Month: May 2008

Is war with Iran inevitable, even imminent? Or is peace at hand? From the public diplomacy of the administration, either conclusion may be reached. Consider. “West Offers Iran ‘Refreshed’ Deal,” ran the headline in the May 3 Washington Times. The story described an offer to Iran, agreed to by all five members of the Security … Continue reading “Is It Jaw-Jaw or War-War?”

In the barrage of words concerning Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, Lloyd Axworthy has a creditable track record. As president of the University of Winnipeg, Canada’s foreign affairs minister from 1996-2000, and architect of the Ottawa Convention banning land mines, Axworthy’s voice has been consistent, humane, and enlightened. Where does that get us? Lloyd has written … Continue reading “Talk Is Cheap – Do Something!”

The war drums are again beating. It’s beginning to look like the neocons have cranked up their useful idiots in the Bush administration for a fall offensive, target Iran. And maybe also Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinians. The bad guys’ list, which is remarkably similar to a roll call of Israel’s enemies, seems to have … Continue reading “Condi Stomps the Mullahs”

What the Iraq War Is About I don’t think so! I do not think Bush or Cheney care even one little bit about Israel. I do not think it is about peak oil, either. One day in an article that impressed me was a simple saying that makes complete sense: “follow the money.” Well, when … Continue reading “Backtalk, May 6, 2008”

Updated at 7:35 p.m. EDT, May 5, 2008At least 48 Iraqis were killed and 104 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Most of the violence occurred in and around Sadr City. No Coalition deaths were reported. Hospital sources in Sadr City reported six dead and 44 wounded in overnight violence. In Baghdad, six Iraqi … Continue reading “Monday: 48 Iraqis Killed, 104 Wounded”

DAMASCUS – "I’ll go to any country," says Zirgon Tomas al-Aya, a 60-year-old Iraqi standing outside the UN Refugee Agency headquarters in Damascus. "I like Syria but I can’t work here, I want to go somewhere else," said the asylum seeker, one of about 1.5 million Iraqis who have fled to Syria since 2003. He … Continue reading “Iraqi Refugees Look to Europe”

Five years since U.S. President George W. Bush’s infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech, critics say the administration has yet to show a credible way to actually "accomplish" the mission that could see a peaceful Iraq and a return home of U.S. troops. Though the 2007 revamping of the counter-insurgency strategy, known as the "surge," has markedly … Continue reading “Iraq ‘Divide and Rule’ Strategy Called Shortsighted”

CNN reports that George W. Bush, with his disapproval rating shooting past 70 percent, is the most unpopular president in modern American history, or as long as they’ve been polling the question – less beloved than Richard Nixon in the weeks prior to his resignation, and, I’d guess, more despised than George III in 1776. … Continue reading “Assassins of Peace”

The last war won’t end, but in the Pentagon they’re already arguing about the next one. Let’s start with that “last war” and see if we can get things straight. Just over five years ago, American troops entered Baghdad in battle mode, felling the Sunni-dominated government of dictator Saddam Hussein and declaring Iraq “liberated.” In … Continue reading “The Last War and the Next One”

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana On 9/11, we were told “this changes everything.” The terror attacks on New York and Washington were painted as one-of-a-kind events without historical parallel. In reality, they were an all too familiar repeat performance. Our meddling in the affairs of other … Continue reading “When Will We Ever Learn?”