Archives for February 2013

‘House Of Stone’ And The Meaning Of ‘Bayt’ — A Final Tribute To Anthony Shadid

One year ago this week Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and friend, Anthony Shadid, died from a severe asthma attack while covering the civil war in Syria.  Anthony had just finished his third book, “House of Stone,” but sadly passed away before the book was published. I was deeply affected by his passing and, as a […]

One year ago this week Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and friend, Anthony Shadid, died from a severe asthma attack while covering the civil war in Syria.  Anthony had just finished his third book, “House of Stone,” but sadly passed away before the book was published. I was deeply affected by his passing and, as a result, I couldn’t

Vatican Feuds, Fiefdoms, Betrayals Await Next Pope

If evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict XVI’s private papers is Exhibit A. The pope’s own butler stole sensitive internal letters to the pontiff and passed them off to a journalist, who then published them in a blockbuster […]

If evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict XVI's private papers is Exhibit A. The pope's own butler stole sensitive internal letters to the pontiff and passed them off to a journalist, who then published them in a blockbuster book. The

Obama Considers Weighing In On Gay Marriage Case

The Obama administration is quietly considering urging the Supreme Court to overturn California’s ban on gay marriage, a step that would mark a political victory for advocates of same-sex unions and a deepening commitment by President Barack Obama to rights for gay couples. Obama raised expectations among opponents of the Proposition 8 ban when he […]

The Obama administration is quietly considering urging the Supreme Court to overturn California's ban on gay marriage, a step that would mark a political victory for advocates of same-sex unions and a deepening commitment by President Barack Obama to rights for gay couples. Obama raised expectations among opponents of the Proposition 8 ban when

IRS Should Bar Dark Money Groups From Funding Political Ads, Lawsuit Says

A former Illinois congressional candidate and a government watchdog organization have teamed up to sue the Internal Revenue Service, claiming the agency should bar dark money groups from funding political ads. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday by David Gill, his campaign committee and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, is the first […]

A former Illinois congressional candidate and a government watchdog organization have teamed up to sue the Internal Revenue Service, claiming the agency should bar dark money groups from funding political ads. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday by David Gill, his campaign committee and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, is

Private US Firms Take Major Role Vs. Cyberattacks

When Kevin Mandia, a retired military cybercrime investigator, decided to expose China as a primary threat to U.S. computer networks, he didn’t have to consult with American diplomats in Beijing or declassify tactics to safely reveal government secrets. He pulled together a 76-page report based on seven years of his company’s work and produced the […]

When Kevin Mandia, a retired military cybercrime investigator, decided to expose China as a primary threat to U.S. computer networks, he didn't have to consult with American diplomats in Beijing or declassify tactics to safely reveal government secrets. He pulled together a 76-page report based on seven years of his company's work and produced

BP Civil Settlement Remains Elusive As Trial Nears

The U.S. Justice Department and the five Gulf coast states affected by a massive oil spill nearly three years ago have indicated they would like to settle their environmental and economic claims with BP PLC ahead of a trial scheduled to start next week. The problem is that they haven’t been able to agree on the possible terms of […]

The U.S. Justice Department and the five Gulf coast states affected by a massive oil spill nearly three years ago have indicated they would like to settle their environmental and economic claims with BP PLC ahead of a trial scheduled to start next week. The problem is that they haven't been able to agree on the possible terms of such an