Month: August 2007

The successful TV franchise Law and Order has spun off a number of niche crime dramas over the years: Special Victims Unit, which deals with sexual predators; Criminal Intent, which concerns high-profile murders; and Trial by Jury, which takes viewers into the deliberations that determine a defendant’s guilt or innocence. Imagine, though, the prospect of … Continue reading “A Law and Order Spinoff You Don’t Want to Miss”

Someday, we will undoubtedly discover that, in the term “surge” – as in the president’s “surge” plan (or “new way forward”) announced to the nation in January – was the urge to avoid the language (and experience) of the Vietnam era. As there were to be no “body bags” (or cameras to film them as … Continue reading “Escalation by the Numbers”

When it comes to foreign policy, particularly as it relates to the Middle East, there is not a whole lot of separation between the Democratic and Republican Parties. Republicans tend to be more bellicose in their statements, but Democrats have more than made up for that with their steely resolve to take the fight to … Continue reading “Neolibs and Neocons,
United and Interchangeable”

Updated at 11:55 p.m. EDT, Aug. 13, 2008At least 41 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 20 more were injured during the latest events. In Mosul, seven of the injured were freed from a torture chamber. Also, four American servicemembers were killed and one was wounded in separate events.An MND-B soldier was killed today … Continue reading “Monday: 4 GIs, 41 Iraqis Killed; 20 Iraqis Wounded”

I love going over to DailyKos.com – a site for very partisan Democrats – and reading the passionate antiwar screeds, the outrage at the escalation of the Iraq conflict in the face of rising opposition, the often timely and interesting analysis of our disastrous foreign policy posted by Kossacks with monikers like “antiwarrior” and “Cheneysucks,” … Continue reading “The Democrats Are Selling Out the Peace Movement”

Wednesday’s article in the Daily Telegraph titled "China Threatens ‘Nuclear Option’ of Dollar Sales" strikes a raw political and emotional nerve in the U.S. – coming just a day before stock markets around the world dipped – and sets the stage for another demon to accompany terrorism in the minds of many Americans. The "nuclear … Continue reading “China’s ‘Nuclear Option’”

The most important issue facing America is not even being debated by the presidential candidates. With the exception of Ron Paul, all of the candidates are acting on the assumption that America’s interventionist foreign policy should continue. They only differ on the details of the intervention. Since Dr. Paul doesn’t have a chance of winning, … Continue reading “Who Cares?”

Updated at 11:40 p.m. EDT, Aug. 12, 2007Although violence remains relatively light, U.S. forces took a heavy hit on Saturday; five American servicemembers were killed and four wounded. At least 57 Iraqis were killed and 37 more wounded during the latest incidents. Also, one security contractor from Fiji was killed, two other Fijians were wounded, … Continue reading “Sunday: 5 GIs, 57 Iraqis Killed; 37 Iraqis Wounded”

Updated at 11:10 p.m. EDT, Aug. 11, 2007Travel returned to normal today in Baghdad as a three-day vehicle curfew was lifted this morning. At least 81 Iraqis were killed and 34 were wounded during the latest incidents. Also, a Task Force Lightning soldier was killed in a non-combat incident in Anbar province in Tikrit.In Baghdad, … Continue reading “Saturday: 1 GI, 81 Iraqis Killed; 34 Iraqis Wounded”

Americans increasingly realize – despite a dearth of reporting by the mainstream media – that there is a widening gulf between reality and President Bush’s characterization of it. And what’s scary is that Bush may actually believe his mischaracterizations and act upon them, perhaps even nuking Iran, a signatory to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation Weapons, … Continue reading “Challenging Bush’s Reality”