Entries

Graham: 'Mistake' to Not Release Pics

Politico reports : Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says President Barack Obama’s decision not to release photos of Osama bin Laden’s corpse is “a mistake” that will “unnecessarily prolong this debate” over the photos and whether bin Laden is actually dead. “The whole purpose of sending …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

SEALs to be Honored in Secret

The AP reports : The highly secretive Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden will likely be honored in the only way such a covert group can be: in private with nobody but themselves and their commanders in the know. Quietly recognizing heroic actions for clandestine operations is …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Daniels Stays Mum About 2012 Plans

Wednesday afternoon in D.C., Gov. Mitch Daniels spoke at AEI about education reform. But the standing room only crowd was more interested in his 2012 plans. Governor Mitch Daniels spoke at AEI to discuss the successful passage of several education reforms bills in Indiana. When he spoke, even …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Palin: Obama 'Pussy-Footing Around' with Pics

The Hill reports : Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) criticized President Obama's decision not to release photos of Osama bin Laden's corpse. Palin, a potential presidential candidate and frequent critic of Obama, called it an example of "pussy-footing around." She tweeted : Show …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Debt Talks Stall Before They Even Start

Far from clarifying the fiscal debate, Congress has returned after the two-week Easter Recess to find themselves no closer to a debt deal. The death of Osama bin Laden dominates media, as it should. Yet, in the shadow of that dramatic story lies the continuing federal fiscal tar pit. Events …

Written by Steve Bell on Wednesday May 4, 2011

GOP Makes a U-Turn on Earmarks

Voters want more funds spent on roads to ease traffic congestion. But how do you fund highways and roads without earmarks? Two stories on transportation infrastructure spending caught my eye this morning: one in which Rep. Reid Ribble (WI-08) praised Gov. Scott Walker for investing $1.5 billion …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Did Iran Kidnap Dissident in Paris?

Earlier this week, an Israeli news agency reported that Iranian agents had kidnapped a dissident student from Paris. But there's been little coverage in the French press. It seems that Iranian agents may have kidnapped a dissident in Paris and taken him to Tehran a few days ago. While there are …

Written by Jean Granville on Wednesday May 4, 2011

HRW Head Condemns Bin Laden Killing

Ben Birnbaum reports : The executive director of Human Rights Watch is criticizing the United States for killing terrorist leader Osama bin Laden without due process. Kenneth Roth opined on bin Laden ’s death via his Twitter account (@KenRoth), taking aim at comments made …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Israel Condemns Fatah-Hamas Pact

Reuters reports : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned a Palestinian unity pact on Wednesday as a "tremendous blow to peace." Netanyahu spoke during a visit to London as a ceremony was held in Egypt ending a four-year rift between the Palestinians' Fatah movement, which …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Bin Laden Raid Is Obama's Victory

If bin Laden's assassination had gone badly, President Obama would have been blamed. That's why he gets the credit. The story goes that after the Bay of Pigs disaster, President Kennedy placed a call to CIA director Allen Dulles. Kennedy supposedly said: "If we lived in a parliamentary system, and …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Holder: Raid Was 'Entirely Lawful'

The AP reports : Attorney General Eric Holder expressed serious concern Thursday about Americans' safety from possible revenge attacks for Osama bin Laden's death and expects the terrorist watch list will be expanded based on evidence collected in the al Qaida leader's home. Holder also …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Pakistan: We Told U.S. About Bin Laden Compound

Philip Shenon at The Daily Beast writes: Did Pakistan’s spy agency alert the CIA two years ago that there was something suspicious about the compound where Osama bin Laden was tracked down and killed? Was it intelligence from the Pakistan government that finally led the U.S. to Bin Laden? …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Paper Says It Has Bin Laden's Will

The Washington Post reports : What are a dying terrorist mastermind’s final instructions to his children? Not to follow in his footsteps. The will of Osama bin Laden, published in a Kuwaiti paper Wednesday, unsurprisingly includes justifications for his efforts to destroy …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Dalai Lama Suggests Bin Laden Killing Justified

Los Angeles Times reports : As the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the 14th Dalai Lama says he practices compassion to such an extent that he tries to avoid swatting mosquitoes "when my mood is good and there is no danger of malaria," sometimes watching with interest as they swell with his …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Reid Dislocates Shoulder

The Hill reports : Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) dislocated his shoulder and suffered a bump to the forehead after slipping Wednesday morning while exercising in the rain. A spokesman for Reid said the Democratic leader fell after one of his regular early-morning runs and …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Obama Polls Poorly on Economy

The Hill reports : Despite a bounce in his overall rating, approval of President Obama's handling of the economy hit an all-time low in a CBS/New York Times poll released Wednesday. The president's overall approval rating jumped 11 points; 57 percent of those surveyed said they approve of …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Blackwater Hires Ashcroft as New Ethics Chief

Wired reports : The consortium in charge of restructuring the world’s most infamous private security firm just added a new chief in charge of keeping the company on the straight and narrow. Yes, John Ashcroft, the former attorney general, is now an “independent director” of Xe …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

FroshUpdate: Who Pays for Infrastructure Spending?

As Congress considers funding for a highways bill – and whether such transportation earmarks are really earmarks – the real question is not whether to accept transportation funding (yes) but how to fund it (NO TOLLS!) Meanwhile, the continuing of a lot of action in the Middle East and South Asia: …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday May 4, 2011

200K in N. Korean Prison Camps

Global Post reports : Amnesty International has a disturbing dose of news from North Korea — complete with visual aid. Prison camps in the wilderness of South Pyongan, South Hamkyung and North Hamkyung provinces, which have apparently been around since the 1950s, now appear to be …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Targeting Terrorists: OK for U.S. But Not Israel?

As world leaders applaud the U.S. for killing Bin Laden, it's easy to forget that these leaders also condemned Israel for doing the same to Hamas mastermind Sheikh Yassin. As world leaders rightly applaud and congratulate the United States on the death of Osama Bin-Laden and the evil he represente…

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Wednesday May 4, 2011