Month: November 2008

Judging by the rare leaks from President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team, investigations and prosecutions of high-level George W. Bush administration officials for torture and war crimes are a distant prospect. But likely or not, that won’t stop pundits from debating the question of whether those officials responsible should be held accountable. Irrespective of whether Vice … Continue reading “No Amnesty for Bush Administration, Say Torture Opponents”

The Obama national security “team” – part of that much-hailed “team of rivals” – does not yet exist, but it does seem to be heaving into view. And so far, its views seem anything but rivalrous. Mainstream reporters and pundits lovingly refer to them as “centrist,” but, in a Democratic context, they are distinctly right … Continue reading “Who Rules the Pentagon?”

One is hardly ever shocked anymore: that seems to be the defining characteristic of modernity. Yet I got to experience that rare sensation the other day when I read this blog item on LewRockwell.com. Aha! I thought. So that‘s why the MSNBCers are hailing the Big Bailout at the top of their lungs – their … Continue reading “The Bailout, the Media, and the War Party”

Updated at 7:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 25, 2008At least six Iraqis were killed and 10 more were wounded in a day of light violence. Two U.S, servicemembers were killed in Mosul, while a third GI died in Diyala. Meanwhile, it is the last day of debate before parliament votes on a proposed U.S.-Iraq security agreement. … Continue reading “Tuesday: 3 GIs, 6 Iraqis Killed; 10 Iraqis Wounded”

An elite inter-American commission sponsored by a think-tank that is considered close to likely key policymakers in the administration of President-elect Barack Obama is calling for sharp break in U.S. policy toward Latin America, a substantial opening toward Cuba, greater diplomatic engagement with Venezuela, and a major reassessment of its war on drugs. In a … Continue reading “Hemispheric Group Calls for Major Changes in Americas Policy”

The morning after Barack Obama’s election, the congratulatory message from Moscow was in the chilliest tradition of the Cold War. “I hope for constructive dialogue with you,” said Russia’s president, “based on trust and considering each other’s interests.” Dmitry Medvedev went on that day, in his first State of the Union, to charge America with … Continue reading “Meeting Medvedev Halfway”

The day before yesterday, two documents appeared side by side in Ha’aretz: a giant advertisement from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the results of a public opinion poll. The proximity was accidental, but to the point. The PLO ad sets out the details of the 2002 Saudi peace offer, decorated with the colorful flags … Continue reading “Eyes Wide Shut”

Updated at 7:55 p.m. EST, Nov. 24, 2008A number of bombings rocked Baghdad today as parliamentarians debated a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security agreement. In one bold attack, a woman blew herself up at the entrance to the Green Zone. Across Iraq, at least 34 Iraqis were killed and another 31 were wounded. No Coalition deaths were … Continue reading “Monday: 34 Iraqis Killed, 31 Wounded”

We know the sellout is a reality when we listen to Jamie Kirchick praise Barack Obama’s national security appointments: "Barack Obama isn’t even president yet, and he’s already angering some of his most devoted followers on the party’s left wing. This is the mark of what could be a very successful presidency," he snarks. Kirchick, … Continue reading “Obama’s Foreign Policy:
The Case for Pessimism”

[Note to Readers: In the spirit of Nick Turse’s article below on truth-telling and civilian deaths in war, TomDispatch would like to direct your attention to a recently published paperback, Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan, Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations, a powerful text with words, images, and documents from the spring 2008 hearings in Washington, … Continue reading “A Truth-Teller for Our Times”