Month: July 2005

Even after years of go-anywhere, see-anything inspections, Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, continues to report to the IAEA Board of Governors that he can find no indication that Iran now has, ever had, or intends to have a nuclear weapons program. Nevertheless, last week Secretary of State Condi Rice determined – … Continue reading “Condi Kills an EU-Iranian Agreement”

Thursday’s London bombings that killed at least 49 people have rekindled a familiar debate in this country on the question first posed after the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and the Pentagon: "Why do they hate us?" As then, neoconservative and right-wing hawks who led the drive to war in Iraq 18 months … Continue reading “Familiar Debate Resumes in Wake of London Bombings”

There are two possibilities. Either Secretary Rice is remarkably misinformed about – among other things – the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in verifying that the nuclear programs of parties to the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons are strictly for peaceful purposes; or, she is well informed and is deliberately trying to … Continue reading “CondiPerfidy”

When the French government suggested a diplomatic initiative that might interfere with the White House agenda for war, the president responded by saying that the proposed scenario would "ratify terror." The date was July 24, 1964, the president was Lyndon Johnson and the war was in Vietnam. Four decades later, the anti-terror rationale is not … Continue reading “Terrorism, the ‘War on Terror’ and the Message of Carnage”

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush went into their standard routine after the London bombings. This was an attack against civilization and all civilized nations, they said. That’s bosh and hokum, and it does a disservice to the people. The first step always in solving any problem is to define the … Continue reading “Nobody Attacks Civilization”

"And the contrast couldn’t be clearer," quoth Dubya, "between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill – those who have got such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks." Well, not exactly. Leave aside … Continue reading “Terror Strikes Again”

Thursday’s terror attacks against London’s public transportation system, which reportedly killed at least 37 people, came amid indications of growing skepticism here about the effectiveness of U.S. President George W. Bush’s "war on terrorism," the policy initiative that has earned him his highest public-approval ratings since September 2001. The Gallup organization released a new survey … Continue reading “London Hit as Skepticism Grows on ‘Terror War’”

Another successful landmark has been reached in our occupation of Iraq: The World Monuments Fund has just placed the country on its list of the Earth’s 100 most endangered sites. (“Widespread looting, military occupation, artillery fire, vandalism, and other acts of violence are devastating Iraq, long considered the cradle of human civilization.”) This is the … Continue reading “The Smash of Civilizations”

Judy, it’s been so many wars since we’ve talked. Now people are hailing your dedication to the principle of journalistic independence. For many, you will always be the courageous reporter who went to jail. But I’ll always remember what happened when we met under hot lights and you showed your stuff. Far from today’s headlines, … Continue reading “Judith Miller, Drum Major for War”

Iraq: A Right-Wing Alternate Reality Show Kudos on another great article on the “through the looking glass” war, Justin! One observation, however, regarding the role of oil. While it is true that we haven’t neatly carved up Iraq’s oil fields as Secretary O’Neill suggested we planned to do, the multinationals have in fact achieved their … Continue reading “Backtalk, July 8, 2005”