Month: April 2006

WASHINGTON – Two years after the abuse by U.S. soldiers of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq first came to light, accountability for what turns out to have been a widespread pattern of mistreatment at several detention sites, including torture and at least eight homicides, remains elusive, according to a new report released by … Continue reading “Impunity Endures Two Years After Abu Ghraib”

This weekend I received an e-mail from a friend in Iraq. It read, “Salam Dahr, I was in Ramadi today to ask about the situation. I was stunned for the news of a father and his three sons executed in cold blood by U.S. soldiers, then they blasted the house. The poor mother couldn’t stand … Continue reading “War Crimes and Consequences”

As an occasional past subscriber and more regular buyer of The Spectator, my recollection of the magazine was that it had improved over recent years. Having bought the April 15 issue on impulse, though, I was really quite shocked at the poor quality of the main editorial, “Our Own Cuban Missile Crisis” (access requires subscription). … Continue reading “Is the War Party Really Reduced to This?”

Life for Kurds in northern Iraq is about to get a lot more complicated. The Turkish army has begun massing troops on Iraq’s northern border in an effort to combat the Kurdish armed group the PKK. In the last week, the Turkish government has sent about 40,000 troops to southeastern Anatolia, bringing the total troops … Continue reading “Turkey Masses Troops
on Iraqi Border”

According to the new National Security Strategy of the United States of America promulgated in March 2006: “It is the policy of the United States to seek and support democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world. In the world today, the fundamental character … Continue reading “It’s Not About Democracy”

As additional information on the firing of CIA official Mary McCarthy just 10 days short of her retirement becomes available, what is afoot is becoming quite clear. We are witnessing a Stalinesque show trial sans the actual trial and inevitable execution. The purpose is intimidation, not extermination. We should be thankful for small favors, I … Continue reading “McCarthyism: Mary and Joe”

John Fund, former editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal and now a familiar talking head on cable gabfests, used to hang out with libertarians. He even used to claim to be one. Back in the day, he would visit the offices of Libertarian Review to chat with the editor – the late Roy … Continue reading “John Fund vs. the Truth”

KABUL – Agitated poppy farmers in western Herat province say they will not destroy their crops unless the Afghan government provides them with alternative sources of income. "I will not stop growing poppy despite the ban by the government because I’ve no other source of livelihood," asserted Ghulam Sakhi, 45, from the Nahr-i-Farhad area of … Continue reading “Afghan Farmers Fight Ban on Poppy Growing”

Spring in the Balkans News from the Balkans over the past week almost created the impression that this was just another ordinary region in the Empire’s periphery, where local rustics practice entertaining eccentricities and cope with natural disaster. The greatest flood in 100 years along the Danube has attracted a lot of attention, as has … Continue reading “Interesting Times”

Understanding much of the Muslim world can be helped by reviewing Braveheart, Mel Gibson’s classic movie of Scottish freedom fighters. It shows how the clan chieftains were always ready to betray William Wallace and his Scottish nationalists for their narrow tribal concerns, and how the English king could so easily bribe and manipulate them. Such … Continue reading “Tribes, Veils, and Democracy”