McCain Sounds the Alarm on Georgia

Staff / Truthdig Aug 12, 2008 John McCain comes off as the tough-talking hard-liner in this Financial Times story about the Russia-Georgia conflict. Even more of a hard-liner than President Bush, who ever-so-reluctantly came around to agreeing with McCain on Monday after initially taking "a much more diluted stance" (just like Barack Obama), as John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, put it in the FT article's completely unsurprising conclusion. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Pravda Online Perfects Art of Messianic Headline Composition

Staff / Truthdig Aug 12, 2008 Right, so Vladimir Putin's criticism about the Western media's coverage of the ongoing clash between Russia and Georgia is certainly not completely unfounded, but media bias isn't confined to the West. Consider this recent story from Russian news source Pravda.ru, headlined "Russia: Again Savior of Peace and Life." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Putin Slams U.S., Georgia’s Western Allies

Staff / Truthdig Aug 12, 2008 Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made his position vis-à-vis his country's ongoing conflict with Georgia eminently clear on Monday, lamenting how, as he put it, the "aggressor" has been painted as the "victim" in the Western press (hint: said "aggressor" ain't Russia). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Talks Politics at Olympics

Staff / Truthdig Aug 12, 2008 In case you missed it, here's part of President Bush's sit-down with NBC's Olympic host Bob Costas on Sunday, during which a somewhat squirmy Bush talked about what he said to Vladimir Putin during the opening festivities, lamenting how the fighting in Georgia was conflicting with the spirit of the Olympics. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Georgia Conflict Primer

Staff / Truthdig Aug 11, 2008 For those who never heard of South Ossetia before fighting between Russians and Georgians erupted there, the BBC's Paul Reynolds provides some needed background and analysis, including this pearl of wisdom: "Do not punch a bear on the nose unless it is tied down." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

BBC Crew Survives Russian Rockets

Staff / Truthdig Aug 11, 2008 A BBC team in Georgia was busy reporting on the conflict there when a Russian plane turned toward the journalists and opened fire. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Crisis Mounts in Georgia as Russian Bombing Intensifies

Staff / Truthdig Aug 10, 2008 Despite calls from international officials late in the week urging Russia to hold its fire against neighboring Georgia, Russian forces showed no sign of backing off over the weekend, nor had the United Nations managed to make headway in curbing the conflict. Update Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Georgia and Russia Get Their War On

Staff / Truthdig Aug 8, 2008 Georgia bombed separatists in the country's South Ossetia region Tuesday evening, killing 25; Russia rolled an estimated 150 tanks into Georgia in retaliation, ostensibly to defend the region's high Russian immigrant population. Georgia pleads its case as a "freedom-loving" nation to garner U.S. support; any semblance of logic retreats. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Georgia Cops to Charge for Their Trouble

Staff / Truthdig Jul 1, 2008 If you plan on speeding through Holly Springs, Ga., be warned: The police chief there has decided to start charging the pulled-over a fuel surcharge. Cop houses around the country are struggling with the high cost of gas. The chief in Holly Springs said he got the idea from businesses, such as airlines, that pass their troubles on to the consumer. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Barr Wins Libertarian Nomination

Staff / Truthdig May 26, 2008 Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia has been chosen by Libertarians to carry the party's banner in November, beating out Mary Ruwart, former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel and others. Given John McCain's trouble with conservatives and Barack Obama's focus on Georgia, Barr could be something of a spoiler in the general election. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Jimmy Carter: Guess Who I?m For

Staff / Truthdig Apr 4, 2008 The former president and superdelegate wouldn't tell a Nigerian reporter which of the Democratic candidates he intends to support, but he offered a pretty good hint: "Don't forget that [Barack] Obama won in my state of Georgia. My town, which is home to 625 people, is for Obama. My children and their spouses are pro-Obama. My grandchildren are also pro-Obama." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Very Special Announcement From R.E.M.

Staff / Truthdig Mar 22, 2008 Veteran rocker and self-described "queer artist" Michael Stipe has made a startling announcement about his two bandmates, Peter Buck and Mike Mills, ending, as Stipe put it, "years of awkward speculation" about their sexual orientation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )