Month: April 2009

US Lacks Capacity to Win Over Afghans

President Barack Obama and other top officials in his administration have made it clear that there can be no military solution in Afghanistan, and that the non-military efforts to win over the Afghan population will be central to its chances of success. The reality, however, is that U.S. military and civilian agencies lack the skills … Continue reading “US Lacks Capacity to Win Over Afghans”

Tuesday: 4 Iraqis Killed, 12 Wounded

Updated at 10:25 p.m. EDT, Apr. 21, 2009 At least four Iraqis were killed and 12 more were wounded in unusually light violence. Over 100 more were arrested across the country. Meanwhile, Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari is in Iraq for the first high-level visit by that country’s leader in decades. Also, some Iraqis are outraged that controversial Blackwater Worldwide is still providing security in Iraq under a new name. Elsewhere, the United Nations is preparing to release a study on disputed territories.

Intl. Support Mounts for Jailed Journalist

Since Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi was sentenced to eight years in prison last week on the charge of spying for foreign governments, human rights and press freedom groups have become increasingly critical of the political nature of her case and the harsh and unprecedented penalty. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Iran, Saberi, 31, … Continue reading “Intl. Support Mounts for Jailed Journalist”

Lawyers’ Group Targets Torture Memo Author

Lawyers who reject President Barack Obama’s decision not to seek prosecution of officials who may have participated in the torture of terror-suspect prisoners are seeking justice through another avenue: Sanctions against government lawyers who created the "enhanced interrogation" policies of former President George W. Bush. Their first target is former Defense Department General Counsel William … Continue reading “Lawyers’ Group Targets Torture Memo Author”

Prominent Lawmaker in AIPAC Spy Scandal

A U.S. government investigation of Israeli spying caught a prominent Democratic congresswoman discussing what is alleged to be a "quid pro quo" deal involving the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Washington’s powerful, hawkish pro-Israel lobby. Rep. Jane Harman of California was recorded in 2005 on a National Security Administration (NSA) wiretap promising a suspected … Continue reading “Prominent Lawmaker in AIPAC Spy Scandal”

Silence on the Israeli Left

TEL AVIV – Even though atrocities committed by Israeli soldiers have surfaced and the appointment of a right-wing government diminishes the chances for peace in the Middle East, no left-wing Israeli is taking to the streets. During the war in Gaza, modest peace manifestations brought together a few thousand protesters at a time. After the … Continue reading “Silence on the Israeli Left”