Listen to Rep. Paul deliver this address. Little by little, in the name of fighting terrorism, our Bill of Rights is being repealed. The 4th Amendment has been rendered toothless by the PATRIOT Act. No more can we truly feel secure in our persons, houses, papers, and effects when now there is an exception that …
Continue reading “The NDAA Repeals More Rights”
Like a mother forcing her children to take bad-tasting medicine for their own good, disgruntled American “allies” have recently compelled the financially ailing U.S. superpower to scale back meddling abroad that it can no longer afford. The United States — always reluctant to remove troops from any overseas location, even if the situation on the …
Continue reading “Sometimes, Bad-Tasting Medicine Needs to Be Swallowed”
Predictions are always problematic – there’s that pesky notion of “free will,” [.pdf] not to mention the stubborn refusal of reality to conform to our preconceptions. Yet they are obligatory for a columnist this time of year, and so what I’m going to do is assign a probability to each “prediction.” 1) War with Iran …
Continue reading “Predictions for 2012”
Iran has taken notice of the escalating political tensions in Iraq and sent a delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan to help defuse the situation. The tensions which have a significant sectarian component led to last Thursday’s bombings in Baghdad, according to those who took credit for the violence. Meanwhile, at least 13 Iraqis were killed and 13 more were wounded in new attacks.
The year 2011 marked a critical confluence of militarism and revolution, not only in places like Libya and Egypt, but also here at home, where massive demonstrations in cities and towns throughout the country were met with a well-oiled law enforcement machine deployed in camouflage and Kevlar, lobbing tear gas grenades and packing rifles with …
Continue reading “2012: Revolution or Devolution”
In what may be too obvious a message against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a suicide bomber attacked the Interior Ministry, leaving dozens of victims. Overall, at least 14 Iraqis were killed and 41 more were wounded in that and other assaults across the country. Three Iranian pilgrims were also wounded in an attack in Dujail. Meanwhile, the political upheaval Maliki launched continues to threaten the coalition government.
The name of Munib al-Masri has recently come up as a possible candidate for prime minister of a Palestinian national unity government. Not being a member of either Fatah or Hamas, he is acceptable to both. Al-Masri himself denies any such ambition. He says that he is too old (77) and that a younger generation …
Continue reading “The Duke of Nablus”
As the world celebrates the birthday of the Prince of Peace, the Lord of War looms large over the land. The shrikes and talking heads are screeching for Iranian blood, and there are ominous signs in the stars. The war god’s acolytes flood the airwaves with “a complex of vaunting and fear,” as an old …
Continue reading “Our Last Christmas in the Old America”
This holiday season, as you walk through a public area (any mall, grocery, or restaurant will do), start counting the people you see. Look in their faces, listen to their conversations, and try to appreciate each of them not just as strangers, but as fellow human beings. When you get to 40 (making sure to …
Continue reading “Are We Gods?”
At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 26 more were wounded during the later violence. In one attack, gunmen killed a Christian man despite tighter Christmas security.
