The Pentagon’s Runaway Budget
It’s doubled since 1998, Carl Conetta reports
Month: March 2010
Many Voices Calling for War with Iran
Neocons egg Israel on, says Philip Giraldi
Wednesday: 38 Iraqis Killed, 75 Wounded
Diyala province was the scene of at least two attacks today, one massive. At least 37 Iraqis were killed and 66 more were wounded there and across Iraq. The attacks in Baquba and nearby Saidiya could be part of a campaign to undermine Sunday’s election.
How to Fight a Better War (Next Time)
Iraq remains a mess from which the U.S. military seems increasingly uninterested in withdrawing fully and Afghanistan a disaster area, but it’s never too soon to think about the next war. The subject is already on the minds of Pentagon planners. The question is: Are they focusing on how to manage future wars so that … Continue reading “How to Fight a Better War (Next Time)”
Will Eliminating Nuclear Weapons Make Peace More Likely?
President Barack Obama has committed to a world without nuclear weapons. Although deep cuts in the massive atomic stockpiles of the United States and Russia – with a combined total of 20,000 warheads – are possible and desirable, committing to eliminating nuclear weapons from the planet is good rhetoric but may actually be harmful to … Continue reading “Will Eliminating Nuclear Weapons Make Peace More Likely?”
The War Party: A Paper Tiger
The reaction to Ron Paul’s runaway victory in the CPAC presidential poll continues to roll in, and I wouldn’t dwell on it as much as I have except for its significance as indicative of a sea-change on the right and in the country generally. And also, for another reason: because I can’t help but wonder … Continue reading “The War Party: A Paper Tiger”
Are Kurds’ Days of Kingmaking Over?
In the run-up to Iraq’s parliamentary elections next week, the once-united Kurds are not only suffering deep fissures but are expected to lose their privileged kingmaker position after the polls. This lack of unity coupled with the rise of several strong coalitions in the rest of the country may lead to the decline of Kurdish … Continue reading “Are Kurds’ Days of Kingmaking Over?”
War Guilt in the Middle East
This originally appeared in Left and Right, Spring-Autumn 1967. The trouble with sectarians, whether they be libertarians, Marxists, or world-governmentalists, is that they tend to rest content with the root cause of any problem and never bother themselves with the more detailed or proximate causes. The best, and almost ludicrous, example of blind, unintelligent sectarianism … Continue reading “War Guilt in the Middle East”
Tuesday: 4 Iraqis Killed, 12 Wounded
The only city to report casualties, so far, today was Mosul, which saw one Iraqi death. Four other Iraqis were wounded there as well. Meanwhile, Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi traveled to Damascus to help mend relations that were damaged when Baghdad blamed Syria for enabling deadly bombings last year. At the same time, Iraq has also improved relations with Kuwait by appointing its first ambassador in 20 years.
Oops, Our Bad!
Jeff Huber on more Marjah madness