In The Corridors of Power, filmmaker Dror Moreh takes a bracing look at the factors that kept America — the sole remaining superpower in the immediate post-Cold War era — from intervening in global instances involving genocide, war crimes and other large-scale atrocities.
“The idea of the movie started, basically, when I saw the horrible picture that came out from Syria, especially after the chemical attack [in 2013], especially after the Syrian regime has crossed Obama’s red line,” Moreh revealed during Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary awards-season panel, noting that President Barack Obama had indicated that the U.S. would commit to opposing the Assad regime. “So I asked myself: What goes on in those decision-making rooms when they decide to intervene in one place, but not the other, or they don’t decide?”
Related: The Contenders Documentary – Deadline’s Full Coverage
“After the Second World War, the world had watched what had happened and said,...
“The idea of the movie started, basically, when I saw the horrible picture that came out from Syria, especially after the chemical attack [in 2013], especially after the Syrian regime has crossed Obama’s red line,” Moreh revealed during Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary awards-season panel, noting that President Barack Obama had indicated that the U.S. would commit to opposing the Assad regime. “So I asked myself: What goes on in those decision-making rooms when they decide to intervene in one place, but not the other, or they don’t decide?”
Related: The Contenders Documentary – Deadline’s Full Coverage
“After the Second World War, the world had watched what had happened and said,...
- 12/4/2022
- by Scott Huver
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Dror Moreh, the Oscar-nominated director of The Gatekeepers and another doc about the Middle East, The Human Factor, broadens his scope productively in his new documentary, The Corridors of Power, which had its world premiere screenings in Telluride. Doreh assembled an impressive array of diplomats from several administrations over the past 40 years, and he comes up with a deeply disturbing examination of genocide during recent decades.
The film opens by recalling the Nazi genocide of the Jews, with a reminder of how little the United States did to try and halt the slaughter. After the war ended and the United Nations was formed, the cry of “Never again!” echoed throughout the world. Given the dark side of human nature, that was always an optimistic credo, but people probably did not realize how many horrific instances of genocide would emerge in the decades that followed,...
Dror Moreh, the Oscar-nominated director of The Gatekeepers and another doc about the Middle East, The Human Factor, broadens his scope productively in his new documentary, The Corridors of Power, which had its world premiere screenings in Telluride. Doreh assembled an impressive array of diplomats from several administrations over the past 40 years, and he comes up with a deeply disturbing examination of genocide during recent decades.
The film opens by recalling the Nazi genocide of the Jews, with a reminder of how little the United States did to try and halt the slaughter. After the war ended and the United Nations was formed, the cry of “Never again!” echoed throughout the world. Given the dark side of human nature, that was always an optimistic credo, but people probably did not realize how many horrific instances of genocide would emerge in the decades that followed,...
- 9/7/2022
- by Stephen Farber
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In today’s TV news roundup, Freeform ordered “Last Summer” to pilot and PBS announced five new members of its board of directors.
Dates
“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” will return to Bravo for its 10th season on Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania, Jackie Goldschneider and Jennifer Aydin return as cast members. Danielle Staub will make appearances this season, as well.
First Looks
Susan Sarandon has lent her voice to the 10th season of Adult Swim‘s “Robot Chicken“ in a sketch that sees beloved characters from “Popeye” get tips on how to engage Generation Z, which Variety has obtained exclusively. The stop-motion animated comedy returns for this milestone season Sept. 29 with two back-to-back episodes.
Development
Freeform has ordered the one-hour thriller “Last Summer” to pilot from eOne. Taking place in the summers between 1993-95, the drama details the abduction of a...
Dates
“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” will return to Bravo for its 10th season on Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania, Jackie Goldschneider and Jennifer Aydin return as cast members. Danielle Staub will make appearances this season, as well.
First Looks
Susan Sarandon has lent her voice to the 10th season of Adult Swim‘s “Robot Chicken“ in a sketch that sees beloved characters from “Popeye” get tips on how to engage Generation Z, which Variety has obtained exclusively. The stop-motion animated comedy returns for this milestone season Sept. 29 with two back-to-back episodes.
Development
Freeform has ordered the one-hour thriller “Last Summer” to pilot from eOne. Taking place in the summers between 1993-95, the drama details the abduction of a...
- 9/25/2019
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
What must it be like to play poker with Christoph Waltz? For all the actor’s charms, subtlety doesn’t seem to come naturally to him. Granted, Waltz was a revelation as the unnervingly appealing Nazi colonel in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds,” but in most of the roles that have followed, he’s tipped his hand with each exaggerated expression, working his elastic face like some kind of live-action cartoon character.
