NATO and a War Foretold

As NATO holds its Summit in Madrid on June 28-30, the war in Ukraine is taking center stage. During a pre-Summit June 22 talk with Politico, NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg bragged about how well-prepared NATO was for this fight because, he said: "This was an invasion that was predicted, foreseen by our intelligence services." … Continue reading “NATO and a War Foretold”

For Biden’s Summit of the Americas, Obama’s Handshake With Raúl Castro Shows the Way

On May 16, the Biden administration announced new measures to "increase support for the Cuban people." They included easing travel restrictions and helping Cuban-Americans support and connect with their families. They mark a step forward but a baby step, given that most U.S. sanctions on Cuba remain in place. Also in place is a ridiculous … Continue reading “For Biden’s Summit of the Americas, Obama’s Handshake With Raúl Castro Shows the Way”

From Mosul to Raqqa to Mariupol, Killing Civilians Is a Crime

Americans have been shocked by the death and destruction of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, filling our screens with bombed buildings and dead bodies lying in the street. But the United States and its allies have waged war in country after country for decades, carving swathes of destruction through cities, towns and villages on a far … Continue reading “From Mosul to Raqqa to Mariupol, Killing Civilians Is a Crime”

How US Has Empowered and Armed Neo-Nazis in Ukraine

Russian President Putin has claimed that he ordered the invasion of Ukraine to "denazify" its government, while Western officials, such as former U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul, have called this pure propaganda, insisting, "There are no Nazis in Ukraine." In the context of the Russian invasion, the post-2014 Ukrainian government’s problematic relations with extreme … Continue reading “How US Has Empowered and Armed Neo-Nazis in Ukraine”

What Is Going to Happen in Ukraine?

Every day brings new noise and fury in the crisis over Ukraine, mostly from Washington. But what is really likely to happen? There are three possible scenarios: The first is that Russia will suddenly launch an invasion of Ukraine. The second is that the Ukrainian government in Kyiv will launch an escalation of its civil … Continue reading “What Is Going to Happen in Ukraine?”

Memo to Congress: Diplomacy for Ukraine Is Spelled M-i-n-s-k

While the Biden administration is sending more troops and weapons to inflame the Ukraine conflict and Congress is pouring more fuel on the fire, the American people are on a totally different track. A December 2021 poll found that a plurality of Americans in both political parties prefer to resolve differences over Ukraine through diplomacy. … Continue reading “Memo to Congress: Diplomacy for Ukraine Is Spelled M-i-n-s-k”

Hey, Hey, USA! How Many Bombs Did You Drop Today?

The Pentagon has finally published its first Airpower Summary since President Biden took office nearly a year ago. These monthly reports have been published since 2007 to document the number of bombs and missiles dropped by U.S.-led air forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria since 2004. But President Trump stopped publishing them after February 2020, … Continue reading “Hey, Hey, USA! How Many Bombs Did You Drop Today?”

The High Stakes of the US-Russia Confrontation Over Ukraine

A report in Covert Action Magazine from the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic in Eastern Ukraine describes grave fears of a new offensive by Ukrainian government forces, after increased shelling, a drone strike by a Turkish-built drone and an attack on Staromaryevka, a village inside the buffer zone established by the 2014-15 Minsk Accords. The People’s … Continue reading “The High Stakes of the US-Russia Confrontation Over Ukraine”

How Can America Wake Up From Its Post-9/11 Nightmare?

Looking back on it now, the 1990s were an age of innocence for America. The Cold War was over and our leaders promised us a "peace dividend." There was no TSA to make us take off our shoes at airports (how many bombs have they found in those billions of shoes?). The government could not … Continue reading “How Can America Wake Up From Its Post-9/11 Nightmare?”

Will Americans Who Were Right on Afghanistan Still Be Ignored?

America’s corporate media are ringing with recriminations over the humiliating U.S. military defeat in Afghanistan. But very little of the criticism goes to the root of the problem, which was the original decision to militarily invade and occupy Afghanistan in the first place. That decision set in motion a cycle of violence and chaos that … Continue reading “Will Americans Who Were Right on Afghanistan Still Be Ignored?”