Month: June 2007

As the Bush administration struggles through its last two years in office, it appears that the agenda of neoconservative ideologues has finally lost its appeal among strategic parts of the U.S. foreign policy apparatus. But as their influence has waned at the Pentagon and State Department, neoconservative hawks have taken charge on the battlefield of … Continue reading “Neocons Hope to Spin Hearts and Minds With Mideast Media”

To look at Fred Thompson, the actor-cum-senator who now appears to be moving to the front of the GOP presidential pack, one would think that what you see is what you get – but, no. Peel back the pretty ordinary red-state Republican opinions – the war is a righteous one, free Scooter Libby – and … Continue reading “Fred Thompson and the Burning ‘Necklace’”

Goodbye and Good Luck Mr. Reese states: “Since we stupidly decided to have an all-volunteer Army, we can’t afford too much cannon fodder.” Is it Mr. Reese’s position that the United States should have a drafted army, rather than an all-volunteer military? I would like to think that, as a man of uncompromising principle on … Continue reading “Backtalk, June 25, 2007”

You might recall how President George W. Bush was wont to wax eloquent on the virtues of democracy and how often he spoke of spreading democracy to the Middle East. You might not recall that there was a free and fair election in the occupied territories last year. Palestinian voters overwhelmingly chose a Hamas government … Continue reading “Palestine: Freedom Is What They Want”

Updated at 11:10 p.m. EDT, June 24, 2007On an otherwise quiet day, Ali Hassan al-Majid, a cousin of Saddam Hussein who is known as "Chemical Ali," was sentenced to death, along with two other people, for genocide and crimes against humanity. At least 41 Iraqis were killed and 18 were wounded during violent incidents. Also, … Continue reading “Sunday: 3 GIs, 41 Iraqis Killed; 18 Iraqis Wounded; Chemical Ali Sentenced To Death”

The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to take what advocates are calling a historic vote this week to close the largest U.S. military training ground for soldiers from Central and South America. The vote comes on the initiative of Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), who has offered an amendment to the Foreign Operations and Appropriations … Continue reading “US Vote Could Close ‘School of the Americas’”

Updated at 11:20 p.m. EDT, June 23, 2007American forces took a heavy hit today as nine GIs were killed in various incidents. The U.S. military also announced a previously unreported death that occurred on June 14th. At least 75 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 39 were injured in numerous small incidents throughout the … Continue reading “Saturday: 10 GIs, 75 Iraqis Killed; 39 Iraqis Wounded”

The major offensive begun earlier this week in Iraq is curious in a number of ways – so curious that it’s tempting to view it as a desperate move calculated to gain some semblance of progress or apparent progress in the face of the disappointing performance (or perhaps downright failure) of the "surge" strategy that … Continue reading “A Curious Offensive”

Friday’s unprecedented – albeit relatively low-profile – visit to the White House by a Vietnamese head of state marks the culmination of a lengthy normalization process between two countries that ended their war 32 years ago. But while President Nguyen Minh Triet wants to talk mainly about how Washington can spur more US investment his … Continue reading “Visit by Vietnamese President Signals Normalization”

If I were an American soldier in Iraq, I’d be tempted mightily to say, "Good luck and goodbye," and then start for home. I can’t see losing even one more soldier in a war over a country in which 99.9 percent of the American people have no interest. Iraq had no effect on the American … Continue reading “Goodbye and Good Luck”