Month: December 2008

Jewish peace groups have accused the Israeli police of fueling racism by canceling a "Jewish Pride" march by a far-right group that was to have taken place through one of the largest Arab towns in Israel. The police postponed the march, due last Monday, claiming they had evidence extremist residents of Umm al Fahm in … Continue reading “Arab Town Blamed for Jewish Pride March’s Cancelation”

Updated at 8:17 p.m. EST, Dec. 19, 2008At least 10 Iraqis were killed or found dead and another eight were wounded in today’s attacks. A judge has admitted that the journalist shoe-lobber was beaten while in Iraqi custody. No Coalition deaths were reported. The judge investigating the shoe-tossing incident involving U.S. President Bush and an … Continue reading “Friday: 10 Iraqis Killed, 8 Wounded”

Just two months after the twin towers fell, the armies of the Northern Alliance marched into Kabul. The Taliban fled. The triumph was total in the "splendid little war" that had cost one U.S. casualty. Or so it seemed. Yet, last month, the war against the Taliban entered its eighth year, the second longest war … Continue reading “Obama’s War”

Eighteen months after Hamas evicted Fatah forces from Gaza, the prospects for restoring Palestinian unity are more elusive than ever, with both factions believing that time is on their side, according to a new report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) released Wednesday. But changes in the regional and international landscape, particularly if US … Continue reading “Report: Recognizing Hamas Could Help Peace”

The improved security in Iraq has had benefits for everyone there. This has included fewer Iraqi civilian deaths, US casualties, and, says a new report, journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) release said that 41 journalists worldwide were killed this year. And while Iraq has improved, it is still the deadliest nation in the … Continue reading “Deaths Down, But Iraq Still Top Danger Zone”

The idea that the United States is the global hegemon, that we have first dibs on the title of world policemen – indeed, our entire post-WWII foreign policy – is nothing but a delusion. That is one of the chief lessons of the recent economic downturn, one that, unfortunately, the incoming administration has yet to … Continue reading “The Bubble of Empire”

US military leaders and Pentagon officials have made it clear through public statements and deliberately leaked stories in recent weeks that they plan to violate a central provision of the US-Iraq withdrawal agreement requiring the complete withdrawal of all US combat troops from Iraqi cities by mid-2009 by reclassifying combat troops as support troops. The … Continue reading “US Military Defiant on Key Terms of Iraqi Pact”

President-elect Barack Obama took only a few days after his election victory before tossing his most liberal supporters overboard. While loading up his administration with war-hawks of various stripes, including Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, he left antiwar activists weeping in their blogs. The President-elect attempted to reassure his supporters … Continue reading “What Foreign Policy Agenda Will President Barack Obama Set?”

RAMALLAH – Israel released over 200 Palestinians from Israeli jails in a "goodwill gesture" Monday. This followed the Muslim feast of Eid Al-Adha and was an attempt to boost the waning popularity of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Several prisoners spoke to the assembled local and international media about their time in detention. They accused the … Continue reading “Israelis Continue to Abuse Palestinian Prisoners”

At least 11 Iraqi were killed and 31 more were wounded, but the most significant news item coming out of Iraq today was the arrest of dozens of high ranking officials in what may be a Maliki power grab. No Coalition deaths were reported. Meanwhile, the shoe-lobber remains in the headlines. As many as 35 … Continue reading “Thursday: 11 Iraqis Killed, 31 Wounded”