Memo to Congressman David Obey

MEMORANDUM FOR: Congressman David Obey  FROM:    A Former Admirer  SUBJECT:    Ducking the Challenge  "We can sit, frozen in our own indifference, as President Roosevelt once said…" That’s what you said yesterday in connection with saving teachers’ jobs. Sadly, it also applies — in spades — to saving lives in an unnecessary war.  It is amazing how … Continue reading “Memo to Congressman David Obey”

Israeli Human Rights Activist: I Was Tortured

A leading human rights activist from Israel’s Palestinian Arab minority was charged yesterday with the most serious security offences on Israel’s statute book, including espionage.  Prosecutors indicted Ameer Makhoul, the head of Ittijah, an umbrella organization for Arab human rights groups in Israel, with spying on security facilities on behalf of Hezbollah after an alleged … Continue reading “Israeli Human Rights Activist: I Was Tortured”

Thursday: 4 Iraqis Killed, 28 Wounded

Updated at 8:50 p.m. EDT, May 27, 2010 At least four Iraqis were killed and 28 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Also, Turkey reported killing another 19 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels in last week’s air assault. Independently confirmed accounts are impossible from this region of Iraq; however, the PKK has admitted so some deaths. Also, one Turkish soldier was killed and four more were wounded in clashes on the Turkish side of the border.

Obama’s New Security Strategy Looks Much Like the Old One

President Barack Obama’s speech to the West Point graduating class last Saturday was meant to convey a “new” American national security strategy, less evident in his words than in the manner in which the White House pitched the speech to the press, the press following official inspiration. The “new” strategy emphasizes cooperation with allies and … Continue reading “Obama’s New Security Strategy Looks Much Like the Old One”

Israel’s Bomb Out of the Shadows

Israel faces unprecedented pressure to abandon its official policy of “ambiguity” on its possession of nuclear weapons as the international community meets at the United Nations in New York this week to consider banning such arsenals from the Middle East. Israel’s equivocal stance on its atomic status was shattered by reports on Monday that it … Continue reading “Israel’s Bomb Out of the Shadows”

The Strategic Ally Myth

It is difficult to understand why anyone would take Mort Zuckerman seriously. He is a New York based but Canadian born Israel firster who made a fortune in real estate before buying The New York Daily News and the US News and World Report. He now fancies himself as a leading journalist and political commentator. … Continue reading “The Strategic Ally Myth”

Rights Groups Condemn Ruling on Bagram Detainees

Human rights advocates are expressing shock at a federal court ruling that detainees held by the United States in Afghanistan do not have the right to challenge their detention in a U.S. federal court – and dismay that their path to a successful appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court may be blocked.A lawyer for the … Continue reading “Rights Groups Condemn Ruling on Bagram Detainees”

Wednesday: 7 Iraqis Killed

At least seven Iraqis were killed, but no wounded were reported. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government declared the national airlines bankrupt and closed Iraqi Airways a month after Kuwait attempted to confiscate one of their planes in Europe. Kuwait claims it is owed $1.2 billion in reparations for planes and spare parts.

Hamas Demolishes Palestinian Homes

RAMALLAH – On Sunday approximately 150 Palestinians from 20 families were driven out of their homes in Rafah, in the southern Gaza strip, by heavily armed police and soldiers who menaced them with clubs. The difference this time was that it was not the Israeli Defense Forces carrying out evictions and demolitions but Hamas security … Continue reading “Hamas Demolishes Palestinian Homes”