Month: September 2007

One of the most disturbing attributes of the neoconservatives is their willingness to subordinate the United States’ national interests to those of Israel. To be sure, the attempt is frequently made to demonstrate that the two nations’ interests are identical, but a careful analysis of the impact of Israel’s domestic and foreign policies can only … Continue reading “Henry Kissinger: Realist, or Neocon?”

Updated at 12:20 a.m. EDT, Sept. 11, 2007At least 77 Iraqis were killed and 132 Iraqis were wounded during the latest violence. Thirteen GIs were killed and at least 16 injured in separate incidents, including a pair of vehicular accidents. Also, the holy city of Karbala reopened to visitors three weeks after clashes spoiled a … Continue reading “Monday: 13 GIs, 77 Iraqis Killed; 132 Iraqis Wounded”

Six years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the entity known as al-Qaeda remains largely a mystery: its intent, its ideology, its leadership, and its inner workings are all largely unknown to the American people. Experts study them and interpret the arcane meanings of their utterances in light of Koranic verses. The president of the United … Continue reading “The Mystery of al-Qaeda”

[Note for Readers: This is the third in TomDispatch’s “by the numbers” series, leading up to this week’s White House “Progress Report” from the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker. The first, in July, was “Iraq by the Numbers“; the second, in August, was “Escalation by … Continue reading “Launching Brand Petraeus”

This is the month of the reports. The Government Accountability Office has already made its report on the war in Iraq; next comes a Marine general, and then the big kahuna, Gen. David Petraeus. All of the reports are predictable, and none of them will sway President Bush from his stay-the-course policy. Nor will the … Continue reading “A Month of Malarkey”

Introduction It has been six years since the horrid attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Throughout that time, George W. Bush has been president of the United States and, especially given the emphasis he has put on 9/11, it’s fair to judge him on how well he’s done on policies aimed at responding to 9/11. I … Continue reading “9/11, Six Years Later”

Ron vs. the Huckster It isn’t apparent from the broadcast program, but people in the audience weren’t actually booing Ron Paul when he was saying we should take our marching orders from the Constitution. In the middle of his remarks, Fox put up a video of Rudy’s reaction to his remarks. That’s what the audience … Continue reading “Backtalk, September 10, 2007”

Updated at 11:35 p.m. EDT, Sept. 9, 2007At least 59 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 34 more were wounded during various incidents that included at least three suicide bombings. In Baghdad, an MND-B soldier was killed today; two other soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter were also wounded in the incident. A Marine died … Continue reading “Sunday: 2 GIs, 59 Iraqis Killed; 34 Iraqis Wounded”

Updated at 12:15 a.m. EDT, Sept. 9, 2007During the latest round of violence, 66 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 60 more were wounded. No foreign military were reported killed, but the British military announced a troop reduction. Also, a small Sunni bloc has ended its boycott of parliament. The U.S. military announced that … Continue reading “Saturday: 66 Iraqis Killed, 60 Wounded”

With US General David Petraeus’s eagerly anticipated final report on Iraq due on Sep. 15, supporters of the troop surge are busily trying to set the stage for the report that they believe will refute their opponents. The media blitz in Washington is unfolding under the backdrop of dwindling domestic and international support for the … Continue reading “Neocons Put on a Surge-Stravaganza”