That’s an especially odd approach to take in playing a con artist, as he does in “Georgetown,” since no one in the real world would believe a man who telegraphs his true intentions quite so transparently. But seeing as this is also Waltz’s directorial debut, signed under the name “C. Waltz,” he can surround himself with similarly vaudevillian performances from otherwise excellent actors — including Vanessa Redgrave and Annette Bening — whose natural tendency has been to underplay their characters’ emotions.
That’s an especially odd approach to take in playing a con artist, as he does in “Georgetown,” since no one in the real world would believe a man who telegraphs his true intentions quite so transparently. But seeing as this is also Waltz’s directorial debut, signed under the name “C. Waltz,” he can surround himself with similarly vaudevillian performances from otherwise excellent actors — including Vanessa Redgrave and Annette Bening — whose natural tendency has been to underplay their characters’ emotions.
- 4/28/2019
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Earlier this month, President Trump declared a national emergency under the guise that undocumented immigrants represent a security threat to the United States. On Monday, a bipartisan group of 58 former national security officials released a statement explaining why the action is unwarranted. “Under no plausible assessment of the evidence is there a national emergency today that entitles the president to tap into funds appropriated for other purposes to build a wall at the southern border,” the group wrote.
Exclusive: Full Text of Declaration of 58 former senior U.S. officials refuting...
Exclusive: Full Text of Declaration of 58 former senior U.S. officials refuting...
- 2/25/2019
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (Vvmf) is commemorating the 35th anniversary of The Wall in 2017 and an esteemed group of Americans, led by The Honorable Chuck Hagel, 24th Secretary of Defense and Vietnam veteran, have come together to form the 35th Anniversary of The Wall committee to help commemorate this milestone.
Vvmf will host a series of events in Washington, D.C. in the week leading up to Veterans Day in November to honor and remember the service and sacrifice of those who served in Vietnam and their families.
“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the perfect tribute and a fitting reminder of that divisive war and its enormous human cost to our country,” said American entrepreneur, philanthropist and Vietnam veteran Bob Parsons. “Many of us who served in Vietnam and made it back received either a rude or no reception. Be that as it may, our 58,000 plus brothers and sisters...
Vvmf will host a series of events in Washington, D.C. in the week leading up to Veterans Day in November to honor and remember the service and sacrifice of those who served in Vietnam and their families.
“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the perfect tribute and a fitting reminder of that divisive war and its enormous human cost to our country,” said American entrepreneur, philanthropist and Vietnam veteran Bob Parsons. “Many of us who served in Vietnam and made it back received either a rude or no reception. Be that as it may, our 58,000 plus brothers and sisters...
- 10/6/2017
- Look to the Stars
Ebola fears began to ease for some Monday as a monitoring period passed for those who had close contact with a victim of the disease and after a cruise ended with the boat returning to port and a lab worker on board testing negative for the virus. Federal officials meanwhile ramped up readiness to deal with future cases. A top government official said revised guidance instructs health workers treating Ebola patients to wear protective gear "with no skin showing." The Pentagon said it is forming a team to support civilian medical staff in the U.S. In Dallas, Louise Troh...
- 10/20/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Ebola fears began to ease for some Monday as a monitoring period passed for those who had close contact with a victim of the disease and after a cruise ended with the boat returning to port and a lab worker on board testing negative for the virus. Federal officials meanwhile ramped up readiness to deal with future cases. A top government official said revised guidance instructs health workers treating Ebola patients to wear protective gear "with no skin showing." The Pentagon said it is forming a team to support civilian medical staff in the U.S. In Dallas, Louise Troh...
- 10/20/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
An initial test shows that a nursing assistant who became infected with Ebola in Spain is now clear of all traces of the virus nearly two weeks after she was hospitalized, authorities said Sunday. Teresa Romero, 44, is the first person known to have contracted the disease outside West Africa in the current outbreak when she tested positive for the virus Oct. 6. She has been in quarantine at Carlos III hospital in Madrid since then. Related: Ebola Victim Thomas Duncan Remembered as Caring, Compassionate ManA statement Sunday said a blood test revealed that Romero's immune system had eliminated the virus from her body.
- 10/19/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
An initial test shows that a nursing assistant who became infected with Ebola in Spain is now clear of all traces of the virus nearly two weeks after she was hospitalized, authorities said Sunday. Teresa Romero, 44, is the first person known to have contracted the disease outside West Africa in the current outbreak when she tested positive for the virus Oct. 6. She has been in quarantine at Carlos III hospital in Madrid since then. Related: Ebola Victim Thomas Duncan Remembered as Caring, Compassionate ManA statement Sunday said a blood test revealed that Romero's immune system had eliminated the virus from her body.
