Month: July 2006

U.S. President George W. Bush and his neoconservative advisers had pledged that after ousting Saddam Hussein they would succeed in transforming "liberated" Iraq into a prosperous democracy that would serve as a model of political and economic freedom for the Middle East. Remember the Domino Effect that Westernized and secular Mesopotamia would have had on … Continue reading “All Hell Breaks Loose in the Middle East”

The Israelis are dropping leaflets, as well as bombs, over Beirut. Aside from warnings to stay away from Hezbollah facilities, this little missive stands out: “We all know from the experience of the past few days the massive strength of Israel and its readiness to use this power against the terrorist elements. “The saying goes: … Continue reading “America Held Hostage”

If you thought that a global conflagration on the order of a World War was more the stuff of Biblical prophecy, science fiction and apocalyptic end-times novels, think again. For years, U.S. neoconservatives have been ratcheting up the rhetoric – mostly in small gatherings and on partisan web sites – claiming that terrorist activities around … Continue reading “Bringing on ‘World War III’”

As Israel and Hezbollah again prove racial and religious hatred are the core, irremediable traits of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the international media focuses on each side’s weaponry and the evacuees, Osama bin Laden is smiling and praising Allah in his mountain fastness. Again, as after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, bin Laden and his … Continue reading “Doing bin Laden’s Work
for Him”

Imagine a government in which the names of those who worked as key aides in the office of the second (if not, arguably, the first) most important official in the country were not available. Oh gosh, there is such a government – and it’s ours. Journalist Robert Dreyfuss set out to do a report for … Continue reading “Reality, Redacted”

Living in Iraq is becoming absolutely impossible. The numbers tell part of the story. The United Nations announced Tuesday that, on average, 100 Iraqi civilians died every day in May and June. According to the report, about 2,700 civilians were killed in May and 3,100 were killed in June. Two days later, the Iraqi government … Continue reading “Normal Life Impossible in Iraq”

The week-old Israeli-Hezbollah conflict is likely to boost the chances of U.S. military action against Iran, according to a number of regional experts who see a broad consensus among the U.S. political elite that the ongoing hostilities are part of a broader offensive being waged by Tehran against Washington across the region. While Israel-centered neoconservatives … Continue reading “Mideast Conflict Boosts Chances of Iran-US Showdown”

I love the president. President Vladimir Putin. At the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, “our” president, George W. Bush, observed, apparently without irony: “I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world like Iraq where there’s a free press and free religion, and I told him that a lot of … Continue reading “Democracy, Iraq-Style”

To say that the situation in the Middle East right now is a mess would be an understatement of gargantuan proportions. Israel has sent ground troops into Lebanon. The violence between Hezbollah and Israeli forces has killed more than 300 people (the vast majority of them in Lebanon) in less than two weeks and shows … Continue reading “What a Fine Mess”

Numerous U.S. groups, intellectuals, politicians and media outlets are mobilizing in the United States to back Israel in its ongoing assault on neighboring Lebanon with one main idea to promote – that Israel is always the victim. On Sunday morning, millions of U.S. citizens watched as the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt … Continue reading “In US, Not All Casualties Are Equal”