Month: May 2008

Updated at 4:45 p.m. EDT, May 31, 2008 At least 15 Iraqis were killed and 19 were wounded in the latest attacks. One American Marine died as the result of a ‘non-combat related’ incident in Anbar Province. Also, two US soldiers were wounded when rockets struck their base in Nassiriya. In Baquba, an IED blast … Continue reading “Saturday: 1 US Soldier, 15 Iraqis Killed, 19 Iraqis Wounded”

At the behest of Iraqi Shi’ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, his powerful faction staged a formidable protest this week against a likely U.S.-Iraqi agreement to establish a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq, which would replace the United Nations-authorized U.S. occupation that expires at the end of 2008. This demonstration, and subsequent protests planned for the … Continue reading “Sadr, Sistani Opposition to US Presence Should Worry Maliki”

DUBLIN – Cluster bombs should be outlawed in most of the world thanks to an agreement formally endorsed by over 100 governments in Dublin May 30. The accord, which prohibits the use of cluster bombs and requires the destruction of stockpiles retained in arsenals within eight years, was reached despite intense opposition from the US, … Continue reading “Cluster Bombs May Disappear After Dublin Accord”

Surely you already knew – without reading Scott McClellan’s mea culpa – that the Cheney Cabal came to power in January, 2001, determined to firmly establish by any means an American Hegemony, removing or destroying any opposition regimes. But, how to rationalize to you the absolute necessity for "removing" those pesky regimes? And how to … Continue reading “Enabling Nuke Proliferation”

Interview conducted May 22, 2008. Listen to the interview. “War is the improvement of investment climates by other means" –Clausewitz for Dummies. Alright everybody, welcome back to Antiwar Radio – KAOS 92.7 FM in Austin, Texas. Introducing actor, writer, producer, John Cusack, on the phone from England today. He’s the star of Say Anything, The … Continue reading “Reclaim Your Sense of Outrage”

Updated at 3:45 p.m. EDT, May 30, 2008 At least 23 Iraqis were killed and five more were wounded in the latest attacks. Much of the violence centered around Baquba, in Diyala Province, though the largest attack was near Tikrit. No Coalition deaths were reported. In Tarmiya, US forces killed a man whom they suspect … Continue reading “Friday: 23 Iraqis Killed, Five Wounded”

There is a tragic consistency to Memorial Day year in and year out. Bereaved relatives visit gravesites of loved ones. Patriotic citizens wave flags and attend parades. Vote-seeking politicians wax eloquent about sacrifices made on behalf of freedom. This year was no different. President George W. Bush visited Arlington Cemetery and issued the usual platitudes … Continue reading “Heroic Sacrifices for Foolish Causes: Memorial Days Past and Present”

One has to wonder at the depths of deception engaged in by this administration when even their own spokesman turns against them. Scott McClellan, in his recent book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception, avers that the White House’s effort to sell the Iraq war was "less than honest … Continue reading “Standing Up Against the War Party”

After losing both houses of Congress in the 1994 election, Bill Clinton expostulated: The president of the United States is not irrelevant! On learning his trusted aide from Texas Scott McClellan has denounced as an “unnecessary war” the same Iraq war McClellan defended from the White House podium, George Bush must feel as Clinton did. … Continue reading “Is Bush Becoming Irrelevant?”

Last fall was a great time for official optimism when it came to Iraq. The military “metrics” looked ever better and, as had happened at crucial moments in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, Bush administration and military statements turned practically peachy with the blush of “success.” Progress was announced (repeatedly). Corners were once again … Continue reading “McCain (Mis)Speaks”