GAZA CITY - "Santa Claus is empty-handed this year … insolvent," says Father Manuel Musallam, head of the Holy Family School in Gaza City. "All forms of celebration are absent," he says, raising his empty palms skyward. "We Christians and...
A Progressive Looks at John Edwards
A sizable number of progressive activists, celebrities, and unions who, for various reasons, are unwilling to support the underfunded, long-shot bid of Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich are backing the presidential campaign of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as...
Not Home for the Holidays
It must be the holidays, because, once again, the administration is holding out the prospect of drawing down troop levels in Iraq. Two years ago, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld hinted at the possibility of U.S. troop reductions in Iraq when he announced...
Tuesday: 66 Iraqis Killed, 105 Wounded
Updated at 10:35 p.m. EST, Dec. 25, 2007After a brief holiday break, violent attacks resumed in Iraq. At least 66 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another 105 were wounded. No Coalition deaths were reported. Also, Turkey continues to bomb Kurd rebel areas in...
Help! A Cease-Fire!
Forget the Qassams. Forget the mortar shells. They are nothing compared with what Hamas launched at us this week. The chief of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, has approached an Israeli newspaper and proposed a cease-fire. No more Qassams, no...
The Surge: Illusion and Reality
"Where the dead are ghosts on the fragile abacus used to calculate loss, to estimate tragedy." – from "Body Count," by poet Persis Karim The narrative in the media these days is the success of the U.S. "surge," which has poured an additional 30,000 U.S....
Monday: 15 Iraqis Killed, 22 Wounded, 22 Kidnapped
Updated at 5:00 p.m. EST, Dec. 24, 2007Fourteen people, all belonging to the same family, were kidnapped in restive Diyala province. Another seven people were kidnapped near Kirkuk, and one person was abducted near Duluiya. Elsewhere, at least 15 Iraqis were killed...
Ron Paul vs. the Dirty Tricksters
The Ron Paul campaign has generated a lot of excitement, especially among young people. It has made political history by raising more money in a single day than any other presidential campaign, ever. It has inspired thousands and given hope to those who had given up...
Backtalk, December 24, 2007
Hillary Clinton's Illiberal Belligerence Dear Professor Zunes: Thank you for "Hillary Clinton's Illiberal Belligerence." However, I must take serious issue with your characterization of her belligerence as "illiberal." There is absolutely NOTHING that has happened in...
Sunday: 26 Iraqis Killed, 21 Wounded
Updated at 7: 30 p.m. EST, Dec. 23, 2007At least 26 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another 21 were wounded during the latest attacks. No Coalition deaths were reported. Also, Turkey bombed northern Iraq for a second day in a row, but no casualties were...