One year anniversary of Obama?s broken promise to shut Guantanamo Bay, Aisha Maniar
If the president of the United States had kept his word, Guantánamo Bay would have closed down by this day last year. Signing a decree to this effect was one of the first things Barack Obama did upon becoming president in 2009. His actions since then tell a completely different story. Protests held recently in London and Washington D.C. marked the sombre ninth anniversary of the illegal prison camp which still houses 173 prisoners.
When it Comes to Political Violence, the U.S. Sets an Example for Itself
The world as “downrange” for Gabrielle GiffordsThere is Representative Gabrielle Giffords, in photos on this page, enjoying the fruit of shock and awe, definitely a representative. Of what? That?s one question. What are not the questions worth any/further debate are whether or not Sarah Palin may have inspired or encouraged the shooting in Tucson on 08 January?the answer, plainly, is no?or whether the ?tone? of political discourse somehow foments or fosters such violence?and again the answer is decidedly no.
What one study says about the effects of violent rhetoric in politics
I had a conversation on Twitter Tuesday with several other science journalists and science bloggers about whether there’s actually been much research done definitively linking violent political rhetoric to an increase in violent behavior. The connection makes common sense, but common sense and reality don’t always line up. I’ve been curious what we actually KNOW about this, and how well we know it. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like there’d been much research specifically targeted at that question.
The role of harsh language in politics
President Barack Obama will travel to Tucson for a memorial service on Wednesday. It will be an important moment in his presidency, and his words will be under scrutiny.
Few could criticise him so far for his reaction to the shooting. He stood alongside the First Lady on the White House lawn and led the nation in a minute’s silence for those killed and wounded in Arizona. He can’t afford to be accused of exploiting the tragedy for political gain and speaking afterwards instead attempted to be inspirational.
Errors and apologies in reporting Arizona shooting
After a fatal shooting during a public event in an Arizona shopping center, some news organizations reported erroneously that U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who attended the event, died after being shot.
Giffords Assassination Attempt from a Social Media Perspective
Sarah Palin and the Arizona shooting
This week, Republicans in the House of Representatives planned a vote to repeal President Barack Obama’s healthcare legislation – the law that first caused the Tea Party movement to erupt on to the national scene in a series of furious encounters with politicians who supported the changes. Now, the vote won’t happen. Not this week. The US is no stranger to mass killings, but the shootings in Tucson have prompted a national pause. Instead of trying to repeal healthcare laws, a solemn reflective House will instead pay tribute to Gabby Giffords, and others hurt or killed in the shootings.
America and the rise of middle powers | Stephen Kinzer
US foreign policy is stuck in a cold war mindset of imperial dominance. It’s time to listen to allies like Turkey and adjust
The dramatic rise of Turkey in the councils of world power was one of the main geopolitical developments of 2010. Iran’s emergence as a serious regional power was another. They are harbingers of what will be one of the main trends of global power in coming decades: the rise of middle powers.
Obama finds fitting words for Arizona tragedy
Tucson, Arizona
It wasn’t the usual sort of memorial service. It wasn’t, for a start, very solemn. Music of all sorts, from choral to soul, built up towards the speeches. It followed pretty much the pattern of every other Obama rally I have been to.
America?s political class struggle
MAIN FOCUS: US politicians in the pillory after attack | 10/01/2011
A 22-year-old assailant has critically wounded a Democratic congresswoman with a shot to the head, killed six others and seriously injured 13 more during an attack in Arizona. The press puts the blame on political firebrands and calls for rhetorical disarmament, above all from US right-wing Conservatives.
For Sarah Palin, best defence is attack
Tucson The queue outside the sports stadium is already long, winding around the block. People sit on the pavement in the sunshine, hours before President Barack Obama has even left Washington.
2012 elections: who’s going to run, and when?
One of the major US stories of 2011 will be the emergence of Republican presidential hopefuls. As ever, it will be about the direction of the party as well as the personality. The Tea Party, and its demand for fiscal conservatism, will play an important role. It would be a mistake to see this as business as usual: there will be an unusually large number of newly registered, newly engaged conservative Republicans voting.
New Congress poses test for US Republicans
The real comeback kid
“The Comeback kid” is an overused term in American politics, first applied to Bill Clinton, now used for any politicians who may be experiencing something of a renaissance, including Obama.