Q: Could you explain in really simple terms the difference between the Taliban and al-Qaida?
A: The Taliban and al-Qaida are Islamic extremist groups joined in battle against the United States.
The Taliban, Arabic for religious students, ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, when they were ousted by an American-led invasion following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to a New York Times history. Their rule was characterized by strict adherence to fundamentalist Islamic law.
Al-Qaida, often spelled al-Qaeda, is a terrorist network first formed to drive the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan. It was created by Osama bin Laden, a Saudi Arabian native who orchestrated the Sept. 11 attacks.
During their reign over Afghanistan, the Taliban sheltered bin Laden’s al-Qaida. After the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush demanded that the Taliban give up bin Laden. When they refused, the United States launched a major air and ground campaign that drove the Taliban out of major Afghan cities. U.S. forces also battled al-Qaida in the Afghan mountains, killing and capturing some of its leaders, but not bin Laden.
With U.S. forces turning their main attention to Iraq, the Taliban regained strength in Afghanistan. President Obama has increased the number of American troops in Afghanistan to battle the Taliban.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Attacks on Reagonomics
the more one looks into the origins of the current disaster, the clearer it becomes that the key wrong turn — the turn that made crisis inevitable — took place in the early 1980s, during the Reagan years.
Attacks on Reaganomics usually focus on rising inequality and fiscal irresponsibility. Indeed, Reagan ushered in an era in which a small minority grew vastly rich, while working families saw only meager gains. He also broke with longstanding rules of fiscal prudence.
On the latter point: traditionally, the U.S. government ran significant budget deficits only in times of war or economic emergency. Federal debt as a percentage of G.D.P. fell steadily from the end of World War II until 1980. But indebtedness began rising under Reagan; it fell again in the Clinton years, but resumed its rise under the Bush administration, leaving us ill prepared for the emergency now upon us.
The increase in public debt was, however, dwarfed by the rise in private debt, made possible by financial deregulation. The change in America’s financial rules was Reagan’s biggest legacy. And it’s the gift that keeps on taking.
-- Paul Krugman
***
more from Krugman
The debate over the “public option” in health care has been dismaying in many ways. Perhaps the most depressing aspect for progressives, however, has been the extent to which opponents of greater choice in health care have gained traction — in Congress, if not with the broader public — simply by repeating, over and over again, that the public option would be, horrors, a government program.
Washington, it seems, is still ruled by Reaganism — by an ideology that says government intervention is always bad, and leaving the private sector to its own devices is always good.
Call me naïve, but I actually hoped that the failure of Reaganism in practice would kill it. It turns out, however, to be a zombie doctrine: even though it should be dead, it keeps on coming.
Let’s talk for a moment about why the age of Reagan should be over.
First of all, even before the current crisis Reaganomics had failed to deliver what it promised. Remember how lower taxes on high incomes and deregulation that unleashed the “magic of the marketplace” were supposed to lead to dramatically better outcomes for everyone? Well, it didn’t happen.
To be sure, the wealthy benefited enormously: the real incomes of the top .01 percent of Americans rose sevenfold between 1980 and 2007. But the real income of the median family rose only 22 percent, less than a third its growth over the previous 27 years.
And then there’s the small matter of the worst recession since the 1930s.
There’s a lot to be said about the financial disaster of the last two years, but the short version is simple: politicians in the thrall of Reaganite ideology dismantled the New Deal regulations that had prevented banking crises for half a century, believing that financial markets could take care of themselves. The effect was to make the financial system vulnerable to a 1930s-style crisis — and the crisis came.
“We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals,” said Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1937. “We know now that it is bad economics.” And last year we learned that lesson all over again.
Or did we? The astonishing thing about the current political scene is the extent to which nothing has changed.
Attacks on Reaganomics usually focus on rising inequality and fiscal irresponsibility. Indeed, Reagan ushered in an era in which a small minority grew vastly rich, while working families saw only meager gains. He also broke with longstanding rules of fiscal prudence.
