Month: March 2003

The media is up in arms about the report of Lt. Gen. William S Wallace, commander of our ground forces in Iraq, who said: "The enemy we’re fighting against is different from the one we’d war-gamed against." The "cakewalk" has turned into a slog through a sandstorm, as Americans wake up to what they’ve so … Continue reading “On The Middle East Escalator”

Fresh from our recent triumphs abroad, many Americans yearn for a break, a moment to celebrate. Such feelings are natural, yet they must be suppressed. Where would we be now if Bush Sr. had retired to Kennebunkport as the Berlin Wall collapsed? Not plowing through Baghdad, that’s certain. No, the elder Bush had nerves of … Continue reading “Liberate the Vatican!”

Following the lead of Basil Fawlty, I shall be doing my best to not mention the w**. There are a number of reasons for taking this path. One is, that the high-toned mongers – and I have shortened the word so as to leave out an offending syllable – have once again issued their Directive … Continue reading “Don’t Mention the W**”

More than a week after President George W. Bush launched his "shock and awe" campaign against Iraq in flagrant violation of international law and the will of the world community, there is growing popular revulsion, disgust and anger in India at the gory campaign of death and destruction unleashed by the Anglo-American coalition. There is … Continue reading “Revulsion, Disgust in India at the War”

Richard Perle’s resignation Thursday as chairman of the Defense Policy Board, a Pentagon advisory group, is long overdue. Perle quit the board because he was hired to help bankrupt telecommunications firm Global Crossing win approval from the Department of Defense to sell the company to a Hong Kong billionaire and lawmakers questioned whether Perle’s dual … Continue reading “The Enterprising Hawk”

As 20,000 parcels of food aid and much-needed water reached the Iraqi border town of Safwan, a spontaneous pro-Saddam demonstration erupted as the television cameras rolled: the shoeless, ragged young men who crowded around the trucks pumped their arms in the air and shouted that they would give their lives for the Iraqi strongman. Even … Continue reading “A Perle of High Price”

Richard Perle’s resignation Thursday as chairman of the Defense Policy Board, a Pentagon advisory group, is long overdue. Perle quit the board because he was hired to help bankrupt telecommunications firm Global Crossing win approval from the Department of Defense to sell the company to a Hong Kong billionaire and lawmakers questioned whether Perle’s dual … Continue reading “The Enterprising Hawk”

Remember all those “intelligence sources” who promised that Iraqis would be cheering as the U.S. and U.K. armies rolled into Basra or Nasiriyah or any major town in southern Iraq? Apparently, in day 7 of the invasion of Iraq, these intelligence sources and their data are proving to be fallible. Unfortunately, the North American public … Continue reading “What You Aren’t Being Told About Iraq”

Two weeks ago, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was shot and killed by a sniper bullet. His successors immediately declared a "state of emergency" – in effect, martial law – of undetermined duration, and launched a massive police operation to crack down on alleged crime syndicates suspected of Djindjic’s murder. Djindjic was given a full … Continue reading “The Argument of Force”

In China, the War in Iraq is getting unprecedented media coverage. But are the Chinese watching the same war? While CNN and other western-based media outlets put their own particular spin on the war in this, the fourth day of the American invasion of Iraq, they generally agree on that victory for America is at … Continue reading “Disdain and Doubt Over Shock and Awe”