- 10/19/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Tim Howard, the goalie for the United States’ men's World Cup team, made so many saves against Belgium on Tuesday that somebody went ahead and named him the U.S. Secretary of Defense — on Wikipedia. The edit that ousted actual Secretary of Defense incumbent Chuck Hagel was noticed, captured and immortalized on the internet by a Twitter user before being quickly corrected by the free encyclopedia. See video: Jimmy Kimmel Exposes Us Soccer's Bandwagon World Cup Fans in ‘Lie Witness News’ The nod to Howard's defensive skills proved just how grateful the U.S. is to the soccer player,...
- 7/2/2014
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
If you're just looking at the scores, the United States' World Cup journey was a slow slide of disappointment: a win, then a draw, then a 1-0 loss, then finally a 2-1 loss to Belgium that knocked them out of the tournament in the Round of 16. But that view doesn't quite tell the full story of the Americans' run through the World Cup, as an underdog team emerged from the Group of Death and hordes of passionate fans put lie to the old saying that the U.S. doesn't care about soccer. Even in defeat the American side earned the...
- 7/2/2014
- by Nate Jones
- PEOPLE.com
Bowe Bergdahl, the Army sergeant who has been recovering in Germany after five years as a Taliban captive, returned to the United States early Friday to continue his medical treatment. A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, said Bergdahl flew to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio from Ramstein Air Base. While at the Texas Army base, Bergdahl "will continue the next phase of his reintegration process," Kirby said, adding there was no timeline for the process. "Our focus remains on his health and well-being," he said. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel "is confident that the Army will continue to ensure that Sgt.
- 6/13/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel attempted to tamp down any premature criticism of Bowe Bergdahl Wednesday, saying before all the facts are out and the solider gets a chance to tell his story, it's "unfair" to judge his actions. Since news broke that Bergdahl had been released by the Taliban following five years in captivity, his fellow soldiers have been publicly labeling him a "deserter."...
- 6/4/2014
- by Matt Wilstein
- Mediaite - TV
Sgt Bowe Bergdahl had been held captive by members of the Taliban for five years before he was released Saturday, May 31.
Sgt Bowe Bergdahl Released
The Afghani militant group captured Bergdahl when he disappeared from his base in southeastern Afghanistan June 30, 2009. Since then, the solider was held captive predominantly in Pakistan, according to the U.S. government. The Taliban had forced Bergdahl to appear in a number of their videos during his time in captivity.
Recently, Bergdahl’s health began to suffer greatly, causing U.S. intelligence to work out the details of a deal that would ensure Bergdahl’s rescue in order to save his life, reported USA Today. President Barack Obama and his administration’s national security team – including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel – agreed with the plan to release five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Bergdahl.
The exchange, which featured U.S. Special Forces troops and armed Taliban members,...
Sgt Bowe Bergdahl Released
The Afghani militant group captured Bergdahl when he disappeared from his base in southeastern Afghanistan June 30, 2009. Since then, the solider was held captive predominantly in Pakistan, according to the U.S. government. The Taliban had forced Bergdahl to appear in a number of their videos during his time in captivity.
Recently, Bergdahl’s health began to suffer greatly, causing U.S. intelligence to work out the details of a deal that would ensure Bergdahl’s rescue in order to save his life, reported USA Today. President Barack Obama and his administration’s national security team – including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel – agreed with the plan to release five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Bergdahl.
The exchange, which featured U.S. Special Forces troops and armed Taliban members,...
- 6/2/2014
- Uinterview
The only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan has been freed from Taliban captivity in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Obama administration officials said Saturday. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban Saturday evening, local time, in an area of eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. Officials said the exchange was not violent and the 28-year-old Bergdahl was in good condition and able to walk. In a statement, President Barack Obama said Bergdahl's recovery "is a reminder of America's unwavering commitment...
- 5/31/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
The only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan has been freed from Taliban captivity in exchange for the release of five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Obama administration officials said Saturday. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban Saturday evening, local time, in an area of eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. Officials said the exchange was not violent and the 28-year-old Bergdahl was in good condition and able to walk. In a statement, President Barack Obama said Bergdahl's recovery "is a reminder of America's unwavering commitment...
- 5/31/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Arkansas licenses look unlikely, Secretary Hagel believes in reviewing ban on transgender service, Donald Sterling asks for forgiveness
When Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams, he kissed a very handsome man live on the air. Buzzfeed has taken a look at Vito Cammisano’s life, and they have been telling a rather adorable romantic story in pictures if you’ve followed them on social media. Cammisano went to Mizzou with Sam, and was an out athlete on the swim team there. He’s quite excited that they’re staying in Missouri.
Donald Sterling has given his first interview since the racist comments he made to his girlfriend surfaced. He claims it’s a one time thing that he should be forgiven for, but he’s had issues with racism before. He tells Anderson Cooper “I’m a good member who made a mistake and I’m apologizing...
When Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams, he kissed a very handsome man live on the air. Buzzfeed has taken a look at Vito Cammisano’s life, and they have been telling a rather adorable romantic story in pictures if you’ve followed them on social media. Cammisano went to Mizzou with Sam, and was an out athlete on the swim team there. He’s quite excited that they’re staying in Missouri.
Donald Sterling has given his first interview since the racist comments he made to his girlfriend surfaced. He claims it’s a one time thing that he should be forgiven for, but he’s had issues with racism before. He tells Anderson Cooper “I’m a good member who made a mistake and I’m apologizing...
- 5/12/2014
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
Announcing cuts to the Pentagon on Monday and the reduction of the U.S. Army to pre-World War II troop levels, Defense Sec. Chuck Hagel said that the Pentagon was forced to make a series of difficult decisions in response to budget cuts. He added that U.S. service personnel will face “addition risks” and that U.S. global military dominance can “no longer be taken for granted.”...
- 2/24/2014
- by Noah Rothman
- Mediaite - TV
New skipper of high-tech vessel USS Zumwalt shares a name with TV starship commander played by William Shatner
Captain Kirk's futuristic-looking ship sports cutting-edge technology, new propulsion and powerful armaments – but it isn't the Starship Enterprise. The skipper of the USS Zumwalt is Navy Captain James Kirk, and yes, he's used to the jokes about the name he shares with the TV starship commander played by William Shatner.
"I don't take any offense," he told The Associated Press. "If it's a helpful moniker that brings attention to help us to do what we need to do to get the ship into the fleet and into combat operations, then that's fine."
The technology-laden Zumwalt, which is taking shape at Maine's Bath Iron Works, is unlike any other Us warship. The navy's largest destroyer will feature a composite deckhouse with hidden radar and sensors and an angular shape that minimizes its radar signature.
Captain Kirk's futuristic-looking ship sports cutting-edge technology, new propulsion and powerful armaments – but it isn't the Starship Enterprise. The skipper of the USS Zumwalt is Navy Captain James Kirk, and yes, he's used to the jokes about the name he shares with the TV starship commander played by William Shatner.
"I don't take any offense," he told The Associated Press. "If it's a helpful moniker that brings attention to help us to do what we need to do to get the ship into the fleet and into combat operations, then that's fine."
The technology-laden Zumwalt, which is taking shape at Maine's Bath Iron Works, is unlike any other Us warship. The navy's largest destroyer will feature a composite deckhouse with hidden radar and sensors and an angular shape that minimizes its radar signature.
- 11/24/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
As many as 10,000 people are believed dead in one Philippine city alone after one of the worst storms ever recorded unleashed ferocious winds and giant waves that washed away homes and schools. Corpses hung from tree branches and were scattered along sidewalks and among flattened buildings, while looters raided grocery stores and gas stations in search of food, fuel and water. Officials projected the death toll could climb even higher when emergency crews reach areas cut off by flooding and landslides. Even in the disaster-prone Philippines, which regularly contends with earthquakes, volcanoes and tropical cyclones, Typhoon Haiyan appears to be...
- 11/10/2013
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. adds lesbian agent, Vicious comes to PBS, Josh Hutcherson to host Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live has announced that Lady Gaga will be the host and musical guest on November 11, while pint-sized hunk and giant-sized ally Josh Hutcherson will take over the hosting duties on November 23.
Orson Scott Card: Mentor, Friend, Bigot. My favorite bit of this is “Card’s hate has come to color my experience of his fiction — as, I think, it should. Neither fiction nor its creators exist in a vacuum; nor is the choice to consume art or support an artist morally neutral. Orson Scott Card is monstrously homophobic; he’s racist; he advocates violence and lobbies against fundamental human rights and equates criticism of those stances with his own hate speech.” Which is the best explanation I could give Gavin Hood or Harrison Ford.
Speaking of Orson Scott Card,...
Saturday Night Live has announced that Lady Gaga will be the host and musical guest on November 11, while pint-sized hunk and giant-sized ally Josh Hutcherson will take over the hosting duties on November 23.
Orson Scott Card: Mentor, Friend, Bigot. My favorite bit of this is “Card’s hate has come to color my experience of his fiction — as, I think, it should. Neither fiction nor its creators exist in a vacuum; nor is the choice to consume art or support an artist morally neutral. Orson Scott Card is monstrously homophobic; he’s racist; he advocates violence and lobbies against fundamental human rights and equates criticism of those stances with his own hate speech.” Which is the best explanation I could give Gavin Hood or Harrison Ford.
Speaking of Orson Scott Card,...
