US May be Fighting on Two Fronts Too Many

When U.S. troops backed by helicopter gunships attacked the Mehdi Army of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the holy Shia city of Najaf, it is not clear who they killed. The US military says 64 Iraqi fighters were killed, but hospital officials in Najaf told the Arab satellite network al-Jazeera that several casualties appeared to … Continue reading “US May be Fighting on Two Fronts Too Many”

Kipling’s Brutal Epitaph

At Versailles in 1919, delegates of four of the five victorious powers arrived with cold, clear ideas of what they must bring home. Japan demanded and got Germany’s islands north of the equator and Shantung in China. Italy demanded and got the Austrian South Tyrol, but was denied Fiume on the Adriatic, and left embittered. … Continue reading “Kipling’s Brutal Epitaph”

Neoconservatism Versus Libertarianism

Oh, how the neocons are squirming, and turning somersaults over Iraq, a performance the sight of which would be almost a pleasure to behold if not for the steep price of admission. New York Times columnist David Brooks’ soddily defiant mea culpa – which we covered in the last installment of this column – was … Continue reading “Neoconservatism Versus Libertarianism”

‘Enemy Combatants’ Finally Before Supreme Court

After two years of litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court is finally set to decide whether the executive branch of the US government may detain alleged “enemy combatants” indefinitely without any judicial review of their status. Three cases – one of them argued before the nation’s highest court last week and the other two due to … Continue reading “‘Enemy Combatants’ Finally Before Supreme Court”