Month: July 2005

“This is not an isolated criminal act we are dealing with, it is an extreme and evil ideology whose roots lie in a perverted and poisonous misinterpretation of the religion of Islam.” – Tony Blair Listen to Scott’s interview with Robert Pape stream download mp3   Why do they hate us? Does Islam, or a … Continue reading “Poisonous Misinterpretations”

A plurality of the U.S. public now believes that Iraq war has undermined U.S. prospects for victory in the larger war on terrorism, but a majority still believe that Washington should not yet begin withdrawing its troops, according to a major new poll released Thursday shortly after Britain reported four new bombing incidents in London. … Continue reading “Iraq Seen as Weakening Terror War”

Why are we in Iraq? According to George W. Bush and the 101st Fighting Keyboarders, we’re battling for “freedom,” we’re fighting for the love of liberty that supposedly burns in every heart – right? A look at the Iraqi constitution, which is now in its draft form, makes it very clear that the only proper … Continue reading “Iraq: What Are We Fighting For?”

It is perhaps a sad commentary that daily bombings and deaths, mostly among Iraqi civilians, are considered so relatively normal that it seems all right to focus on other parts of the world this week. Unfortunately, chaos of a kind that few reasonably realistic observers, including most military figures and even Secretary of Defense Don … Continue reading “Common Sense About India?”

Like so much else in our moment, it contravened laws the U.S. had once signed onto, pretzeled the English language, went directly to the darkside, was connected to various administration lies and manipulations that preceded the invasion of Iraq, and was based on taking the American taxpayer to the cleaners. I’m talking about a now-notorious … Continue reading “The Spies Who Came in From the Hot Tub”

Despite the best efforts of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush to make Iran an international pariah, the Islamic Republic keeps wracking up one diplomatic victory after another. One month after the surprise election victory of hardline President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran finds itself in a substantially stronger position to resist the U.S. campaign … Continue reading “Iran Sits Pretty in World’s Hottest Region”

He bought quite a lot of stuff at his favorite shopping mall over the weekend: cheap Chinese-made shirts (five), pants (three), suits (two), dresses (three), scarves, underwear and socks – and let’s not forget those cheap Chinese-made toys for the grandchildren to whom he also sent e-mails through his personal computer, which was manufactured somewhere … Continue reading “China-Bashing for Beginners”

Something has gone terribly wrong with our foreign policy when we feel we must take almost $21 billion out of the pockets of American taxpayers and ship it overseas. Imagine what the Founders of this country would say if they were among us to see this blatant disregard for the Constitution and for the founding … Continue reading “Tax-and-Spend GOP Sends Billions Overseas”

Holbrooke Proud of Balkans "Victory" By all rights, Richard Holbrooke ought to be a has-been. His 15 minutes of fame were under Clinton, when he emerged from the dark shadows of the American "foreign policy elite" to spearhead a military and political blitz that ended the Bosnian War on Washington’s terms. Less stellar was his … Continue reading “The Price of Empire”

KARACHI – Liberal-minded people in this country are concerned at the "hasba bill" passed in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) assembly that seeks to severely restrict women’s rights and institute a "moral police" in the territory that borders Afghanistan. What is particularly worrisome is that the bill, described variously by liberals as "Talibanization" and … Continue reading “Taliban-Style Law Passed in Pakistan”