Month: October 2008

Salwa Salam Qupty clutches a fading sepia photograph of a young Palestinian man wearing a traditional white headscarf. It is the sole memento that survives of her father, killed by a Jewish militia during the 1948 war that established Israel. "He was killed 60 years ago as he was traveling to work," she said, struggling … Continue reading “Israel Bars Visit to Father’s Grave”

Updated at 6:40 p.m. EDT, Oct. 29, 2008At least 20 Iraqis were killed and another 73 were wounded in the latest round of violence. A number of small incidents occurred in Mosul, while two larger attacks occurred in Diyala province. A U.S. soldier died from non-combat related injuries in Mosul. Also, U.S, forces handed over … Continue reading “Wednesday: 1 US Soldier, 20 Iraqis Killed; 73 Iraqis Wounded”

Editor’s note: The following originally ran June 25, 2008. The idea that warfare helps the economy is a prime example of Bizarro logic, which has pervaded our collective consciousness since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, ideological fallout from the explosion of national hysteria that followed. In Bizarro World, as we all know, the laws of nature … Continue reading “Is War Good For the Economy?”

While the world’s eyes are fixed on the American election coming up soon, another election with equal importance for America’s future crawled onto the calendar over the past weekend (don’t expect a monarchist to think highly of elections). Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni gave up her efforts to form a new Israeli government and called … Continue reading “The Other Election”

A cross-border raid into Syria by U.S. forces in Iraq and subsequent stonewalling by U.S. officials unwilling to divulge details have led to rampant speculation among U.S. analysts about the origins and meaning of the attack. "So the question is: Why?" wrote geo-strategic analyst and journalist Helena Cobban on her blog, wondering if the raid … Continue reading “Analysts Question Timing of Syria Raid”

Now here’s a problem that anyone with half a brain could have seen coming. On Monday the second trial by military commission at Guantánamo – in other words, the second U.S. "war crimes" trial since the Second World War, following the underwhelming trial of Salim Hamdan this summer – opened not with a bang, nor … Continue reading “An Empty Trial at Guantánamo”

With less than a week to go in the presidential election and the economy in a tailspin, Sen. John McCain is claiming, "We [McCain and Sen. Barack Obama] both disagree with President Bush on economic policies. My approach is to get spending under control." That would certainly be a change of pace from recent Republican … Continue reading “You Can’t Cut Spending
and Spare ‘Defense’”

Updated at 6:50 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008Bombing attacks left dozens dead or wounded across Iraq today, while a mass grave was found in the northern city of Tal Afar as well. At least 36 Iraqis were killed and 63 more were wounded in the latest reports. A No Coalition casualties were reported. A number of … Continue reading “Tuesday: 36 Iraqis Killed, 63 Wounded”

Despite the recent surge of attention to the U.S.-Iraqi negotiations over an agreement to keep U.S. troops in Iraq for years into the future, the resulting agreement or lack of agreement is likely to have little actual impact on the occupation. The negotiations are being conducted by representatives of President George W. Bush and Prime … Continue reading “Out of Iraq? Not if Bush and Maliki Can Help It”

China currently stands alone in its ability to weather virtually any storm the banking crisis in the U.S. whips up. With almost $2 trillion in foreign currency reserves, China can afford to be unconcerned about an economic decline in the West that spreads throughout the world, hurting dependent and emerging economies from Pakistan to Panama. … Continue reading “A Win-Win Situation for China”