Month: August 2004

Perhaps the most encouraging thing about the terrorist alert first issued on Sunday was the relatively extensive debate it engendered in much of the country, even though the alert was in some ways calculated to be responsive to criticisms of previous alerts. Instead of being a vague and generalized alert about a possible attack somewhere … Continue reading “Alert to Implications”

An Open Letter to the 9/11 PanelThere is no greater proof of Antiwar.com’s standing as the country’s (e-)Paper of Record than this: The equivalent of Daniel Ellsberg’s Pentagon Papers have just been published. Who broke the story? You. Who else has it? So far, according to Google, nobody.Thank you for providing a forum for the … Continue reading “Backtalk, August 6, 2004”

Why did the Bush administration invade Iraq? Most left-wing critics – epitomized perhaps by Michael Moore’s blockbuster documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11– have rather reflexively argued that the economic factor, particularly the interests of Big Oil or “the ruling class,” must have been decisive. But many right-wing critics, who know the ruling class from the inside, lean … Continue reading “Attacking Neo-Cons From the Right”

Nebojsa Malic is traveling and we have had trouble receiving his column via cyberspace. We hope to have his next column soon. William Shakespeare’s Richard III opens with the memorable lines of earl Gloucester (later the eponymous king), “Now is the winter of our discontent/Made glorious summer by this sun of York;/ And all the … Continue reading “Summer of Discontent”

MONTREAL – The failure of the UK/U.S.-led coalition to implant democracy in Iraq has prompted deep soul-searching in the British civil service and opened the door for progressive organizations to influence its policy, says one long-time activist. Whereas three years ago groups proposing alternatives to peace and security issues "couldn’t get inside the door at … Continue reading “UK Activist Sees Opening in Iraq Failure”

The appointed Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi faces vehement opposition to his move to deploy troops from other Muslim countries. Allawai’s push follows a rash of suicide attacks that have rocked an increasingly unstable Iraq. He called on Arab military assistance in Iraq after he met with the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in … Continue reading “Arab Troops Would Be Unwelcome”

Hey, how about those Pakistanis! They’ve captured more Al Qaeda operatives than all agencies of the U.S. government combined, and, in doing so, have probably done more to prevent new terrorist attacks in the U.S. than Tom Ridge ever dreamed of. Their latest coup: the capture of "computer geek" Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, a key … Continue reading “Revenge of the Mahdi”

UNITED NATIONS – The United States and Britain are being accused of undermining the work of international humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan by misusing aid to advance their military interests. "There are times when aid agencies need the support of the military – as in Bosnia – but we are concerned about the increased involvement of … Continue reading “Humanitarian Groups: US, UK Subverting Afghan Relief Aid”

A sound bite from President Bush on Monday strikes me as emblematic of the country’s current crisis. He said, "It is a ridiculous notion to assert that, because the United States is on the offensive, more people want to hurt us," he said. "We’re on the offensive because people do want to hurt us." Let … Continue reading “They’re Offended by the Offensive”

Pledge WeekI just made a donation to Antiwar.com and did so with a full heart, even though Justin really got my goat over his tribute to Ronald Reagan. Raimondo is one of the best writers I’ve read online and even though I don’t always agree with him, he’s a damn fine political commentator and dishes … Continue reading “Backtalk, August 4, 2004”