Month: August 2004

Beneath the thin plastic veneer of American society, rage roils around the irrationality of life in the Empire, and occasionally it boils over. As it did in Hollywood, Florida, the other day, when Carlos Arredondo “snapped,” as the news reports put it: “Melida Arredondo said her husband knew what was coming as three uniformed Marines … Continue reading “Rage Against the Machine”

The first of four scheduled criminal hearings for Guantanamo Bay detainees went forward today, notwithstanding concerns from human and civil rights groups and a legal challenge in U.S. civilian courts. During the hearing, the defense challenged the military judges’ credentials and potential conflicts of interest, as well as the legality of the tribunals themselves. The … Continue reading “Defense Challenges Tribunals’ Legitimacy”

A commission of civilian military advisers established by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says that soldiers running Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq deserve most of the blame for acts of torture and abuse committed there, while high-ranking Pentagon officials are guilty only of mismanagement. The panel also suggests that much of the torture was the result … Continue reading “Rumsfeld’s Torture Panel Clears Rumsfeld”

"For all I care, they can starve to death!" announced Tzahi Hanegbi, after Palestinian prisoners declared an open-ended hunger strike against prison conditions. Thus the Minister for Internal Security added another memorable phrase to the lexicon of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hanegbi became famous (or infamous) for the first time when, as a student activist, he … Continue reading “Israel Must Rethink Prisoner Policy”

As we defend liberty and justice abroad, we must always honor those values here at home. – George W. Bush, October 28, 2003 George W. Bush came to the presidency promising prosperity, peace, and humility. Instead, Bush has spawned record federal budget deficits, launched an unnecessary war, and made America the most hated nation in … Continue reading “The Bush Betrayal”

How Do They Get Away With It?Yes, how in the world do they get away with it? Are we that ignorant and stupid in this country to want to reelect a president who has done nothing but make a complete mockery of the Constitution and the rule of law, caused close to 8,000 needless American … Continue reading “Backtalk, August 26, 2004”

Finally, the conflict in Darfur in western Sudan is a focal point for diplomats and the media. This is the least one could expect after months of murder, rape and, dare I say, ethnic cleansing, starting as early as February 2003. Almost all parties who have recently discovered the existence of Darfur, an area comparable … Continue reading “Darfur’s War of Definitions”

BELGRADE, SERBIA-MONTENEGRO – Anger and incredulity erupted from the crowds gathered around TV screens in Belgrade’s outdoor cafes Monday night, as they realized their national team was going to lose to China by just one point. For the once-proud winners of the world championship in Indianapolis (02), the Olympic tournament has been one colossal embarrassment … Continue reading “Defying Despair”

See Chapter One of The Bush Betrayal appearing today on Antiwar.com. Bovard begins his book by defining a new concept: Though Bush continually invokes freedom to sanctify himself and his policies, Bush freedom is based on boundless trust in the righteousness of the rulers and all their actions. The Bush Betrayal details the manifestations of … Continue reading “Bush Bashing Done Right”

Writing for the public has always been a challenging task. However, President Bush’s declaration that “you are with us or against us” has intensified readers’ tendency to see columnists in the same way. Awareness is fading that a writer could be an independent thinker not in either camp. A number of writers have made a … Continue reading “Against Bush, but Not for Kerry”