Month: March 2009

At least 10 Iraqis were killed and another 10 were wounded in the latest violence. Six of the dead were killed during a prison transfer. Meanwhile, voters in Karbala are demanding changes to Iraq’s byzantine method of assigning seats to election winners. No Coalition deaths were reported. Shi’ite demonstrators rallied in Karbala for the appointment … Continue reading “Saturday: 10 Iraqis Killed, 10 Wounded”

The British government has announced it will hold talks with the political wing of Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The Barack Obama administration sent two envoys to Syria to discuss steps to improve relations. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has invited Iran to take part in a conference on the future of Afghanistan. It looks as though … Continue reading “In the Mideast, Even Mixed Signals Mark a Policy Shift”

Although the successful campaign to keep Amb. Charles "Chas" Freeman out of a top intelligence post marked a surface victory for the pro-Israel hardliners who opposed him, the long-term political implications of the Freeman affair appear far more ambiguous. Freeman’s withdrawal has provoked growing – if belated – media scrutiny of the operations of the … Continue reading “Freeman Affair Puts Israel Lobby in Spotlight”

In the face of threats by Republican lawmakers here that a victory by the leftist FMLN party in Sunday’s presidential elections could harm relations with the United States, the State Department is insisting that Washington is prepared to work with any government that reflects the will of the Salvadoran people. "The United States government reiterates … Continue reading “Obama Administration Insists It’s Neutral in Salvador Poll”

Well, as a result of the “withdrawal” – forced this week by the Israel Lobby – of Charles Freeman as Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, we now know how the Washington Institute for Near East Policy had the temerity to issue [.pdf] last week what we foolishly previously thought was only advice to President … Continue reading “WINEP Instructs Our President”

Recent statements by President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel admitting that they were going to use the economic crisis to get other things done is at least surprisingly honest.  But it is also hypocritical.  Remember when some of these same people criticized George W. Bush … Continue reading “Hypocrisy in Government”

Update at 7:52 p.m. EST, Mar. 13, 2009 At least six Iraqis were killed and eight more were wounded in the latest violence. Also, the Department of Defense reported the death of a sailor in a non-combat incident. On Feb. 4, the sailor went missing from his ship in the Gulf of Aden. The death … Continue reading “Friday: 1 US Sailor, 6 Iraqis Killed; 8 Iraqis Wounded”

President Obama has recently threatened to rescind the "blank check" the Bush administration offered to big defense contractors. So now is the time when all that planning by Lockheed Martin and the other major arms manufacturers comes into play. One of that company’s major weapons systems, the F-22 Raptor, is potentially on the chopping block. … Continue reading “Why the Pentagon Can’t Put America Back to Work”

The nixing of Charles "Chas" Freeman from a post as head of the National Intelligence Council is not, as is commonly averred, a victory for the Israel lobby. It is, instead, a Pyrrhic victory – that is, a victory so costly that it really amounts to a defeat for them. Sure, they managed to keep … Continue reading “Charles Freeman’s Victory “

Updated at 4:47 p.m. EDT, Mar. 12, 2009 At least six Iraqis were killed and nine more were wounded during light violence. Meanwhile, journalist shoe-thrower, Muntazer al-Zaidi, received three years for attempting to assault a foreign leader. Also, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gave his opinions on the state of Iraqi security, as the Kurdish president … Continue reading “Thursday: 6 Iraqis Killed, 9 Wounded”