Month: September 2004

If the United States is the Earth’s last great imperial power, then the election of its leader is indeed a global event. On this event, in fact, the world has already spoken – in opinion poll terms at least. According to a recent Program on International Policy Attitudes poll [.pdf] of 35 countries on their … Continue reading “Sen. Kerry, Help Is Not on the Way”

Memo to: Sen. John Edwards (D, N.C.) Re: Iran’s "Nuclear Weapons Program" I caught you on a film clip last night, senator, where you were blasting President Bush for diverting resources from the war on terrorism to the war in Iraq. If I’m not mistaken, you also criticized him for allowing Iran and North Korea … Continue reading “Diplomacy Is Cheaper Than War”

The war in Iraq is becoming more and more vicious. Attacks on coalition forces have escalated. Americans are now dying at a rate of over two per day. Iraqi police and militia are suffering major casualties from the constant attacks. Neither presidential candidate has proposed a way out of this morass. Why has the insurgency … Continue reading “A Win/Win Exit Strategy”

The sign of a civilized society is the sanctity it accords human life. According to the Talmud, “To save one life is like saving the world.” You needn’t be religious to live by this maxim. You must, however, be observant of the most precious thing on earth: the life of an innocent human being. As … Continue reading “After Their Heads Roll, America’s Dead Remain Faceless”

BAGHDAD – The Bible suggests that the Iraqi marshlands were once the Garden of Eden. But the garden, if it ever existed, is long gone, and so, mostly, are the marshlands. These marshlands once spread over 20,000 sq. km (7,722 sq. mi.) in the south of Iraq. They formed around the basin where the Tigris … Continue reading “‘Garden of Eden’ Has Become a Mess”

It’s not an "if." It’s a "when." Pentagon officials have indicated that they plan to send as many as 15,000 additional troops during the first four months of 2005, and the President George W. Bush continues to insist "we will stay the course" until Iraq is stabilized. (I do wish his advisers would provide a … Continue reading “High Time for Bush to Tell the Truth”

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Australia’s John Howard may have a reputation in their respective countries for being the lapdogs of the American president – in Blair’s case, two of them so far. But no national leader in the world has demonstrated such sycophancy to the Emperor as the recently elected Boris Tadic, the … Continue reading “‘Most Humbly Yours…’”

Insufficient security forces and a lack of election observers, combined with regional warlords backed by the United States, continue to threaten the upcoming presidential election in Afghanistan, says a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). Local citizens feel the warlords pose a greater threat to their safety than forces of the former ruling Taliban, … Continue reading “US-Backed Warlords Threaten Afghan Elections”

After the swift boat attacks of August and the Rathergate debacle – CBS’ botched attempt to paint President Bush as an insolent National Guard officer deserving of court martial – John Kerry seems to have found his footing. Kerry seems a liberated man. He is now pummeling the president on the great issue of this … Continue reading “Has Kerry Found His Footing?”

The neoconservative movement is going underground – in plain sight. Now there’s a unique political tactic. How to hide, while the eyes of the whole world are upon you? It’s easy: simply declare it a hate crime to call things by their right names. The Wall Street Journal editorial page is not usually the place … Continue reading “A Neocon By Any Other Name”