Month: October 2008

Hardly a day goes by without some extraordinary news from the military commissions, the system of "terror trials" conceived in the office of the vice president in November 2001, and their days now seem to be as numbered as those of the Bush administration itself. Following the outspoken resignation of former prosecutor Lt. Col. Darrel … Continue reading “The Collapse of Omar Khadr’s Guantánamo Trial”

Updated at 7:17 p.m. EDT, Oct. 27, 2008At least 20 Iraqis were killed and another 29 were wounded in the latest violence. One American soldier died Friday of wounds received on Oct. 16 during a small arms attack in Baquba. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities confirmed a border attack on Syria. In Baghdad, a bomb planted on … Continue reading “Monday: 1 US Soldier, 20 Iraqis Killed; 29 Iraqis Wounded”

Back in September 1989 – almost a lifetime ago – I published an article in The Progressive magazine under the title “Star Wars Won’t Die.” Star Wars was, of course, the movie-inspired nickname for Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), his vision of putting an “impermeable shield” against nuclear weapons in space. (“The Force is … Continue reading “Putting the Pentagon on the Auction Block”

Who would really be all that surprised by an October surprise? After all, if history teaches us anything, it’s that incumbent presidents are inclined to use their power in this way. George Condon, the San Diego Union‘s man in Washington, gives us a little history lesson in this regard, starting with the occupation – and … Continue reading “October Surprise?”

As the election the candidates and media have been presaging for about two years now finally arrives, it might be difficult to find much reason to be thankful except that it is finally over and it may be a week or two before the pundits start speculating on 2012 (oh, wait, that’s already begun). Although … Continue reading “An Upside to the Financial Crisis?”

Updated at 7:34 p.m. EDT, Oct. 26, 2008 At least 11 Iraqis were killed and another 28 more were wounded as the Iraqi government canceled a meeting where lawmakers hoped to settle disagreements over a U.S.-Iraqi security deal. No Coalition deaths were reported. Syria condemned an air raid by U.S. forces a few miles inside … Continue reading “Sunday: 11 Iraqis Killed, 28 Wounded”

Updated at 4:05 p.m. EDT, Oct. 25, 2008At least 21 Iraqis were killed and 17 more were killed in a number of small attacks across the country. Also, one American soldier died from a non-combat-related illness. Meanwhile, the top US commander held talks on the PKK in Turkey, and hundred of Shi’ites marched on Basra. … Continue reading “Saturday: 1 US Soldier, 21 Iraqis Killed; 17 Iraqis Wounded”

Well, according to a report released last month by the Grand Pooh-Bahs of The Bipartisan Policy Center – and an op-ed piece based upon their report, published this week in the Washington Post – it shouldn’t matter whether a Republican or a Democrat becomes our next President; he’ll probably have to bomb-bomb Iran. And the … Continue reading “Bipartisan Policy: Bomb-Bomb Iran”

In the battle for endorsements in the presidential campaign, Barack Obama snared a strong nod from former Secretary of State Colin Powell and John McCain received an equally strong recommendation from al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda? Yes, you heard right, al-Qaeda! This endorsement indicates what has long been known: al-Qaeda is fairly sophisticated politically. And this doesn’t mean … Continue reading “Obama Gets Powell and McCain Gets al-Qaeda”

Updated at 5:11 p.m. EDT, Oct. 24, 2008At least 10 Iraqis were killed and two more were injured during light prayer day violence. No Coalition deaths were reported. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Iraq can make decisions without Iranian input over a controversial U.S.-Iraqi security pact. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice subtly … Continue reading “Friday: 10 Iraqis Killed, 2 Wounded”