I started posting links to interesting articles and columns in September 2001, and this is my first archived batch. For the most recent article links click here. And please don't forget to check out my latest humor columns and Dubya's Dayly Diary.
Oct. 31, 2001
FBI Terror Detentions Questioned The FBI has detained nearly 1,000 people in conjunction with its anti-terrorism investigation -- and has repeatedly refused to provide any details. Civil liberties groups want to know what's going on.
This Isn't the Speech I Expected to Give Today In his fine speech on right-wing opportunism, Bill Moyers says: "But this is their game. They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over your heart, pledging allegiance to the flag, while they pick your pocket!"
The news that got away, or, Is Anne Heche really God? The Chicago Tribune updates us on big stories that disappeared after 9/11 including sharks, stem cells research, Anne Heche, Gary Condit, Little League pitcher Danny Almonte, and the Gore/Bush audit.
Atlantic's Hotline World Extra Each weekday afternoon The Atlantic Online presents a comprehensive briefing on the war on terrorism. The Hotline World Extra "covers the coverage" of the war, drawing from print, online, and broadcast news sources.
GP Seeks Action on GOP Nominees "Republicans said they would continue to block some necessary spending bills until Democrats agreed to hit the accelerator on Bush's pending judicial nominations." Is the GOP exploiting our crisis in order to fast-track judicial nominees? You be the judge.
Oct. 12, 2001
Terror Unanswered In his Slate column William Saletan urges President Bush to rebut Bin Laden's message and he suggests how Bush can "fire back."
The Return of the Issues Syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman describes how humor and our priorities have changed since September 11.
Defending the Right to Rib Dubya Sam McManis asks "what's more normal, more red-blooded American, than to poke fun at the commander in chief?"
Oct. 11, 2001
Bush Edict On Briefings Irks Hill President Bush has moved to restrict intelligence shared with lawmakers. Is this a legitimate security move or something else?
Is Normal The Best We Can Do? Arianna Huffington urges progressives to return with renewed vigor to causes they were supporting before the terrorist attacks.
Molly Ivins Is Back The great Molly Ivins is back from Europe with her first post-attack column.
Electronic Privacy Information Center This site is packed with information about the pending ant-terrorism legislation and its impact on privacy. It includes an analysis of the Judiciary Committee's draft bill released in response to Attorney General Ashcroft's proposed anti-terrorism legislation and explains how it continues to raise many of the same privacy and civil liberties issues.
The Wartime Opportunists This article details some of the ways in which the Sept. 11th tragedy is being exploited. It observes: "Opportunism and cynical manipulation of tragedy are nothing new in Washington. But the proposals to exploit the September 11 tragedy for narrow corporate aims mark a new low."
Oct. 2, 2001
Democracy Held Hostage This Salon Magazine piece argues against the "silence-is-patriotic mentality" and worries that it has even gained momentum in the press and in Democratic and liberal activist circles. It concludes: "In the end, it won't be military superiority that determines the outcome of this war. As our implacable fundamentalist foes have told the world, this is a war of values. We cannot win by sacrificing ours. If democracy and freedom are to win over the forces of terror and theocracy, they first must flourish at home."
The War on the Bill of Rights In a must-read article for anyone concerned about privacy and freedom, Nat Hentoff says, "opposition to a coup d'état against the Bill of Rights is our only alternative to yielding to the beginnings of a police state for an indefinite period."
We Love the Liberties They Hate In her fine commentary on Ari Fleischer's Big Brother "watch what they say" remarks, Maureen Dowd says: "Even as the White House preaches tolerance toward Muslims and Sikhs, it is practicing intolerance, signaling that anyone who challenges the leaders of an embattled America is cynical, political and — isn't this the subtext? — unpatriotic."
What Bush Said And When He Said It Howard Kurtz on how the White House, with the help of journalists, is remaking President Bush's image.
The Onion Returns Is it okay to enjoy political humor once again? Read The Onion's first post-attack issue and decide for yourself.
'United We Stand' -- Or Else This article describes the public backlash suffered by anyone who says or does anything that isn't deemed an expression of patriotism.
Proposed Anti-Terrorism Laws Draw Tough Questions Will the "hastily prepared package ... greatly expand police powers at the expense of privacy and other civil liberties"? Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are worried about precisely that.
Land of the Free? Arianna Huffington ably defends Bill Maher and is "disgusted at the politically correct cowards who are trying to stifle him."
For Bush, a Mission and a Defining Moment Is Bush's leadership in this crisis part of God's plan? The New York Times' Frank Bruni depicts a President who may be on a religious mission.
New Look for Entertainment in a Terror-Conscious World Is irony dead? Hipness over? Action films out and character-oriented movies in? This article explores the ways in which entertainment and culture may change due to the terrorist attacks.
Sept. 22, 2001
Where Were the Lobbyists for the Public Good? In a thought-provoking column, Arianna Huffington says: "As we examine the deep flaws in airport security and intelligence-gathering, why not also look at the fundamental flaws in a system of government that determines its priorities in a bazaar of influence peddling?"
Is this a war or a police action? Eric Alterman finds much to applaud in Bush's Sept 21st speech. But he also wonders why bringing the culprits to justice requires a war, "rather than a massive international police effort, beefed-up intelligence work and the assistance and cooperation of various military agencies..."
Has Everything Changed? Maybe not. Slate's Michael Kinsley says: "Life was riskier than we realized before Sept. 11 and is not as risky as we fear now. Resisting the conclusion that everything has changed is one way to help prevent it from being true."
Media face dilemma in patriotic displays Some journalists find themselves in a quandary -- they must either "do something that could erode their reputations as objective journalists, or appear unpatriotic and uncaring toward the victims of last week's terrorist attacks."
Sept. 20, 2001
Radio Sings Self-Censorship Tune Your favorite songs may be off the air due to an "informational campaign." Censorship? You be the judge.
Who did it? Foreign Report presents an alternative view According to Jane's Security, "Israel’s military intelligence service, Aman, suspects that Iraq is the state that sponsored the suicide attacks on the New York Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington."
Coalition to Congress: Slow Down "Dozens of groups worried about the future of free speech, privacy and other liberties in wartime have gathered together to ask Congress to tread carefully. A quickly organized alliance of liberal, libertarian and conservative organizations, tentatively named the In Defense of Freedom coalition, says legislators should not rush to rewrite wiretapping, immigration and surveillance laws..."
Muted Dissent Is it unpatriotic for members of Congress to ask searching questions during a national emergency? The Washington Post reports on the quandary faced by some members of the Senate and the House.
Attack On America In Context LexisNexis™ has put together a free resource package of "relevant content from its deep archive of news and legal, legislative and business information to assist people in their jobs and lives with the ongoing after-effects of the tragic terrorist events of Sept. 11."
Geeks Gather to Back Encryption Technology Geektavists -- alarmed by pending anti-terrorism legislation -- meet to find ways to persuade legislators that American liberties, including privacy protections, should be upheld even in wartime.
Sacrificing Freedoms in the Name of Saving Them A thought-provoking column by Neil Skene of Creative Loafing (Atlanta) which explores "whether ultimately we will cripple our freedom and openness in the name of preserving them."
Actually, They DO Dare Call It Treason Terry Krepel of Conwebwatch monitors conservative sites and catalogues their reactions to recent media criticism of President Bush.