On the latter point: traditionally, the U.S. government ran significant budget deficits only in times of war or economic emergency. Federal debt as a percentage of G.D.P. fell steadily from the end of World War II until 1980. But indebtedness began rising under Reagan; it fell again in the Clinton years, but resumed its rise under the Bush administration, leaving us ill prepared for the emergency now upon us.
The increase in public debt was, however, dwarfed by the rise in private debt, made possible by financial deregulation. The change in America’s financial rules was Reagan’s biggest legacy. And it’s the gift that keeps on taking.
-- Paul Krugman
***
more from Krugman
The debate over the “public option” in health care has been dismaying in many ways. Perhaps the most depressing aspect for progressives, however, has been the extent to which opponents of greater choice in health care have gained traction — in Congress, if not with the broader public — simply by repeating, over and over again, that the public option would be, horrors, a government program.
Washington, it seems, is still ruled by Reaganism — by an ideology that says government intervention is always bad, and leaving the private sector to its own devices is always good.
Call me naïve, but I actually hoped that the failure of Reaganism in practice would kill it. It turns out, however, to be a zombie doctrine: even though it should be dead, it keeps on coming.
Let’s talk for a moment about why the age of Reagan should be over.
First of all, even before the current crisis Reaganomics had failed to deliver what it promised. Remember how lower taxes on high incomes and deregulation that unleashed the “magic of the marketplace” were supposed to lead to dramatically better outcomes for everyone? Well, it didn’t happen.
To be sure, the wealthy benefited enormously: the real incomes of the top .01 percent of Americans rose sevenfold between 1980 and 2007. But the real income of the median family rose only 22 percent, less than a third its growth over the previous 27 years.
And then there’s the small matter of the worst recession since the 1930s.
There’s a lot to be said about the financial disaster of the last two years, but the short version is simple: politicians in the thrall of Reaganite ideology dismantled the New Deal regulations that had prevented banking crises for half a century, believing that financial markets could take care of themselves. The effect was to make the financial system vulnerable to a 1930s-style crisis — and the crisis came.
“We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals,” said Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1937. “We know now that it is bad economics.” And last year we learned that lesson all over again.
Or did we? The astonishing thing about the current political scene is the extent to which nothing has changed.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson
We've just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.
Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.
A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived. A cardiologist at UCLA tells TMZ Jackson died of cardiac arrest.
Once at the hospital, the staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.
We're told one of the staff members at Jackson's home called 911.
La Toya ran in the hospital sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.
Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.
* * *
When you think of Michael Jackson, the first thing that comes to mind might be his unique dancing ability — particularly his moonwalk dance, where he would spin then glide in reverse, giving an effortless impression that he was impervious to the laws of gravity. But those skills sometimes overshadowed his undeniable musical talents and innovations, which spanned several decades, beginning in the '70s and lasting into the new millennium.
It all began for MJ as a member of the Jackson 5, a sibling outfit comprised of him and his brothers.
* * *
[7/7/09] Michael Jackson memorial
Michael Jackson filled Aloha Stadium twice
* * *
[8/24/09] Coroner rules Jackson’s death a homicide
Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.
A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived. A cardiologist at UCLA tells TMZ Jackson died of cardiac arrest.
Once at the hospital, the staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.
We're told one of the staff members at Jackson's home called 911.
La Toya ran in the hospital sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.
Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.
* * *
When you think of Michael Jackson, the first thing that comes to mind might be his unique dancing ability — particularly his moonwalk dance, where he would spin then glide in reverse, giving an effortless impression that he was impervious to the laws of gravity. But those skills sometimes overshadowed his undeniable musical talents and innovations, which spanned several decades, beginning in the '70s and lasting into the new millennium.
It all began for MJ as a member of the Jackson 5, a sibling outfit comprised of him and his brothers.
* * *
[7/7/09] Michael Jackson memorial
Michael Jackson filled Aloha Stadium twice
* * *
[8/24/09] Coroner rules Jackson’s death a homicide
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Bush and Clinton brothers?
