Month: November 2004

According to the U.S. government, and commentators on the left as well as the (neoconservative) right, the crisis in the Ukraine is a clear-cut case of "democracy" versus authoritarianism, "the people" versus "the oligarchs," and the forces of enlightened Europhilia up against the sinister specter of a resurgent Russia and a revivified KGB. The only … Continue reading “The Yushchenko Mythos”

Once again, disturbing images are surfacing from the war in Iraq, this time of a young Marine shooting a wounded Iraqi prisoner in Fallujah. The soldier in question has been removed from duty and may face a court martial. U.S. military and Iraqi officials have decried the incident. This sort of act is nothing new … Continue reading “War Crimes or Withdrawal”

The Red Crescent has finally been allowed into Fallujah (its earlier exclusion was probably a violation of international law). Its spokesman is saying that less than 200 civilian families appear to still be there. If this estimate is true, it suggests that by the time of the U.S. assault, only about 5,000 persons were left … Continue reading “Iraq and Damned Statistics”

I‘m in need of a haircut, so I ask Abu Talat if he thinks it would be safe to get one here, risking the time on the street required to do so. Smiling, he says, "Yes, Dahr, it may be possible, but we must make sure we have confidence in the barber so you get … Continue reading “This Time Last Year”

The neo-crazies – in and out of government – lied to you last year about Iraq’s "nuclear programs," and this year they’re lying to you about Iran’s. What constitutes lying? Well, either making an untrue statement with intent to deceive, or deliberately creating a false impression. The neo-crazies told you right up till the eve … Continue reading “Lying About Iran”

Al-Qaeda and radical Islamists are winning the propaganda war against the United States, says a high-level Pentagon panel, which concluded that Bush administration policies in the Middle East, its fundamental failure to understand the Muslim world, and a lack of imagination in using new communications technologies are responsible. In a report [.pdf] concluded in September … Continue reading “Pentagon Panel: US Invasions Unite Extremists”

Credibility, like virginity, can only be lost once and never recovered. Hence, the problem the Bush administration has in dealing with Iran is that having been so wrong about Iraq, who can believe it now? I recognize that a majority of Americans shrugged off going to war on false premises. The rest of the world … Continue reading “Credibility Can Only Be Lost Once”

Israel’s leaders are apt to portray the prospect of an Iranian nuclear warhead in highly apocalyptic terms. Earlier this year, for example, Ariel Sharon was prepared to call Iran "the biggest danger to the existence of Israel" and warned that "Israel will not allow Iran to be equipped with a nuclear weapon." But though the … Continue reading “Why Israel Really Fears Iranian Nukes”

DUBAI – Denouncing misguided religious fanaticism and terrorism, Muslim scholars and religious leaders who recently attended a major world Islamic conference in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), jointly called for the issuing of a unified fatwa (edict) on pressing issues in order to avoid the misuse of the religion. Attended … Continue reading “Scholars Try to Rein in the ‘Sheikhs of Death’”

While conditions for most Iraqis continue to deteriorate, as the country slips even more deeply into an environmental and health crisis, George Bush and his supporters danced to country music on the evening of election day, celebrating the War President’s reelection. This image has haunted me over the last few weeks, as people in Fallujah … Continue reading “The Face of Terror”