Month: May 2008

Reading the memoirs of European colonialists who led the efforts to extend Western control over parts of Asia and Africa in the 19th century, one cannot help but be moved by what seem to be the genuine convictions held by these diplomats, soldiers, businessmen, and missionaries that they were helping spread civilization among the backward … Continue reading “Military Humanitarianism Won’t Help Myanmar”

Chinese bloggers and foreign media are already stirring the pot against the corrupt construction firms and their greedy government sponsors. President Hu Jintao, who has been visiting the victims, and his faithful minister Wen Jiabao issued a warning to those who may have contributed to the deaths of hundreds of schoolchildren in China. Much has … Continue reading “Chinese Contradictions”

If you haven’t already noticed, this is the third day of our quarterly fundraising drive, spring edition. I don’t think I have to impress upon those who have been following the news lately the continuing relevance of Antiwar.com. Every day brings more indications of an imminent attack on Iran by the U.S., and the widening … Continue reading “No Rest for the Wicked”

Updated at 8:00 p.m. EDT, May 20, 2008Iraqi troops peacefully entered Sadr City today to coordinate a security takeover with Sadrist representatives. At least 23 Iraqis were killed and 38 more were wounded in other incidents. No Coalition deaths were reported. Iraqi troops arrived en masse in Sadr City as part of a cease fire … Continue reading “Tuesday: 23 Iraqis Killed, 38 Wounded”

DAMASCUS – In the struggle now just to stay alive, everyone has forgotten that Iraq has lost, among other things, its tradition in sports. Some of its best sportsmen are now refugees. "No one seems to care about us," 20-year-old footballer Ali Rubai’i told IPS. Ali fled Iraq with his family to Syria like countless … Continue reading “Iraqi Athletes Praying, Not Playing”

From the people who brought you the "war on terror" and the "axis of evil" comes a new verbal tonic for combating that amorphous emotion. Out with pejoratives like "Islamo-fascists," "jihadis," and "mujahedin," and in with "words that work," according to a George W. Bush administration memo that was leaked last month to the Associated … Continue reading “The War on (Euphemism)”

“A little learning is a dangerous thing,” wrote Alexander Pope. Daily, our 43rd president testifies to Pope’s point. Addressing the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of Israel’s birth, Bush said those who say we should negotiate with Iran or Hamas are like the fools who said we should negotiate with Adolf Hitler. “As Nazi tanks … Continue reading “Bush Plays the Hitler Card”

Hunter Thompson employed a deranged Samoan attorney on his notorious Las Vegas run. My attorney is Hungarian rather than Samoan, but he is similarly deranged, his suitability for my purposes being his instinct for the jugular. I trust him implicitly. He’s advising me informally, as I can’t pay him what he’s actually worth. I need … Continue reading “Fear and Loathing in Vancouver”

Dear Admiral Fallon, I have not been able to find out how to reach you directly, so I drafted this letter in the hope it will be brought to your attention. First, thank you for honoring the oath we commissioned officers take to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, … Continue reading “Dear Admiral Fallon”

This week, as the American economy continued to suffer the effects of big government, the House attempted to pass two multi-billion dollar "emergency" spending bills, one for continued spending on the war in Iraq , and one increasing spending on domestic and international welfare programs. The plan was to pass these two bills and then … Continue reading “The Economy: Another Casualty of War”