Month: February 2006

"In reviewing the history of the English government, its wars and its taxes, a bystander, not blinded by prejudice nor warped by interest, would declare that taxes were not raised to carry on wars, but that wars were raised to carry on taxes." – Thomas Paine, Rights of Man What would happen if someone in … Continue reading “Don’t Be an Accessory to Murder”

Gholamali Haddad-Adel, "speaker" of Iran’s parliament – in Cuba, last week – dismissed the possibility of a U.S. preemptive attack against Iran, finding it "impossible" to believe that the U.S. would want "to repeat the experience of Iraq." “We hope the United States is not so stupid,” he said. Presumably, Haddad-Adel meant to say, "We … Continue reading “March Madness”

Here’s a number to remember: 14,000. That’s the number of Iraqis currently behind bars in U.S. military prisons. These so-called “security detainees” are usually hooded and beaten when they’re brought into custody. Once incarcerated, they never receive anything approximating a fair and open trial. Prisoners are simply forced to submit to a closed military tribunal … Continue reading “Abu Ghraib Is Not Old News”

Somewhere, Osama bin Laden is smiling. He has good reason to be happy. In the last week or so, the West has given his program of a relentless jihad against America new credibility, and delivered thousands of new converts to his doorstep. The Muhammad cartoon controversy, new photos of the Abu Ghraib atrocities, and a … Continue reading “The Provocateurs”

Whether the U.S. will use nuclear weapons against Iran if a military confrontation erupts is in the hands of a single person, President Bush, as stated in NSC 30 from 1948: “the decision as to the employment of atomic weapons in the event of war is to be made by the Chief Executive when he … Continue reading “America and Iran:
At the Brink of the Abyss”

I rise in strong opposition to this very dangerous legislation. My colleagues would do well to understand that this legislation is leading us toward war against Iran. Those reading this bill may find themselves feeling a sense of déjà vu . In many cases one can just substitute "Iraq" for "Iran" in this bill and … Continue reading “A Sense of Déjà Vu”

About six years ago, I boarded a small United Express airplane in Los Angeles. When I got to my row, a man was sitting in the aisle seat, and I asked him to move so that I could get to the window seat. He scowled at me but grudgingly got up to let me in. … Continue reading “I Don’t Have to Fight You”

You can always tell when the War Party wants a new war. They will invariably trot out the Argumentum ad Hitlerum. Before the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam had become “the Hitler of Arabia,” though he had only conquered a sandbox half the size of Denmark. Milosevic then became the “Hitler of the Balkans,” though he … Continue reading “Churchill, Hitler, and Newt”

Conservatives Endorse the Fuhrer PrincipleI too formed a similar conclusion having watched the White House propaganda machine in action before, during and after the Iraq invasion of March 2003. Arnold Schwarzenegger stood before American forces fresh from their brave destruction of 50-year-old tanks and machine gun emplacements and declared, “In my films I play the … Continue reading “Backtalk, February 20, 2006”

NEW DELHI – After a toughening of postures by the Western powers, reflected in a vote against Iran a fortnight ago at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Moscow meeting can still work to avoid taking Iran’s nuclear dossier to the United Nations Security Council. The present window of opportunity might slam shut with … Continue reading “Last Chance for Diplomacy?”