Antiwar.com

With Jeff Pflueger “I would say 30,000, more or less, have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence against Iraqis.” – George W. Bush, Dec. 12, 2005, Philadelphia, Penn. Does it count? How many Iraqis have died as the result of the Anglo-American invasion and occupation of their country remains … Continue reading “Learning to Count:
The Dead in Iraq”

Editor’s note: The following is the text of a speech delivered to the Yale Political Union on April 13. On this occasion, the Union debated the topic: “Resolved: America should not use force to export democracy.” I have to say, it’s rather odd to be debating this point at such a late date. With Iraq … Continue reading “Exporting ‘Democracy’ – Importing Trouble”

Three years after the fall of Baghdad and the city’s disastrous plunge into chaos, U.S. military brass appear engaged in a new campaign: getting rid of Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld. While the offensive has so far been limited to generals who have recently retired from the service, they claim strong support for their views on … Continue reading “New Military Offensive Against Rumsfeld”

With Isam Rashid BAGHDAD – Tens of thousands have fled their homes or the country since the bombing of the Shia shrine in Samarra Feb. 23. At least 30,000 Iraqis have been displaced from their homes since then, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says. The IOM, a leading international organization that works on migration … Continue reading “Violence Driving Iraqis From Homes, Country”

In a column on March 23 (“A Vision, Bruised and Dented“), David Brooks of the New York Times wrote about “the rise of what Richard Lowry of the National Review calls the ‘To Hell With Them’ Hawks.” In part, Brooks characterized these hawks as being conservatives who “look at car bombs and cartoon riots and … Continue reading “The Poor Man’s Air Force”

For about two decades after World War II, a powerful coalition of U.S. congressmen, publishers, businessmen, and military generals operating close to the highest levels of government in Washington tried to ensure that the United States would not recognize “Red China” and would continue backing Taiwan (the Republic of China) in its goal of ousting … Continue reading “From the China Lobby to the Israel Lobby”

According to New Yorker columnist Seymour Hersh, the Bush administration is contemplating "the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, against [Iran’s] underground nuclear sites." Presumably, the B61-11 nuclear bomb can be configured with yields low enough to be categorized as a mini-nuke, i.e., sub- or only a few kilotons. Currently … Continue reading “Iran: The Nuclear Option”

One month after the publication by two of the most influential international relations scholars in the United States of a highly controversial essay on the so-called "Israel Lobby," their thesis that the lobby exercises "unmatched power" in Washington is being tested by rapidly rising tensions with Iran. Far more visibly than any other domestic constituency, … Continue reading “Iran Showdown Tests Power of Israel Lobby”

Balkans "Endgame" on Schedule – or Is it? For a region with more history than it can handle, the Balkans is wrought with anniversaries and commemorations no matter the season. The end of March brought the seventh anniversary of NATO’s attack that ended in the occupation of Kosovo (March 24, 1999); it was followed by … Continue reading “The Unbearable Smugness of Being”

Networks, Terrorism, and Global InsurgencyMr. Deliso,It is way past time to stop the bullsh*t. Do not call them “private military contractors,” nor “private security contractors.” Call them what they are: mercenaries! Guns for hire. Why should I give a sh*t if some “hired gun” is killed? American troops being killed, that gets my attention. I … Continue reading “Backtalk, April 12, 2006”