Month: August 2007

Updated at 12:10 a.m EDT, Aug. 21, 2007At least 60 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 67 more were wounded during many incidents across Iraq. The governor of the southern Muthanna province is among today’s dead. Also, an MNC-I soldier died of non-combat causes yesterday in Baghdad. The governor of Muthanna province and three … Continue reading “Monday: 1 GI, 60 Iraqis Killed; 67 Iraqis Wounded”

José Padilla’s conviction on terrorism charges on Aug. 16 was a victory, not for justice, but for the U.S. Justice (sic) Department’s theory that a U.S. citizen can be convicted, not for committing a terrorist act but for allegedly harboring aspirations to commit such an act. By agreeing with the Justice (sic) Department’s theory, the … Continue reading “Padilla Jury Opens Pandora’s Box”

Every movement has its wackos, its "extremists," who take the original premise of an idea to its furthest, kookiest application. Usually they are harmless, due to their small numbers and the obvious nuttiness of their ideas. In times of crisis, however, when people are looking for simple answers – and, above all, safety – these … Continue reading “The Outer Limits”

There is no question that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is growing into a counterweight to U.S. and NATO power in Asia. The SCO has been under close scrutiny by geopolitical analysts since its inception, and early predictions that the organization would eventually challenge U.S. hegemony have proven true. The questions now are: How will … Continue reading “A Counterweight,
or a Bloc of Foes?”

Updated at 11:25 p.m Aug. 19, 2007At least 125 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 78 more were wounded in the latest violence. No foreign military deaths were announced. Joint U.S.-Iraqi forces killed 76 gunmen and arrested 58 others in Baquba. Three suspects were killed and 21 more detained in unspecified locations during U.S. … Continue reading “Sunday: 125 Iraqis Killed, 78 Wounded”

Updated at 10:45 p.m. EDT, Aug. 18, 2007In what was an unusually quiet Saturday, at least 32 Iraqis were killed and 46 more were wounded in the latest attacks. No foreign military deaths were reported.In Baghdad, 18 dumped bodies were recovered. Also, a mortar attack left one person dead and six more wounded in the … Continue reading “Saturday: 32 Iraqis Killed, 46 Iraqis Wounded”

The news story in the New York Times actually painted the conviction Thursday of terrorism suspect Jose Padilla as "a significant victory for the Bush administration." The L.A. Times suggested something rather similar. It was far from that. If anything, it was a repudiation of the way the administration handled his case. But that doesn’t … Continue reading “Padilla Case a Source of Deep Shame for America”

Here we go again. Because "the continuing and immediate threat" of "grave acts of terrorism or threats of terrorism" constitutes "an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States," the Bush-Cheney administration intends to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards a "person" [as defined by Executive Order 13224] … Continue reading “Effecting Regime Change in Iran”

BAGHDAD – The collapse of Iraq’s infrastructure has created a worsening water crisis that is killing untold numbers of Iraqis. Iraq, with its famous Tigris and Euphrates rivers that run the length of the country, is now unable to provide drinking water to most of its people. "The two rivers are still there, great as … Continue reading “Between the Two Rivers, Lack of Water Kills”

Scott Horton takes Stu Bykofsky of the Philadelphia Daily News to task for his suggestion that America needs another 9/11. By the end of the interview, Scott is practically straddling Bykofsky and pummeling him with facts, when Bykofsky goes whoops! I have a “real job” I have to get back to. The interview unfortunately ends … Continue reading “Does America Need Another 9/11?”