Month: October 2006

Why We Still Fight Mr. Lind: I read your article as noted above, and would like to express to you how thankful I am for writers such as yourself. My son is presently in Ramadi, and the city is lost. It’s like out of a Mad Max movie, or Dawn of the Dead – the … Continue reading “Backtalk October 17, 2006”

Updated at 11:20 p.m. EDT, Oct. 16, 2006 Five more American servicemen were killed and two others injured in Iraq over the weekend. Also, an American GI, who had been injured in Iraq, died at a hospital in the U.S. Details about the death of third soldier on Friday were also released. This brings the … Continue reading “Monday: Attacks Kill 160 Iraqis; 15 US Troops Die in Three Days”

Here’s how the president described the enemy in Iraq at his press conference last week. “The violence is being caused by a combination of terrorists, elements of former regime criminals, and sectarian militias.” “Elements of former regime criminals,” AKA “bitter-enders,” AKA “Saddamists.” The “sectarian militias” may have been a relatively recent add-on, but this is … Continue reading “Nine Paradoxes of a Lost War”

The November election is shaping up as a national referendum on the war in Iraq – and the GOP, AKA the War Party, is in deep trouble. A recent CNN poll asked voters to rank the importance of the war issue: 48 percent said it is "extremely important," while 38 percent averred it’s "very important." … Continue reading “Election 2006:
A War Referendum”

The Bush administration has radically redefined America’s nuclear use policy [1], [2]: U.S. nuclear weapons are no longer regarded as qualitatively different from conventional weapons. Many actions of the administration in recent years strongly suggest that an imminent U.S. nuclear use is being planned for, and this was confirmed by Bush’s explicit refusal to rule … Continue reading “Nuclear Strike on Iran Is Still on the Agenda”

“You see, we’re invading Iraq, kicking out the wicked witch, establishing democracy, and they will all live happily ever after,” explained President Bush to the White House interns, as they watched shock and awe light up the Iraqi skyline. The kids were all happy, dreaming of sugar plums, TV appearances, and big jobs in Washington. … Continue reading “The Second Children’s Crusade”

Fleeing from Nazi Austria on the eve of World War II, Sigmund Freud was asked to sign a statement saying he was not mistreated. The old Jewish psychiatrist is said to have asked whether he could add: “I can most highly recommend the Gestapo to everyone.” Israeli Hotel Spoils Palestinians Since the abduction of an … Continue reading “Good News From Gaza”

Updated at 7:20 p.m. EDT, Oct. 15, 2006 In today’s news from Iraq, at least 94 Iraqis died or were reported dead. Another 89 were injured in violent acts throughout the country. Also, two Marines died today in Anbar Province, three American soldiers died yesterday near Baghdad, and a Multi-National Division soldier reportedly died Friday … Continue reading “Sunday Violence Leaves 94 Iraqis Dead; 8 US Troops Dead in Weekend Attacks”

LONDON (IPS) – The signs have been emerging thicker and faster of late that the British want to pull out of Iraq altogether, but on Friday a British general set a timeline, and Prime Minister Tony Blair as good as agreed. General Sir Richard Dannatt said in an interview published Friday in the Daily Mail … Continue reading “Iraq: Little Brother Poses a Problem”

Updated at 6:00 p.m. EDT, Oct. 14, 2006 The violence in Iraq continued late Friday and into Saturday. At least 125 were reported killed and another 19 injured. According to the U.S. military, among the wounded is a soldier who was seriously injured on Tuesday when a grenade was hurled at his Humvee. Also, one … Continue reading “Saturday Attacks Leave 123 Iraqis, US Airman, US Marine Dead”