Overview for News

Forgetting Saddam's Victims

Last week, a delegation from the German Bundestag paid a visit to Erbil in the Kurdish autonomous region of northern Iraq . The visit came one week after German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened a German consulate in Erbil . The parliamentary delegation was headed by the …

Written by Falah Muradkhin Shakaram on Thursday March 5, 2009

A Drive Through Kabul

Benjamin Collins served three tours in Afghanistan rising to the rank of Captain with US Special Forces. He has since left the army to launch a new business. The first part of his new series can be read here . I set the alarm for 3:30 am. 30 minutes to shower, put on the uniform that …

Written by Benjamin Collins on Wednesday March 4, 2009

Train With Al-qaeda, Get Out Of Jail Free

Last Tuesday, a Parisian appeals court overturned the convictions of five former Guantanamo inmates who had been found guilty on terrorist conspiracy charges in 2007. The development should give pause to wonder not only about the wisdom of plans to transfer Guantanamo inmates to European …

Written by John Rosenthal on Sunday March 1, 2009

Obama Appointee On 9/11: Time To Blame Ourselves

These are the words of the new chairman of the National Intelligence Council, Chas Freeman when he spoke at The Washington Institute's Soref Symposium on April 9, 2002: "And what of America's lack of introspection about September 11? Instead of asking what might have caused the attack, or …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Sunday March 1, 2009

The Goldwater Myth

It's CPAC weekend - the grand rallying of the conservative clan here in Washington. It's a season where conservatives from across the country meet to compare notes, share stories, and seek political consensus. The consensus forming this year however is an ominously dangerous one - ominously …

Written by David Frum on Friday February 27, 2009

Obama's Trillions

The Obama Administration formally launched its budget blueprint yesterday. They did a masterful job of cultivating the press in pre-release preview commentary and by and large got a favorable hearing. Too bad, because this budget plan falls short in so many ways. My reflections on the plan: 1. …

Written by Douglas Holtz-Eakin on Friday February 27, 2009

Bobby Jindal Will Never Be President

It was a dud – that’s the consensus on Bobby Jindal’s response to the President’s address. Indeed, the criticism has been heated. He’s been panned by Republicans and Democrats, dismissed by commentators, and even mocked on late-night television. Needless to say, …

Written by David Gratzer on Friday February 27, 2009

Dialogue With Deniers: Schrder In Tehran

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder used the occasion of his four day visit in Tehran last week to criticize Iranian Holocaust denial. “The Holocaust is a historical fact, ” Schröder is reported to have said in a speech to the Iranian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, …

Written by John Rosenthal on Thursday February 26, 2009

The Real Cowards

“Mr. Gibbon, You can’t understand black people! We are too raw - - R – A – W – RAW!” This was said to me as I tried to get my athletes settled down on a bus ride across the city before our first race. One of them had thrown a full Styrofoam cup of soda out …

Written by Thomas Gibbon on Thursday February 26, 2009

Too Tricky?

Ezra Klein over at the American Prospect font color="#000000"> disputes ast blogpost of mine bill actually introduced in Congress by Henry Waxman

Written by David Frum on Thursday February 26, 2009

Tricky Obama? You Have No Idea!

Revealed here the secrets of the president's rhetorical success: he's hypnotizing people. Literally. http://www.pennypresslv.com/ Obama's_Use_of_Hidden_ Hypnosis_techniques_in_His_ Speeches.pdf

Written by FF Washington Insider on Thursday February 26, 2009

Tricky, Tricky Mr. Obama

Today the Obama administration let loose two big exploratory ideas in a first (but surely not the last!) nervous attempt to wring more revenues out of a distressed economy. Idea 1: Use the revenues generated by cap and trade to pay for health care tax credits for lower-income people. …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday February 25, 2009

Embrace The Pork

One week into the Stimulus regime and the conservative Republican establishment is confident it has the issue. Republicans must attack spending and big government. As the party of fiscal responsibility, they first fought the “Porkulus.” Now they are gearing up to go after “more …

Written by Henry Clay on Wednesday February 25, 2009

Stress Tests

Lost in the discussion over Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s “stress tests” for banks, which began Wednesday, is this important question: what happens if the government and the independent external auditors reach different conclusions about a bank’s financial condition? …

Written by FF Washington Insider on Wednesday February 25, 2009

The Republican Future - Three Choices

As conservatives gather this weekend for the first Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) conference since the 2008 debacle, they need to consider one fact as they contemplate rebuilding the movement and party. Understanding this fact will help them meet their political challenge. The …

Written by Henry Olsen on Wednesday February 25, 2009

The Speech - A First Appraisal

Clever! President Obama’s first address to a joint session of Congress was not written – it was polled. Paragraph by paragraph, the address anticipated the most dangerous objections to the new president’s program and responded to them in turn. The great overarching theme of the speech: I am a …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday February 25, 2009

Stimulating The Economy On The Backs Of The Poor

With the economy tanking, and the Dow heading to its lowest level since 1997, the country finally seems ready to tighten its collective belt. I’m seeing it in my own part of the world; none of my friends who tend to make their own are suddenly buying store-made. Just the opposite; my …

Written by Stephanie Herman on Tuesday February 24, 2009

Obama's March To Socialism (3)

This is part three of a three part series. Read part one here , and part two here . It is not smart to revile and condemn a president who is not only very popular, as Barack Obama is, but who is also as deft at deflecting anger. ( Watch for example Obama's easy outmaneuvering yesterday of …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 24, 2009

Obama's March To Socialism (2)

This is part two of a three part series. Read part one span style="color: #ff6600;"> here here

Written by David Frum on Tuesday February 24, 2009

Arthur Larson: Moderation And Controversy

If Dwight Eisenhower had made any real effort to build a political base within the GOP, his moderate brand of Republicanism – often termed “modern Republicanism” – might have continued to dominate the party after he left office, and Arthur Larson would have been remembered …

Written by Geoffrey Kabaservice on Tuesday February 24, 2009