Month: January 2009

President Barack Obama is to be commended for his planned closure of Guantanamo and covert CIA prisons as well as his instructions that no United States agency will exceed the U.S. military’s guidelines on interrogation, but he does not go far enough. Transparency and accountability are necessary to clear the air over the issue of … Continue reading “Put Torture on Trial”

Updated at 8:02 p.m. EST, Jan. 26, 2009Four U.S. troops were killed this morning in a helicopter crash. Meanwhile, at least four Iraqis were killed and another 25 were wounded in today’s attacks. Priming the voters at an election rally, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told his audience that he believes U.S. forces will be out … Continue reading “Monday: 4 US Soldiers, 4 Iraqis Killed; 25 Iraqis Wounded”

JERUSALEM – The new U.S. president was as good as his word. Within 48 hours of taking the helm, Barack Obama declared it "will be the policy of my administration to actively and aggressively seek a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians as well as Israel and its Arab neighbors." With the follow-up announcement … Continue reading “US-Israel Engagement May Not Bring Change”

In the wee morning hours on Friday, Jan. 23, a U.S. spy plane killed at least 15 in Pakistan near the Afghanistan border. It was Barack Obama’s first blood and the U.S.’ first violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty under the new administration. The attack was an early sign that the newly minted president may not be … Continue reading “The Blood on Holbrooke’s Hands”

It is hard for me to imagine the staffs of National Review, the Weekly Standard, and the Wall Street Journal editorial page actually, personally, physically torturing somebody, though a few might overcome their inherent wussiness and be able to do it. Whether they would be able to do it themselves or not, however, it is … Continue reading “Sadism, Not Substance,
Behind Torture Advocacy”

A "team of rivals" is how the Obama administration is being portrayed by the head-over-heels media, which started out by likening the new president to Lincoln and may end up comparing him – favorably – to God. A more appropriate phrase would be "team of retreads": Hillary at State, Gates still at Defense, and all … Continue reading “Obama’s Vietnam”

Of all the beautiful phrases in Barack Obama’s inauguration speech, these are the words that stuck in my mind: “You are on the wrong side of history.” He was talking about the tyrannical regimes of the world. But we, too, should ponder these words In the last few days I have heard a lot of … Continue reading “On the Wrong Side”

As a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, Ari Folman took part in the 1982 invasion of Lebanon and was on duty in Beirut during the notorious massacres in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. Just a week ago, Waltz With Bashir, the animated documentary film Folman directed in which he explores his own nightmarish, half-suppressed … Continue reading “Waltz With Bashir“

Updated at 12:35 a.m. EST Jan. 26, 2009At least two Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded on a very quiet Sunday. No Coalition deaths were reported. Although this is start of the workweek and provincial elections will be held this Saturday, there was little political news as well. In Baghdad, a roadside bomb … Continue reading “Sunday: 2 Iraqis killed, 8 Wounded”

Updated at 5:57 p.m. EST, Jan. 24, 2009At least 12 Iraqis were killed and 33 more were wounded in the latest attacks. A U.S. soldier was killed in a non-combat incident in southern Iraq today, while another U.S. soldier died of non-combat related injuries in Balad. Meanwhile, poor and sick Iraqis in Basra took advantage … Continue reading “Saturday: 2 US Soldiers, 12 Iraqis Killed; 33 Iraqis Wounded”