Month: March 2006

Last week’s announcement that Iraq will now have to pay for its own reconstruction has left some observers wondering whether the yet-to-be-formed government there will be up to the task. Iraq’s deputy finance minister, Kamal Field al-Basri, said it was "reasonable" for the United States to sharply cut back its reconstruction efforts after spending about … Continue reading “Iraq Left to Rebuild Itself”

You probably saw where Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ruled out applying for the job of NFL commissioner after Paul Tagliabue retires. "Unfortunately, it came open at the wrong time. "Obviously, I’m very busy as secretary of state, and I intend to continue to be secretary of state as long as the president of the … Continue reading “Condi for NFL Commissioner”

Thank you, U.S. citizens and taxpayers, for your wise purchase of the latest, top-of-the-range Mark 99 Empire, the latest in a long line of highly expensive, unsuccessful, and impermanent empire products. If you take care of your empire, it will give you many months/years/decades/centuries of hegemony, and will be the envy of lesser imperialists. However, … Continue reading “Your Deluxe Empire: An Owner’s Manual”

The U.S. is losing patience with the Iraqis, averred Sen. John McCain the other day in Baghdad, going into his favorite mode of self-righteous hectoring, warning them they had better get on with the business of forming a government. The senator cited polls showing declining support for the war, but the lack of a government … Continue reading “America’s Reign of
Terror in Iraq”

Imagine you are in Lafayette Park, across from the White House, setting up tents and loudspeakers without a permit to occupy the park with a group of several thousand protesters, guzzling beer and vodka. How long do you think it would be before the Secret Service or other uniformed local and federal officers moved in … Continue reading “How Lukashenko Won”

Every day that passes, Americans will be less welcomed in Iraq, and I wouldn’t take lightly the warning of an Iraqi cleric who said, “You should leave before we force you out.” An army that won’t fight is one thing. Twenty million people willing to stab you in the back, cut your throat or toss … Continue reading “Told You So”

Two days after the coup d’etat that brought a brutal military junta to power in Argentina, then U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger ordered his subordinates to "encourage" the new regime by providing financial support, according to a previously classified transcript released here by the independent National Security Archive (NSA). The document, whose public release … Continue reading “Kissinger Backed Argentine Junta 30 Years Ago”

Back in November, 2004, the United Kingdom, France and Germany (E3) undertook to negotiate with Iran on behalf of the European Union a mutually acceptable long-term agreement which would provide the EU “objective guarantees” that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes. Now, why would Iran agree to provide additional guarantees, above and beyond … Continue reading “More Failed Diplomacy”

Wrapping up a week of over 600 protest actions to mark three years since the United States invaded Iraq, activists here say that antiwar sentiment has become the dominant perspective in the U.S. and leaves the war "without legitimacy." Joining thousands of others around the world, antiwar protesters in the United States took to the … Continue reading “‘Bring Troops Home’ Call Echoes Across US”

Last week’s anniversary of the start of the Iraq War prompted loads of discussions. For some reason, journalists love anniversaries, though of course they are highly selective in which anniversaries they take note of. Out of these discussions always comes the administration’s ploy, which is that if you don’t have a solution, then don’t criticize … Continue reading “Time to Leave Iraq”