Month: April 2008

GAZA CITY – The one political result of Israel’s attacks and sanctions on Gaza has been that the Hamas leadership, and particularly Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, have emerged greatly strengthened. Over the last three months, support for Haniyeh has overtaken that for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah Party. Fatah rules the West … Continue reading “Israel Strengthens Hamas’ Leadership”

The Bush regime has quagmired America into a sixth year of war in Afghanistan and Iraq with no end in sight. The cost of these wars of aggression is horrendous. Official U.S. combat casualties stand at 4,538 dead. Officially, 29,780 U.S. troops have been wounded in Iraq. On April 17, 2008, AP News reported that … Continue reading “What the Iraq War Is About”

JERUSALEM – In the clearest indication yet that Israel now believes Iran’s nuclear aspirations will be curbed, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that efforts being undertaken by the international community will ensure that Tehran does not acquire nuclear capability. In a series of interviews on the eve of the Passover holiday, Olmert sounded the … Continue reading “Olmert: Iran Will Not Be Nuclear”

The United States government does such a bad job of caring for wounded war veterans, advocates told a federal judge in San Francisco Monday, that 18 veterans commit suicide every week. "The suicide problem is out of control," said Gordon Erspamer, an attorney representing the groups Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth … Continue reading “Vets’ Lawsuit Opens Door on Suicides, Poor Care”

The new “surge” strategy in Iraq, led by Gen. David Petraeus, has been heavily marketed as an example of the U.S. military’s application of the “lessons of history” from previous counterinsurgencies to Iraq, foremost among them the need to win the population over from insurgents through cultivating human relationships, addressing popular grievances, and providing security. … Continue reading “US Takes Counterinsurgency Lessons From Israel”

According to Department of Energy statistics, the price of oil rose from about $20 per barrel to about $30 per barrel over the course of 2000 to 2001. And oil prices were actually falling in 2001 and declined sharply after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But since early 2002 – after President Bush’s “axis of evil” … Continue reading “Whither the Price of Oil?”

Editorial note: What follows is the text of a speech delivered at the MidCoast Forum on Foreign Relations in Rockport, Maine, on April 21, 2008. Click here for Part 1. Bush caved. Shortly after the Lobby launched its campaign against the White House, Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer announced that the president believed Sharon was "a … Continue reading “Turning the Page on US Foreign Policy, Part 2”

Updated at 1:30 a.m. EDT, April 23, 2008At least 56 Iraqis were killed and 185 more were wounded in attacks across Iraq. Many of the wounded died either in Sadr City or during one of several significant bombings. Also, five U.S. servicemembers were killed in separate incidents, and two top aides to Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani … Continue reading “Tuesday: 5 GIs, 56 Iraqis Killed; 185 Iraqis Wounded”

The U.S. government’s anti-terrorist financing programs are based on the "guilt by association" tactics of the McCarthy era and have had a widespread negative impact on U.S. charities, critics say. That is the view of Kay Guinane, director of the Nonprofit Speech Rights Program for OMB (Office of Management and Budget) Watch, an independent not-for-profit … Continue reading “Trials of Muslim Charities Likened to a Witch-Hunt”

Israel Loves Mugabe Justin Raimondo’s memory has failed him. I have never supported Robert Mugabe. Even during the war of liberation I supported his then rival Joshua N’Komo. I have many times criticized Mr. Mugabe, in print and on my radio shows. I have never met Mr. Mugabe, and during the conference in Kuala Lumpur … Continue reading “Backtalk, April 22, 2008”