Month: April 2008

Updated at 12:45 a.m. EDT, April 26, 2008Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr clarified recent comments about “open war” and urged his followers to observe the ceasefire. At least 44 Iraqis were killed and another 128 were wounded across Iraq. An IED killed an American soldier south of Baghdad. Also, a delegation of lawmakers wanting to assess … Continue reading “Friday: 1 US Soldier, 44 Iraqis Killed; 128 Iraqis Wounded”

Whenever the subject of Israeli spying in the U.S. comes up, the journalistic handle is always the same: the infamous Jonathan Pollard. His ghost hovers over the increasingly troubled "special relationship" – and he isn’t even dead yet. Convicted of espionage in 1986, Pollard did such damage to U.S. national security that top intelligence officials … Continue reading “Pollard’s Ghost”

Last Sunday, David Barstow of the New York Times revealed just how effectively the Pentagon orchestrated a propaganda campaign for “information dominance” when it came to the president’s various wars (and prisons). Pentagon officials, from the secretary of defense on down, put together a “rapid reaction force” of retired generals and other retired military officers … Continue reading “A Pentagon’s Who’s Who
of Your Life”

Sen. John McCain is a man of physical courage and personal honor. He’s also a warmonger, with little concern for those who would die in his military adventures. The Democrats won’t say that. But it’s the truth. Earlier this year Sen. Barack Obama was appearing at a fund-raiser in Grand Forks, N.D. Talk show host … Continue reading “Inconvenient Truths About John McCain”

Updated at 6:51 p.m. EDT, April, 24, 2008At least 42 Iraqis were killed and 38 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Three American soldiers were killed as well, but in separate accidents. Also, Britain is canceling its drawdown of troops for the time being. Two American soldiers were killed and one was wounded during … Continue reading “Thursday: 3 US Soldiers, 42 Iraqis Killed; 38 Iraqis Wounded”

The nomination of Gen. David Petraeus to be the new head of the Central Command not only ensures that he will be available to defend the George W. Bush administration’s policies toward Iran and Iraq at least through the end of Bush’s term and possibly even beyond. It also gives Vice President Dick Cheney greater … Continue reading “Petraeus Promotion Frees Cheney to Threaten Iran”

CAIRO – Egypt’s parliament ratified legislation earlier this month outlawing public demonstrations in or near religious establishments. While government officials say the move is meant to preserve the inviolability of Egypt’s mosques and churches, critics say the new law aims to further stifle freedom of expression. “The goal of the new law is obvious: to … Continue reading “New Egyptian Law Tightens Noose Around Freedom”

Calgary’s weather is notoriously capricious, particularly this year, when horrendous snowfalls have occurred unseasonably. Meanwhile, Maxime "Mad Max" Bernier, Canada’s minister for foreign affairs and international trade, a loose-ish cannon who has already been in trouble for taking a scantily clad date to an official Ottawa ceremony, has put his foot in it again by … Continue reading “Calgary in Afghanistan: Snow Job in the Flush of Spring”

On one of the Communist-era housing projects in the western part of Sarajevo – a slab of concrete once gray and foreboding and recently painted a shade of ochre to give it at least a semblance of warmth – there is a graffito in dark red spray-paint: "If elections changed anything, they would make them … Continue reading “If This Goes On…”

Updated at 12:27 a.m. EDT, April 24, 2008At least 59 Iraqis were killed and 114 more were wounded in the latest violence, much of it involving continued fighting between the Mahdi army and Iraqi security forces. Exact figures are difficult to obtain due to the nature of the clashes. One American soldier was killed during … Continue reading “Wednesday: 2 US Soldiers, 1 US Contractor, 59 Iraqis Killed; 114 Iraqis Wounded”