Former President George W. Bush called former President Bill Clinton "his brother" and the two rarely disagreed in their first-ever appearance together on stage.
The Republican and Democratic ex-presidents defended each other at a Toronto forum on Friday, disappointing some in the crowd of 6,000 who expected a more heated debate.
Bush and Clinton did differ on Iraq. Clinton said U.N inspectors should have been given more time to conduct the search for weapons of mass destruction and Bush should have concentrated on Afghanistan. Bush disagreed.
"I don't buy the premise that our attention was diverted," Bush said.
Bush joked about how much time his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and Clinton spend together. He said his mother, Barbara Bush, "said President Clinton and Father share the stage so much, he's like a son to her."
He said, "So brother, it's good to see you."
The Republican and Democratic ex-presidents defended each other at a Toronto forum on Friday, disappointing some in the crowd of 6,000 who expected a more heated debate.
Bush and Clinton did differ on Iraq. Clinton said U.N inspectors should have been given more time to conduct the search for weapons of mass destruction and Bush should have concentrated on Afghanistan. Bush disagreed.
"I don't buy the premise that our attention was diverted," Bush said.
Bush joked about how much time his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and Clinton spend together. He said his mother, Barbara Bush, "said President Clinton and Father share the stage so much, he's like a son to her."
He said, "So brother, it's good to see you."
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Duke Bainum
City Councilman Duke Bainum was remembered yesterday as a political moderate who reached out to help those most in need.
Bainum was "always committed and always ready to do what was the best for the people in his district," said council chairman Todd Apo.
He seemed to be a perennial candidate who rarely fit the mold of a typical Hawai'i politician.
"He was a medical doctor and naturally liked healthcare, and anything related to people issues, having to deal with human and social issues," said Richard Port, former chairman of the Hawai'i Democratic Party.
His message resonated with immigrants while Bainum's personal appeal also attracted moderate-to-conservative voters.
"He did well with Filipinos, in particular," said John Hart, a Hawai'i Pacific University professor of communication who specializes in political communication and rhetoric. "But he also appealed to haole voters. I would characterize him as that middle-of-the road politician who appealed to many demographics."
Bainum appeared fine at work Tuesday and later played with his two young sons but experienced chest pains at night and was taken to the hospital, said Mallory Fujitani, a senior adviser.
Bainum had been driving along Wilder Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when he experienced chest pains and pulled over and called 911, city spokesman Bill Brennan said.
Paramedics took him to The Queen's Medical Center, Brennan said. Bainum died around 11 p.m. of complications from an aortic aneurysm, said Honolulu medical examiner Dr. Kanthi De Alwis.
There were no warning signs other than chest pain, said Mallory Fujitani, Bainum's senior adviser.
Bainum was "always committed and always ready to do what was the best for the people in his district," said council chairman Todd Apo.
He seemed to be a perennial candidate who rarely fit the mold of a typical Hawai'i politician.
"He was a medical doctor and naturally liked healthcare, and anything related to people issues, having to deal with human and social issues," said Richard Port, former chairman of the Hawai'i Democratic Party.
His message resonated with immigrants while Bainum's personal appeal also attracted moderate-to-conservative voters.
"He did well with Filipinos, in particular," said John Hart, a Hawai'i Pacific University professor of communication who specializes in political communication and rhetoric. "But he also appealed to haole voters. I would characterize him as that middle-of-the road politician who appealed to many demographics."
Bainum appeared fine at work Tuesday and later played with his two young sons but experienced chest pains at night and was taken to the hospital, said Mallory Fujitani, a senior adviser.
Bainum had been driving along Wilder Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when he experienced chest pains and pulled over and called 911, city spokesman Bill Brennan said.
Paramedics took him to The Queen's Medical Center, Brennan said. Bainum died around 11 p.m. of complications from an aortic aneurysm, said Honolulu medical examiner Dr. Kanthi De Alwis.
There were no warning signs other than chest pain, said Mallory Fujitani, Bainum's senior adviser.
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