The Disenfranchised Antiwar Voter

Why is it that the War Party invariably wins? Although the majority of Americans are rebelling against the idea that the US must endlessly police the world, and are souring on the crusade to "liberate" Afghanistan, how is it that the only voices heard on the national political scene are those in favor of intervention? … Continue reading “The Disenfranchised Antiwar Voter”

Thursday: 2 US Soldiers, 3 Iraqis Killed; 29 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 9:40 EST, Nov. 5, 2009 At least three Iraqis were killed and 29 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Two U.S. soldiers were killed in separate events as well, of which only one was combat related. In Baghdad, a mortar attack wounded seven more American servicemembers. Meanwhile, the head of Iraq’s election commission again warned of delaying the passage of an elections law that will guide January’s national elections, but parliament again failed to pass one.

No Sunset for Sweeping PATRIOT Act Powers?

The USA PATRIOT Act, rushed into law by a panicky U.S. Congress in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sep. 11, 2001, gave the government broad surveillance powers to spy on innocent citizens. But it also stipulated that three of its more controversial provisions should expire next month unless reapproved by lawmakers. And it … Continue reading “No Sunset for Sweeping PATRIOT Act Powers?”

Wednesday: 6 Iraqis Killed, 26 Wounded

Updated at 11:19 p.m. EST, Nov. 4, 2009 A series of bomb attacks targeted Iraqis mostly in and around Baghdad while gunmen left casualties elsewhere. Overall, at least six Iraqis were killed while another 26 were wounded. Meanwhile, the Iraqi election commission chairman warned that further delays in approving an elections law would mean postponing national elections in January. Some analysts view the delay as evidence the U.S. has lost clout in Iraq.

Heeding George Kennan’s Sage Advice

I can’t remember how many times I have said that the U.S. military adventure in Afghanistan is a fool’s errand. The reaction I frequently encounter includes some variant of "How can you blithely acquiesce in the chaos that will inevitably ensue if we and our NATO allies withdraw our troops?" While the central premise of … Continue reading “Heeding George Kennan’s Sage Advice”

Who Are the Six Uighurs Released From Guantánamo to Palau?

Over the weekend, six of the remaining 13 Uighurs in Guantánamo – Muslims from China’s Xinjiang province – were released to resume new lives in the tiny Pacific nation of Palau (population: 20,000). I have written at length about the plight of Guantánamo’s Uighurs, innocent men caught up in the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in … Continue reading “Who Are the Six Uighurs Released From Guantánamo to Palau?”

Obama’s Outreach to Muslim World Teetering

U.S. President Barack Obama’s extraordinary efforts since his first days in office to reassure Muslims in the Greater Middle East about U.S. intentions in the region have suffered a series of setbacks that threaten to reverse whatever gains he has made over the past 10 months in restoring Washington’s badly battered image and influence there. … Continue reading “Obama’s Outreach to Muslim World Teetering”