spending bill "to keep the federal government running through Dec. 8." An earlier stopgap from September will expire on Friday, which Congress implemented because it "left most of the work on regular spending bills unfinished when it adjourned in early October to allow members to campaign for re-election."
Former Wisconsin Gov. and Bush Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson (R) said yesterday that he plans to run for president. Asked about his reason for running, Thompson said, "Why not?"
From The Right:
Donald Lambro: To save Iraq, follow Reagan's playbook
The search for a solution to the war in Iraq has been put on hold in the government until a bipartisan 10-member commission submits its recommendations next month.
From The Left:
Jason Leopold: Plame Wilson v. White House: Round 1The showdown between the White House, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, and his wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, a former covert operative for the CIA whose identity was unmasked by Bush administration officials, entered its first stage Tuesday. The Justice Department contends that Rove, Cheney ... and the other defendants are immune to civil lawsuits.
Quote of the Day:
“Fox Broadcasting has nothing to do with the Fox News Channel.”
Fox News host Bill O’Reilly as he blasted Fox for its upcoming interview with O.J. Simpson, in which the former NFL star describes “how he would have murdered his ex-wife and her companion.” Actually, Fox Broadcasting is tightly connected to Fox News. See here.
Thought to Ponder:
The Bush administration's plan to build a high-tech "virtual fence" along U.S. borders is likely to cost far more than the $2 billion that industry analysts initially estimated, possibly up to $30 billion, a government watchdog agency warned yesterday.
(Sources: TownHall, TruthOut, FOXNews, Center for American Progress, PoliticalCartoons.com, Orlando Sentinel, Chicago SunTimes, Opinion Journal, NY Times, Turkish Daily News, MSNBC, Time, Guardian UK, AP, Washington Times)
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