Month: November 2005

The Last Lie of the Iraq War Exposed

“Politicians hide themselves away. They only started the war. Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor, yeah. “Time will tell on their power minds, making war just for fun. Treating people just like pawns in chess, wait till their judgment day comes, yeah.” – Black Sabbath, “War Pigs” … Continue reading “The Last Lie of the Iraq War Exposed”

New York’s Subway Search Program Earns a Failing Grade

In response to the July 7 terrorist bombings on London’s tube system, on July 21 police began conducting random searches of bags and packages carried by people on the New York city subway; those who refuse to be searched are not allowed to ride. The New York City Civil Liberties Union is representing plaintiffs in … Continue reading “New York’s Subway Search Program Earns a Failing Grade”

Talking Points Propaganda

It seems that liberals will go to any lengths in order to protect the sanctity of President Clinton’s legacy, and it is getting downright aggravating. Take Joshua Micah Marshall, the Ivy-league liberal who publishes Talking Points Memo, an enormously popular online political blog with a prog-centrist tilt, à la Eric Alterman. As Marshall recently wrote: … Continue reading “Talking Points Propaganda”

The Return of Chalabi

As blowback from the lies that duped us into war plunges Washington into a maelstrom of investigations and counter-investigations, Ahmed Chalabi adds insult to injury by making a return trip to the Imperial City. He’s staying at the ritzy-glitzy Ritz-Carlton, where he’s staked out a whole bloc of rooms at (U.S.) taxpayers’ expense, and is … Continue reading “The Return of Chalabi”

A Politically Deflated Bush Faces a Resistant World

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s been a while since a top U.S. official delivered one of those wordy sermons to China or Russia about their responsibility to fix their governments, fight political corruption, and protect human rights. With President George W. Bush being forced to deal with rising domestic criticism of his administration’s performance … Continue reading “A Politically Deflated Bush Faces a Resistant World”

Silvio Says Arrivederci

Anyone following Italian newspapers lately has discovered new meaning in the words “shock and awe.” In an article in La Repubblica, an unnamed SISMI (Italian secret service) agent affirms the prewar meeting in Rome among high level U.S./Italian officials and mysterious Iranians and recounts SISMI’s spadework in Iraq four months prior to the war’s official … Continue reading “Silvio Says Arrivederci“

A Viceroy Departs

The Tyrant of Bosnia Goes Home After over three years of holding near-absolute power, the tenure of Jeremy "Paddy" Ashdown as the Imperial viceroy of Bosnia-Herzegovina is coming to an end. He told the press he intended to be home for Christmas. Unfortunately, the Empire is staying; Ashdown’s successor will be appointed within days. Paeans … Continue reading “A Viceroy Departs”

Backtalk, November 9, 2005

My Weekend With the Wonks Leon Hadar’s well-written article on his meetings with the Washington policy wonks, “My Weekend with the Wonks,” is another bad omen of comparison between the Iraq war and Vietnam. Hadar says the wonks today have no clear answers to Iraq or our overall policy in the Middle East. Back then, … Continue reading “Backtalk, November 9, 2005”