Conversation With a Few Good Men (and Women)

I teach at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., meaning that I instruct young military officers who are generally smart, hardworking, and curious. Another important piece of background is that two weeks into a typical teaching quarter, I’ve come to love my students. On March 29, I had one of those days that I, … Continue reading “Conversation With a Few Good Men (and Women)”

The Hyperpower Hype and Where It Took Us

Just last week, a jury began to deliberate on the fate of Zacarias Moussaoui, who may or may not have been the missing 20th hijacker in the Sept. 11 attacks. At the same time, newly released recordings of 911 operators responding to calls from those about to die that day in the two towers were … Continue reading “The Hyperpower Hype and Where It Took Us”

Acknowledging the Rush to War

It is perhaps ironic – but charming to one who finds the phenomenon that intentions good and ill so often go awry more amusing than infuriating – that it has been in Great Britain, with its vaunted Official Secrets Act, that leaks have occurred that have made the mainstream press take notice of the extreme … Continue reading “Acknowledging the Rush to War”

Keeping It Quiet: The Israel Lobby’s Crushing of Dissent

The first weapon of choice for the Israeli lobby when someone with prestige publishes a soundly researched paper or book critical of Israel or its powerful lobby is silence. If it’s a book, it rarely gets reviewed; its author doesn’t get interviewed. If it’s a paper, there are no news stories in the big corporate … Continue reading “Keeping It Quiet: The Israel Lobby’s Crushing of Dissent”

Bolton Really Is Bonkers

“This is a real test for the Security Council. There’s just no doubt that for close to 20 years, the Iranians have been pursuing nuclear weapons through a clandestine program that we’ve uncovered. “If the U.N. Security Council can’t deal with the proliferation of nuclear weapons, can’t deal with the greatest threat we have with … Continue reading “Bolton Really Is Bonkers”

Bush Policies Stoke Anti-Yanqui Sentiment

While anti-U.S. sentiment has deep roots in Latin America, particularly among populist and left-wing parties that are winning elections there, specific policies pursued by the administration of Pres. George W. Bush and the Republican-led Congress are fueling the growing alienation from Washington, according to a new report. An analysis of recent public opinion polls, statements … Continue reading “Bush Policies Stoke Anti-Yanqui Sentiment”

War Against Iran, April 2006

H istory repeats itself, but always with new twists. We are back to the good old days when a Declaration of War preceded the start of a war. Such declaration occurred on March 16th, 2006. Reversing the old order, we are now in the “Sitzkrieg”, to be followed shortly by an aerial “Blitzkrieg” in the … Continue reading “War Against Iran, April 2006”

The Lobby Strikes Back

The reaction to the Harvard University study by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, “The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy,” [.pdf] has been fury by the Lobby and its partisans – and a demotion for Walt, who, it was announced shortly after the paper’s release, would be stepping down from his post as [academic] dean … Continue reading “The Lobby Strikes Back”

US Lifts Ban on Sale of Arms to Indonesia

Moving with unusual speed, the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush officially normalized military relations with Indonesia Wednesday when the State Department posted a formal notice permitting the sale of lethal military equipment to Jakarta for the first time in seven years. The announcement in the Federal Register came just two weeks after Condoleezza … Continue reading “US Lifts Ban on Sale of Arms to Indonesia”

Public Continues to Sour on Bush’s Crusade

The vast majority of the U.S. public appears to have grown thoroughly disillusioned with President George W. Bush’s crusade to spread democracy abroad, according to a new survey by one of the country’s premier public opinion analysts. The survey, designed by Daniel Yankelovich, also found that public concern about U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources … Continue reading “Public Continues to Sour on Bush’s Crusade”