- 11/1/2013
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
On Monday, a mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard in DC left 13 people dead - including the suspected shooter. As details of the incident emerged, President Obama addressed the situation. "We're confronting yet another mass shooting," he said, "and today it happened on a military installation in our nation's capital. It's a shooting that targeted our military and civilian personnel. These are men and women who were going to work doing their jobs and protecting all of us. They're patriots. They know the dangers of serving abroad, but today they faced the unimaginable violence that they wouldn't have expected here at home." On Tuesday morning, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel laid a wreath at the Us Navy Memorial in DC during a ceremony, and flags around the country will be flown at half-mast for the rest of the week. As America begins to process another tragedy, here's what we know.
- 9/17/2013
- by Annie Gabillet
- Popsugar.com
American Family Associations says gays will crush Christians, Mark Ruffalo tackles sex addiction, Modern Family considers a gay wedding.
Now that Prop 8 is essentially in the dustbin, Modern Family executive producer Christopher Lloyd says that the show will now consider a wedding for Mitch and Cam. “As you can imagine in Cam and Mitchell’s life, they would be feeling that a door has opened that was closed to them. Wouldn’t it be pretty tempting to think about walking through it? We imagine a lot of gay couples today are deciding whether to get married now that it’s open to them. From our standpoint, that’s something to explore.”
We had a number of celebrities announce engagements as a result of the Supreme Court rulings. Melissa Etheridge will be marrying Linda Wallem, the creator of Nurse Jackie, and Ted Allen is engaged to Barry Rice.
Southland has of course been canceled by TNT,...
Now that Prop 8 is essentially in the dustbin, Modern Family executive producer Christopher Lloyd says that the show will now consider a wedding for Mitch and Cam. “As you can imagine in Cam and Mitchell’s life, they would be feeling that a door has opened that was closed to them. Wouldn’t it be pretty tempting to think about walking through it? We imagine a lot of gay couples today are deciding whether to get married now that it’s open to them. From our standpoint, that’s something to explore.”
We had a number of celebrities announce engagements as a result of the Supreme Court rulings. Melissa Etheridge will be marrying Linda Wallem, the creator of Nurse Jackie, and Ted Allen is engaged to Barry Rice.
Southland has of course been canceled by TNT,...
- 6/27/2013
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made an unfortunate joke that didn't seem to go over very well with his audience during a Q&A session following a speech during the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Hagel had been discussing the potential U.S. negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan when he decided to take another question from the crowd. Spotting a man in the back of the room, Hagel asked, "you're not a member of the Taliban, are you?"...
- 6/20/2013
- by Matt Wilstein
- Mediaite - TV
Meme: When Henry Cavill Was Fat, Quoting E.W. Jackson Is Religious Bigotry, Greg Louganis Is Engaged
Flaming Saddles gets reality show, Brittney Griner’s Nike contract, and a hookup site for gay priests
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council is going to war over Enda (which seems like tilting at windmills as the bill will never receive a vote in the House). “It wasn’t too long ago that homosexual activists said they just wanted ‘to get the government out of their bedroom.’ Now we know why: they want to put their bedroom in the workplace!”
At the time of this writing, Houston Pride is embroiled in a mess about whether safe sex supplies such as condoms can be handed out at Pride. They say no due to rules from the city, but Mayor Annise Parker’s office says that’s not true. The Houston Department of Health and Human Services is threatening to drop their support of Pride after 20 years if they can’t distribute safe sex supplies.
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council is going to war over Enda (which seems like tilting at windmills as the bill will never receive a vote in the House). “It wasn’t too long ago that homosexual activists said they just wanted ‘to get the government out of their bedroom.’ Now we know why: they want to put their bedroom in the workplace!”
At the time of this writing, Houston Pride is embroiled in a mess about whether safe sex supplies such as condoms can be handed out at Pride. They say no due to rules from the city, but Mayor Annise Parker’s office says that’s not true. The Houston Department of Health and Human Services is threatening to drop their support of Pride after 20 years if they can’t distribute safe sex supplies.
- 6/18/2013
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
Senator Ted Cruz got a lot of negative press for his interrogating now-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel over ties to possible anti-American groups, which drew parallels in the media between the Texas Republican and the infamous communist hater Joe McCarthy. Lawrence O'Donnell took on this controversy in his show tonight, and the part that amazed him the most was how when directly asked if McCarthy is someone he personally admires, he declined to answer the question. O'Donnell practically yelled at the screen that the only acceptable answer to that question is a clear No.
- 3/27/2013
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
Syrian opposition representative in UK says 'breakthrough' is expected after relaxation of EU rules
Some European countries are expected to break with Washington and start supplying the Syrian rebels with weapons in the next few months, the representative of the Syrian opposition in Britain has told the Guardian.
The National Coalition's London representative, Walid Saffour, predicted that by the next meeting of the western and Arab Friends of Syria group in Turkey, due in late spring or early summer, "there will be a breakthrough that will end the restrictions of the European countries".
