Month: December 2004

While the media focus attention on congressional turf battles associated with intelligence reform, the president is taking steps – largely under the public’s radar screen – to create his own hidden "army" of covert spies. Before getting into what the White House is doing, it’s necessary to examine what Congress is doing and not doing … Continue reading “Intelligent Intelligence Reform”

In the 1940s, as Stalinists were seizing Czechoslovakia, ex-OSS agents were running bags of money to Italy and France to ensure the Communists were defeated in national elections. In the 1950s, using a rent-a-mob, the CIA effected the ouster of an anti-American regime in Iran and the overthrow of Arbenz in Guatemala. In the 1980s, … Continue reading “What Are We Up to – in Ukraine?”

On Dec. 18, 2003, Iran signed an Additional Protocol to their Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Although not required to do so until the Iranian Parliament "ratifies" it, Iran volunteered to act "in accordance with the provisions of the Additional Protocol, as a confidence building measure." The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty requires all … Continue reading “Thwarting the Neo-Crazies”

Yesterday, before the usual morning gunfire in the streets that has become my morning alarm clock, Abu Talat phoned me. There is very heavy fighting over in al-Adhamiya. Two giant explosions occurred around 6:15 a.m., followed by mortar blasts, then constant, heavy gun battles that went on into late morning. The Hamid al-Alwan mosque, a … Continue reading “Trophy Hunting in Iraq”

Do you know who Viktor Yanukovich is? Do you know who Viktor Yushchenko is? Do you know what either man stands for? Could you take a blank map of Europe and draw in the boundaries of Ukraine? For most of us, the answer to all of the above is "No." The two Viktors are rivals … Continue reading “Bigger Worries Than Ukraine”

When asked about the passage last week of the International Atomic Energy Agency Resolution on the implementation of its Safeguards agreement with Iran, President Bush replied "The Iranians agreed to suspend – but not terminate – their nuclear weapons program. Our position is they ought to terminate their nuclear weapons program." What nuclear weapons program? … Continue reading “Trashing the IAEA Again”

Yesterday’s conference on "Al-Qaeda 2.0: Transnational Terrorism After 9/11," sponsored by the New America Foundation and the New York University Center on Law & Security, was a gift to those wanting an update on informed opinion on the subject. The event also proved to be as highly instructive for what was not addressed as for … Continue reading “All Mosquitoes, No Swamp”

NEW YORK – U.S. civil rights groups have filed multiple freedom of information requests around the country to uncover evidence that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local police are spying on political, environmental, and faith-based groups in the name of fighting terrorism. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were filed in 10 … Continue reading “Groups Probe FBI Spying in ‘War on Terror’”

Scott Horton discusses the Bush administration’s war on human rights and the rule of law with Christopher Paine. Interview conducted Nov. 27, 2004. Check out Scott’s other interviews with prominent antiwar and libertarian personalities. Download MP3 Listen to Streaming Audio Christopher Paine is a past president of the Los Alamos Study Group, and a senior … Continue reading “Bush’s Dirty War”

Bullies at the AirportYes, I had a recent such humiliating experience. My son was in ICU in Phoenix, expecting to have his 11th brain surgery. I was rushing out there from Austin with a one-way ticket since I had no idea when I would return. I had the ICU information, hospital maps, and bus routes … Continue reading “Backtalk, December 4, 2004”