Month: September 2008

Six decades have passed since World War II ended, but you wouldn’t know it from relations between South Korea and Japan. The two leading democratic, capitalist powers in East Asia – both close US allies – have been blustering over the status of 33 barren but contested blocks of rock. Cooperation over truly important issues, … Continue reading “Time to Tell Irresponsible Allies No Thanks”

February 17, 2008 was supposed to be a triumph of Empire’s doctrine of righteous interventionism, anytime, anywhere. That Moscow and Belgrade could not stop the blatantly illegal creation of "independent" Kosovo was to be the proof of Washington’s power, and its designated victims’ powerlessness. That shortly thereafter, Serbia came under complete control of sycophantic quislings … Continue reading “Slipping”

Updated at 7:01 p.m. EDT, Sept. 18, 2008At least 20 Iraqis were killed and 34 more were wounded in the latest violence. No Coalition deaths were reported, but a helicopter crash that took the lives of seven U.S. soldiers yesterday has been ruled an accident. In military news, a U.S soldier charged with conspiracy to … Continue reading “Thursday: 20 Iraqis Killed, 34 Wounded”

The George W. Bush administration’s decision to launch commando raids and step up missiles strikes against Taliban and al-Qaeda figures in the tribal areas of Pakistan followed what appears to have been the most contentious policy process over the use of force in Bush’s eight-year presidency. That decision has stirred such strong opposition from the … Continue reading “Vested Interests Drove New Pakistan Policy”

A few weeks ago I wrote a column explaining why Senator John McCain is wrong on Iraq. In contrast, Senator Barack Obama is largely right on Iraq. Whether he would follow through on his plan for withdrawing U.S. troops is another question. The Democratic foreign policy establishment is no less Wilsonian than its Republican counterpart, … Continue reading “Why Obama Is Wrong”

Updated at 11:26 p.m. EDT, Sept. 17, 2008The Ramadan spike in bombings continues with another series of explosions in the capital. At least 18 Iraqis were killed, and another 79 were wounded across Iraq. Ten U.S. soldiers died in separate incidents. Also, Turkey’s cabinet is seeking a new mandate to launch attacks on Kurdish guerillas … Continue reading “Wednesday: 10 US Soldiers, 18 Iraqis Killed; 79 Iraqis Wounded”

Aside from the Iraqi people, nobody knows what the U.S. military is doing in Iraq better than the soldiers themselves. A new book gives readers vivid and detailed accounts of the devastation the U.S. occupation has brought to Iraq, in the soldiers’ own words. Winter Soldier Iraq and Afghanistan: Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupation, published … Continue reading “New Book Lets Winter Soldiers Be Heard”

As Andrew Bacevich tells us in the latest issue of the Atlantic, there’s now a vigorous debate going on in the military about the nature of the “next” American wars and how to prepare for them. However, while military officers argue, that “next war” may already be creeping up on us. Having, with much hoopla, … Continue reading “Has the US Invasion of Pakistan Begun?”

As an Israeli, I am ashamed. An incumbent prime minister has been compelled to resign because of personal corruption. How awful! As an Israeli, I am proud. An incumbent prime minister has been compelled to resign because of personal corruption. How wonderful! Compelled not by a revolution, not by a military coup, not by rioting … Continue reading “Tzipi’s Choice”

As we know, the Bush administration has gifted us with two wars. It has also promulgated the "Bush Doctrine," which asserts the nation’s right to launch a preventive strike against any country that could potentially threaten the U.S. At the same time, this administration has supported expanding NATO to include former parts of the Soviet … Continue reading “Cornering the Russian Bear”