"This would be for the ammunition we require, the quality weapons we need to deter the Syrian regime from using aeroplanes and Scud missiles to bomb villages and bakeries," Saffour said. "We on the ground are advancing steadily but we are suffering from a lack of ammunition. We expect that to change at the next Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul.
Some European countries are expected to break with Washington and start supplying the Syrian rebels with weapons in the next few months, the representative of the Syrian opposition in Britain has told the Guardian.
The National Coalition's London representative, Walid Saffour, predicted that by the next meeting of the western and Arab Friends of Syria group in Turkey, due in late spring or early summer, "there will be a breakthrough that will end the restrictions of the European countries".
"This would be for the ammunition we require, the quality weapons we need to deter the Syrian regime from using aeroplanes and Scud missiles to bomb villages and bakeries," Saffour said. "We on the ground are advancing steadily but we are suffering from a lack of ammunition. We expect that to change at the next Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul.
- 3/1/2013
- by Julian Borger
- The Guardian - Film News
Big news: There will be a Torchwood: Children of Earth reunion at Calgary Comic Expo, featuring John Barrowman, Gareth David-Lloyd and Eve Myles. Ianto lives! Now who's going?
My friend Rod McCullom writes about the possibility of an African pope coming next month, and it's not good news for gays, HIV on the continent, or condom education.
After months of drama that ultimately meant nothing but political theater when there are real problems to solve, Senator Chuck Hagel has been confirmed as Defense Secretary. Most gay advocacy groups are celebrating his commitment to further implementing the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
More than 75 influential Republicans have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court asking them to overturn Prop 8. Among them is Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay, who was a pro 8 supporter when she ran for governor of California. She says she changed her mind because "there is no legitimate,...
My friend Rod McCullom writes about the possibility of an African pope coming next month, and it's not good news for gays, HIV on the continent, or condom education.
After months of drama that ultimately meant nothing but political theater when there are real problems to solve, Senator Chuck Hagel has been confirmed as Defense Secretary. Most gay advocacy groups are celebrating his commitment to further implementing the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
More than 75 influential Republicans have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court asking them to overturn Prop 8. Among them is Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay, who was a pro 8 supporter when she ran for governor of California. She says she changed her mind because "there is no legitimate,...
- 2/27/2013
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Rachel Maddow ended her show tonight by revisiting the Republican filibuster of now-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in the context of a judicial nomination that was also held up in the Senate. This particular Republican filibuster was surprising, since his nomination was proposed by two of the most conservative Republicans in the Senate, which led Maddow to the conclusion that Republicans are just filibustering high-level nominees "for nothing."...
- 2/27/2013
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
A piece in The New Yorker today holds the title "Is Senator Ted Cruz Our New McCarthy?" This is following Cruz's allegations of possible ties Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel has to radical anti-American groups, and the piece alleges Cruz claimed knowledge of communists at Harvard University. Tonight Rachel Maddow deconstructed exactly what makes Cruz so much like Joe McCarthy, the man infamously known for his witch hunt against communists in the United States government.
- 2/23/2013
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
Stephen Colbert opened Thursday's "Colbert Report" with a segment on the short-lived by mildly hilarious "Friends of Hamas" non-scandal, which exploded after Breitbart reporter Ben Shapiro wrote that defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel had given a paid speech to the organization.
Only problem? The organization was a fictional joke, cattily coined by New York Daily News reporter Dan Friedman. Colbert couldn't help but add fuel to the already-funny fire. He demands to know Hagel's further ties to the Lollypop Guild, the Dead Poets Society and exactly why those poets are dead. "Did they know too much about Benghazi?"
He demands that Obama withdraw Hagel's name from consideration, "or you will lose the support of every moderate Republican, another organization that doesn't exist."...
Only problem? The organization was a fictional joke, cattily coined by New York Daily News reporter Dan Friedman. Colbert couldn't help but add fuel to the already-funny fire. He demands to know Hagel's further ties to the Lollypop Guild, the Dead Poets Society and exactly why those poets are dead. "Did they know too much about Benghazi?"
He demands that Obama withdraw Hagel's name from consideration, "or you will lose the support of every moderate Republican, another organization that doesn't exist."...
- 2/22/2013
- by Ross Luippold
- Huffington Post
One downside to being a spotlight-seeking, cable television-loving U.S. senator? People record the things you say on TV, then use them against you when you appear to be contradicting those statements. Technology! On Wednesday night, Jon Stewart tore into the Republican party for its filibuster of President Barack Obama's nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense. In particular, he focused his aim on South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham and Arizona Senator John McCain, a pair he felt have been grandstanding on the fumes of the Bengazi consulate bombing last fall. Video: Jon Stewart and
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- 2/21/2013
- by Jordan Zakarin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Breitbart News Editor Ben Shapiro spent a good part of his Wednesday being kicked around over his report on imaginary group "Friends of Hamas," and their alleged ties to former Sen. Chuck Hagel and a Daily News reporter's dry sense of humor. Shapiro, for his part, stood by the story, if "Whether the information I was given by the source is correct I am not sure" can be considered "standing by" a story, but as a guest on Wednesday night's edition of The Young Turks pointed out, Shapiro appears to have busted himself in a lie even as he tried to double down on his "reporting."...
