Americas

"The apex of the Times hierarchy has provided no indication of personal remorse or institutional accountability. And the next time agenda-setting for U.S. military action -- against Iran or Syria or wherever -- shifts into high gear, it’s very unlikely that the New York Times or other top-tier U.S. media outlets will present major roadblocks."

"Unfortunately, there seems to be a flipside argument that defines one’s level of moderation based on one’s political stance on the Israel and Palestine issue."

"...what is important to understand about Darby’s seven-year twist is that Christian Fundamentalist Zionists believe a whole sequence of events must happen for Jesus to return. They claim there needs to be the rebirth in the nation of Israel, the takeover of East Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, and then the rapture of an evil, Antichrist. They base these claims on Revelation 6-19."

"In the Bush either-or, black or white world, it makes sense that those who are not Good Americans are Bad Americans."

"It seems that the Palestinian President is "dancing with the wolves" by trying to negotiate and mediate between them to end the lawlessness, while the wolves are attacking his flock at night. President Abbas should reconsider this tactic. If the wolves attack and threaten his flock, he should find a way to protect them from the disobeying wolves and not to appease the wolves. Ultimately he has to fight those who oppose law and order. He has to work on putting an immediate end to the lawlessness."

"All this could have been easily avoided, if the only superpower in the world had not been led by a tenth-rate politician; if policy had not been shaped by neo-conservatives blinded by a fanatical obsession; if Tony Blair, who should have known better, had not been an incorrigible opportunist."

"This winter a significantly larger number of applicants are expected than last year to request assistance in paying their energy bills, but President Bush has proposed cutting assistance programs from $2.2 billion to $2.0 billion. These programs that assist in paying energy bills are particularly critical for the elderly, disabled, and children."

"It is quite clear that Israel has not made any real disengagement from its activities, which violate human rights, Charter of the UN and its resolutions to be complied by Israel, Geneva Conventions on the use of war machines, and the Road-map made by the Quatret in 2003. The Gaza disengagement is mere an eye-wash to consolidate its position in the West Bank."