Month: November 2007

KANDAHAR – Like other troops, the Sep.11, 2001 attacks against the United States inspired Sgt. First Class Darryl Cheatham to join the military. The South Carolina native had already served 10 years in the army before returning to civilian life, but patriotism lured him back into uniform. Cheatham began a one-year mission to mentor the … Continue reading “Police Academy Duties Faze US Troops”

“Too soon old and too late smart.” That saying was one of my Dad’s favorites, and one he used when one of us in the family re-made a past mistake, having not learned from the first error. I am guilty of that in regard to the current game being played by Commentary’s Gabriel Schoenfeld and … Continue reading “The Anti-Americanism of the Israel-Firsters”

Updated at 12:45 p.m EDT, Nov. 7, 2007At least 52 Iraqis were killed or found dead 38 more were injured in the latest incidents, which include the discovery of yet another mass grave near Baquba. A suicide bomber also injured at least 20 people in Kirkuk. No Coalition servicemember deaths were reported. A mass grave … Continue reading “Wednesday: 52 Iraqis Killed, 38 Wounded”

Despite his refusal to declare waterboarding illegal, President George W. Bush’s choice to be his next attorney general overcame a significant hurdle Tuesday as the Senate Judiciary Committee narrowly endorsed his nomination. The Committee voted 11 to 8 to recommend the confirmation of retired federal judge Michael Mukasey to the full Senate. He was opposed … Continue reading “Torture Queries Fail to Stop Bush’s Justice Pick”

Author’s note: Twenty-four former intelligence and national security officials delivered an urgent message Monday morning to the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, calling on them to hold the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey for attorney general until he states his opinion on the legality of waterboarding. Their message strongly … Continue reading “Former Intel Officers on Mukasey and Torture”

The Democratic presidential primary has been a real yawner, and I say that with a high degree of disappointment. After all, one never expected that the most vocal, visible, and credible antiwar voice to be raised this election season would come from the mouth of a Republican – a nine-term congressman from Texas, no less … Continue reading “John Edwards
Takes on the War Party”

The neocons are still winning. Four and a half years after the neocons tricked the nation into launching the most foolish military adventure in its history, the U.S. military continues to execute their policies. The occupation of Iraq and the six-year occupation of Afghanistan continue with no end in sight, and preparations for war with … Continue reading “Turning Around the
Antiwar Movement”

You know there’s trouble ahead when Iraq, in its present state, is the good news story for Bush administration policy. While various civilian and military officials from the president on down have been talking up “success” in Iraq and beating the rhetorical war drums vis-à-vis Iran, much of the remainder of the administration’s foreign policy … Continue reading “If We Lose Iraq,
You’re to Blame”

The recently published memoir of the late Arthur Schlesinger, the renowned American historian and former aide to U.S. presidents, recalls that whenever officials in Washington had pointed to signs of progress toward peace in the Middle East, Israeli diplomat Abba Eban would caution them that when it comes to that part of the world, one … Continue reading “The Tunnel at the
End of the Light”

Updated at 11:20 p.m. EST, Nov. 6, 2007Although violence was light for Iraqi civilians, eight U.S. servicemembers were killed in separate incidents. At least 35 Iraqis were killed and 15 more wounded in the latest violence, which included an attack on policemen in Mosul and a pair of assassinations of local politicians.Military authorities reported that … Continue reading “Tuesday: 8 GIs, 35 Iraqis Killed; 15 Iraqis Wounded”