- 2/21/2013
- by Tommy Christopher
- Mediaite - TV
Jon Stewart tonight took on Republican senators Lindsay Graham and John McCain for their hyped-up outrage over Benghazi that led both to support holding up Chuck Hagel's nomination for Defense Secretary in order to get answers. Stewart tore into McCain specifically for having the hubris to demand answers for Benghazi when he did no such thing regarding the Iraq war and his motivations for blocking Hagel were not exactly free of personal bias.
- 2/21/2013
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
Every political party goes through some soul-searching after losing a presidential election, but Rachel Maddow found the current state of the Republican party following the 2012 election to be particularly contentious and "engulfed in flames." She ran through a list of fight after fight between Republicans and conservatives over everything since the election from the Tea Party to Chuck Hagel to whether or not they have become the "stupid party." Maddow wanted to know if anyone is even attempting to take charge of the Gop's sinking ship.
- 2/21/2013
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
New York Daily News reporter Dan Friedman's said an offhand joke he made about connections between Chuck Hagel and Hamas was taken seriously by conservative news outlets, which then accused the Secretary of Defense nominee of a cover-up. In an op-ed in the Daily News, the reporter said he called a Republican congressional aide to ask about any controversial groups from which Hagel might have received speaking fees. He made up a couple of fake organizations, he said, as a joke. "Hagel was in hot water for alleged hostility to Israel," Friedman...
- 2/20/2013
- by Alexander C. Kaufman
- The Wrap
Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs joined MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday where scolded Congressional Republicans for holding Defense Secretary nominee, Chuck Hagel, to a variety of arbitrary standards. Gibbs criticized Republicans for insisting that Hagel release several years’ worth of financial records. He said this is an ad hoc standard which even former Gop presidential nominee Mitt Romney would have refused to meet.
- 2/19/2013
- by Noah Rothman
- Mediaite - TV
As I am perpetually two years behind whatever is cool and zeitgeisty on the teevee, I've not been watching this new Netflix joint, "House Of Cards." Which is probably to my detriment. Our own Howard Fineman has been watching the show, and he describes an artful and innovative depiction of "the competition for power for its own sake." And just this weekend, I was at a party where an old friend of mine spoke thrillingly of byzantine plots and cagey backstabbing -- Washington as the setting for the polite bloodlust of brilliant political chess masters.
Which must be why so many people in Washington are into this show: For the escapist fantasy!
In reality, we have the House of Senate, and there's no way of describing those people's machinations without briefly wondering if the word "moron" is strong enough. They are on recess now, having ended their current session by...
Which must be why so many people in Washington are into this show: For the escapist fantasy!
In reality, we have the House of Senate, and there's no way of describing those people's machinations without briefly wondering if the word "moron" is strong enough. They are on recess now, having ended their current session by...
- 2/18/2013
- by Jason Linkins
- Huffington Post
Bill Maher tonight took on the Gop opposition to Chuck Hagel becoming the next defense secretary with the particular sticking point that he has made some controversial remarks about Israeli influence on the U.S. government. Maher argued the fact that this is causing such outrage only proves that the Israeli government does have undue influence on the United States.
- 2/16/2013
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
For the first time in our nation's history, the nominee for a presidential cabinet position was filibustered in the Senate. Rachel Maddow marveled at how Republicans like Lindsay Graham were willing to break with precedent by blocking Chuck Hagel's nomination for defense secretary reaching the Senate floor in order to get more answers on Benghazi, a topic that is only tangentially related to Hagel. Maddow said that the filibuster sets a new tone for "how the presidency is treated," calling it a "fresh hell in American politics."...
- 2/15/2013
- by Josh Feldman
- Mediaite - TV
The Senate failed to move forward on Thursday with the confirmation of former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-ne) to replace Leon Panetta as the next Secretary of Defense. Just after the Senate Republicans blocked a vote to move forward with Hagel’s nomination, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-nv) took to the floor of the upper chamber to admonish his Gop colleagues for ratcheting up “the level of obstruction here in Washington.”...
- 2/14/2013
- by Noah Rothman
- Mediaite - TV
This afternoon, the Senate Armed Services Committee will push toward a vote on former Gop Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination to succeed Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-nv) would like to advance to a full Senate vote by mid-week, but within the committee, Hagel's nomination is expected to face tough opposition from Republicans who dislike his views on Israel, Iran, the Iraq War, and nuclear arms.
