Month: November 2007

The pro-war crowd has been emphasizing the recent drop in American casualties in Iraq, measured by the month, but the fact remains that 2007 has been the most lethal year of war for Americans, and it’s not over yet. At this writing, 853 Americans have died in 2007, which tops the previous record of 849 … Continue reading “A Lethal Year in Iraq”

Updated at 12:15 a.m. EST, Nov. 12, 2007At least 35 Iraqis were killed and 21 more wounded during a day of light violence. No Coalition troops were reported killed, but an incident in Baquba may have resulted in some casualties. Also, over 200 suspects were arrested and 340 policemen fired in other events.In Baghdad, a … Continue reading “Sunday: 35 Iraqis Killed, 21 Wounded”

Updated at 5:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 10, 2007At least 58 Iraqis were killed and 35 more were wounded in various attacks. A major clash left 33 dead in Samarra, though some of the fighters were foreign. One MND-North soldier was killed and three more were wounded during an explosion in Diyala province. Meanwhile, the Iraqi … Continue reading “Saturday: 1 US Soldier, 58 Iraqis Killed; 35 Iraqis Wounded”

Except for the hardly inconsequential difference that the U.S. is not conducting a military occupation, Pakistan is similar to Iraq in at least one important way. Once the initial mistake was made, it has become difficult for the United States to extricate itself (if it wanted to, which this administration almost certainly does not) and … Continue reading “Pakistan: In Too Deep”

To the horror of Jason Leopold, Senior Editor at Truthout, Dick Cheney and Clay Sell, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy, have been regularly visiting the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ever since Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 [.pdf], which, inter alia, changed the start and end dates of daylight saving time. Why … Continue reading “Nukes, Nuclear Power and Global Warming”

First Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq, won what his backers are calling a "huge victory" in court Thursday. US District Court Judge Benjamin Settle ruled the military cannot put Watada on trial a second time unless it can prove such a trial would not violate the US Constitution’s … Continue reading “Case Crumbles Against Officer Who Refused Iraq”

BAGHDAD – Despite claims by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Bush administration officials that violence in Iraq is decreasing, residents in the capital tell a different story. Attacks by Iraqi resistance groups against the US military continue in Baghdad and Iraq’s al-Anbar province, despite US military support for certain Sunni militias in the areas. … Continue reading “Fewer Deaths in Iraq Bring No Reassurance”

The Bureau of the Census has issued a lengthy summary of "facts" about the nation’s 23.7 million veterans in time for Veteran’s Day. Considering that there are two significant ongoing armed conflicts involving U.S. forces, I expected that there would be some "facts" dealing with Iraq and Afghanistan. Nothing was disaggregated. Well, nearly nothing. Where … Continue reading “Paying for the Wars’ Wounded”

Veterans Day: In Memoriam Dear Mr. Henderson, You might do better to quote British poet Wilfred Owen – especially "The Parable of the Old Man and the Young" and "Dulce Et Decorum Est." Owen was a true peace advocate, although a member of the military himself. As you may know, he was one of the … Continue reading “Backtalk, November 10, 2007”

Updated at 10:50 p.m. EST, Nov. 9, 2007Several small bombings throughout Iraq killed a number of victims including several children. Overall, 45 Iraqis were killed and 33 more were wounded. No Coalition deaths were reported. Also, the UN refugee agency called attention to the plight of 2000 Palestinians living at refugee camps on the Iraq-Syrian … Continue reading “Friday: 45 Iraqis Killed, 33 Wounded”