Month: February 2016

I was intrigued by the 2015 release of David Talbot’s The Devil’s Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America’s Secret Government. But it also reminded me of a 2014 book I had been wanting to read titled The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War by Stephen Kinzer. … Continue reading “The Dulles Brothers and Their Legacy of Perpetual War”

In the weeks leading up to the agreed upon cessation-of-hostilities (CoH) agreement between the US and Russia, it was John Kerry’s diplomacy that was instrumental in “downgrading” the truce from a more forceful and legally binding “ceasefire” agreement to the less intensive “cessation-of-hostilities” now taking effect.  As described by Kerry: “So, a ceasefire has a … Continue reading “Protecting al-Qaeda”

The 2016 presidential campaign so far has given us a Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, who takes no responsibility for Islamic State’s rapid gains in Libya in the wake of the American-led "coup-by-air" to remove Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and a Republican Party who wants to blame President Obama for the … Continue reading “Back to the Future: Afghanistan, Iraq, and Now Libya”

At least 131 people were killed across Iraq. Daesh attacked a funeral in a town where the bombing will likely set off revenge attacks against civilians.

The FBI tells us that its demand for a back door into the iPhone is all about fighting terrorism, and that it is essential to break in just this one time to find out more about the San Bernardino attack last December. But the truth is they had long sought a way to break Apple’s … Continue reading “First They Came for the iPhones…”

On June 14, 1918, a nineteen year old Italian soldier by the name of Bernardo Vicario was ordered by his commander, Carl Rigoli, to carry out a curious task. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Italian forces would soon be hit with a furious bombardment that would mean the death of most of them. Rigoli clearly knew … Continue reading “The Lion and the Sheep”

He appeared out of nowhere. Literally. The Israeli Police needed a new commander. The last one had come to the end of his term of office, several senior officers had been accused of molesting their female subordinates, one had committed suicide after being accused of corruption. So somebody from outside was indicated. When Binyamin Netanyahu … Continue reading “Holy Water”

There were some lovely, moving moments in the memorial service of Concepcion Picciotto at Luther’s Place Church on Saturday. Concepcion is known – with William Thomas, who died a few years ago – for leading what is apparently the longest protest in U.S. history: Against nuclear weapons in Lafayette Park, in front of the White … Continue reading “Nuclear Annihilation of a Radical Message on Israel”

Islamic State militants staged attacks on opposite sides of Baghdad.

At least 204 people were killed in Iraq. Dozens were sickened in a reported chemical attack. Also, troop movements by Islamic State militants were reported.