- 2/12/2013
- by Andrew Kirell
- Mediaite - TV
SNL’s Cut Cold Open Savages Republicans For Their Excessive Praise Of Israel At Chuck Hagel Hearings
America got a glimpse at what was supposed to be last night’s cold open to Saturday Night Live when NBC released a dress rehearsal on their website. The sketch comedy program originally planned to skewer the Republican Party’s congressional representatives for displaying an excessive amount of love of and concern for the state of Israel during last week’s confirmation hearings for Defense Secretary nominee and former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-ne).
- 2/10/2013
- by Noah Rothman
- Mediaite - TV
In this sketch performed at Saturday's dress rehearsal but which was ultimately cut from the show, "Saturday Night Live" spoofed the contentious confirmation hearings for President Obama's nominee for secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel (played here by Jason Sudeikis).
In the "SNL" parody, Republicans are portrayed as going over-the-top in giving Hagel a tough time for being, in their view, insufficiently pro-Israel. Senators such as John McCain and Lindsay Graham balk at Hagel's record of statements about the Middle East, and Sen. Tim Scott, an African-American Republican from South Carolina, gets emotional over how deeply his allegiance to the state goes, proclaiming that Israel has the nicest people, the tallest mountains and the best hip-hop.
McCain even asks Hagel if his devotion to the Jewish state would include performing sex acts on a donkey at the insistence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which led to several of the...
In the "SNL" parody, Republicans are portrayed as going over-the-top in giving Hagel a tough time for being, in their view, insufficiently pro-Israel. Senators such as John McCain and Lindsay Graham balk at Hagel's record of statements about the Middle East, and Sen. Tim Scott, an African-American Republican from South Carolina, gets emotional over how deeply his allegiance to the state goes, proclaiming that Israel has the nicest people, the tallest mountains and the best hip-hop.
McCain even asks Hagel if his devotion to the Jewish state would include performing sex acts on a donkey at the insistence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which led to several of the...
- 2/10/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee today, in the latest hearings on the September attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. In her appearance before the Senate last month, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defended the administration's response to the attacks. Panetta's testimony today could be his last on Capitol Hill, as former Sen. Chuck Hagel has been tapped to replace him.
- 2/7/2013
- by Andrew Kirell
- Mediaite - TV
Chuck Hagel weathered quite the storm from his fellow Republicans during his confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense. But part of the debate strewn about in those eight hours pertained to something very much at the fore of discussion in this year's documentary feature race. I'll be breaking down the category in an upcoming edition of the Oscar Guide, but one of the nominees got name-checked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal during the hearing. In asking for a "strong commitment" on the issue of rape in the military along with Sen. Kirsten Gillbrand, Blumenthal actually asked Hagel if he had seen Kirby...
- 2/6/2013
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
On Friday, Chris Matthews and National Review reporter Robert Costa engaged in a tense back and forth over the appropriateness of Senate Republicans grilling President Barack Obama’s nominee to become the next Secretary of Defense, former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-ne). Their tension quickly evolved into a battle over the appropriateness of Senate Republicans conduct in a string of recent congressional hearings.
- 2/1/2013
- by Noah Rothman
- Mediaite - TV
First up, we're going to have a liveblog for Days of Our Lives with snicks today, so be ready for whatever WilSon gets up to.
I will be extremely happy when next week, I can stop writing about football players, talking about football at the gym and work, and trying to perfect my mini-taco recipe for the Super Bowl party I'm attending. But for now, let's talk about football.
Naturally, Chris Kluwe is not happy with 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver. "While he’s certainly entitled to speak his mind, Culliver is a role model whether he likes it or not. There are kids all over the United States who aspire to be right where he is and he has an obligation to consider the effect of his words. Kids are listening.” Which goes to something I say a lot about actors/singers/sports stars: you are a role model, full stop.
I will be extremely happy when next week, I can stop writing about football players, talking about football at the gym and work, and trying to perfect my mini-taco recipe for the Super Bowl party I'm attending. But for now, let's talk about football.
Naturally, Chris Kluwe is not happy with 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver. "While he’s certainly entitled to speak his mind, Culliver is a role model whether he likes it or not. There are kids all over the United States who aspire to be right where he is and he has an obligation to consider the effect of his words. Kids are listening.” Which goes to something I say a lot about actors/singers/sports stars: you are a role model, full stop.
- 2/1/2013
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
After much public debate over the merits of former Chuck Hagel's nomination to succeed Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense, the former Nebraska Gop senator will finally testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee and take questions before confirmation. The committee chairman, Sen. Carl Levin (D-mi) has openly supported Hagel's nomination, while top committee Republican, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-ok) has indicated he will oppose the nomination.
- 1/31/2013
- by Andrew Kirell
- Mediaite - TV
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