Month: October 2007

Since Raul Castro seems to be transitioning to a more permanent position of power, the administration has begun talking about Cuba policy again. One would think we would be able to survey the results of the last 45 years and come to logical conclusions. Changing course never seems to be an option, however, no matter … Continue reading “Struggling for Relevance in Cuba: Still No Cigars”

Updated at 12:30 a.m. EDT, Oct. 30, 2007Among the latest incidents in Iraq, a suicide bomber killed and wounded dozens of police recruits in Baquba. Another bombing left over 20 dead and injured in Siniya. Overall, at least 87 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 61 more were wounded. No Coalition troops were reported … Continue reading “Monday: 87 Iraqis Killed, 61 Wounded”

(Note to TomDispatch readers: A favor: In addition to everyone who bookmarks TomDispatch, over 18,000 of you now get e-mails letting you know whenever a new piece has been posted. [Many tens of thousands more read pieces from the site reposted elsewhere.] Most new readers sign up for those e-mails thanks to word of mouth, … Continue reading “American Disengagement”

The recent threat by the Turks to invade Iraq in hot pursuit of PKK terrorists has the administration scrambling to appease Ankara and stave off a major blow to the claim that the U.S. occupation has provided “stability” to the region. Kurdistan, after all, has been touted up until now as a model of peace, … Continue reading “Who’s Behind the PKK?”

Aaron R. Linderman’s Backtalk First, being held “accountable” to a contract is not the same as being accountable to legal process – the remedy for violating terms of a contract are financial, not penal. Second, even so, the terms of this contract place primacy on diplomatic security without regard to the holistic counterinsurgency effort – … Continue reading “Backtalk, October 29, 2007”

Updated at 11:15 p.m. EDT Oct. 28, 2007At least 43 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 61 more were wounded; another 13 people were kidnapped in separate incidents. No Coalition soldiers were reported killed. Also, Turkish troops reported killing 20 PKK fighters on their side of the border. In Baghdad, six dumped bodies were … Continue reading “Sunday: 43 Iraqis Killed, 61 Wounded”

Updated at 10:45 p.m. EDT, Oct. 27, 2007As protesters in the U.S. called for an end to the war, at least 68 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 38 more were wounded in the latest round of violence. One U.S. servicemember was also killed in Salah ad Din province. Eight people, including a police … Continue reading “Saturday: 1 GI, 68 Iraqis Killed, 38 Wounded; over 100 Iraqi Troops Poisoned”

with Ali Gharib Right-wing pundit David Horowitz was in rare form during a tightly controlled "public speech" at the George Washington University on Thursday night, decrying the US academic Left as a hateful "lynch mob" who act as apologists for the impending threat of the "Islamo-fascist" jihad. As bodyguards and police loomed on stage and … Continue reading “Welcome to ‘Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week’”

ANKARA – Tension between Turkey, Iraq and the United States went up another degree as Turkish artillery continued Wednesday and Thursday to shell civilian targets and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) positions across its border, while army helicopters launched several raids along the border separating Turkey from northern Iraq. The attacks, reported by state-controlled Anadolu and … Continue reading “Turkish Incursion Into Iraq a Minefield Larger Than It Looks”

In announcing her latest “steps” in the Bush-Cheney campaign to effect regime change in Iran, Condi Rice claimed they were necessary because Iran had again rejected the offer originally made “on our behalf” back in May, 2006, by Javier Solana – the European Union Minister of Foreign Affairs – “to support a civil nuclear program … Continue reading “Yet More Condi Rice Diplomacy”