While some politicians are trying to resolve a political crisis that could ignite a sectarian war, the Iraqi government chose instead to ratchet-up tensions by suspending several Sunni cabinet members. Meanwhile, at least 14 Iraqis were killed and 19 more were wounded in new violence.
read moreMichael Hastings vs. Team America
The predominant feeling one gets coming off a weekend reading Michael Hastings’ The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan is not outrage, nor gleeful satisfaction in seeing everything one suspects about this rotten war...
In Signal to Israel and Iran, Obama Delays War Exercise
The postponement of a massive joint U.S.-Israeli military exercise appears to be the culmination of a series of events that has impelled the Barack Obama administration to put more distance between the United States and aggressive Israeli policies toward Iran. The...
Iraqi Shi’ites Targets of New Violence: 24 Killed, 42 Wounded
At least 24 Iraqis were killed and 42 more were wounded in attacks across the country. The worst two took place in predominantly Shi’ite neighborhoods, intensifying fears of a new sectarian war.
read moreUnder a False Flag
Will Israel succeed in dragging us into war with Iran? If not, it won’t be for lack of trying. Their influential lobby in the US has been agitating for a US strike since the last year of the Bush presidency, when they almost succeeded in pulling it off: fortunately...
Drone Disasters
After almost two months in abeyance and the (possibly temporary) loss of Shamsi Air Base for its air war, the CIA is again cranking up its drone operations in the Pakistani tribal borderlands. The first two attacks of 2012 were launched within 48 hours of each other,...
23 Killed in Attacks on Iraqi Police Forces
With Arbaeen observances completed, violence was refocused on Sunni targets today, most notably on a police station in Ramadi. Overall, at least 23 Iraqis were killed in the violence and 34 more were wounded.
read moreIraq: Arbaeen Attacks Leave 71 Killed, 145 Wounded
Today is Arbaeen, which marks the end of the 40-day mourning period observed by Shi’ite pilgrims in honor of Hussein bin Ali, the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson. As expected, insurgents staged a major bombing against pilgrims. It alone left about 200 casualties. Overall, at least 71 people were killed and 145 more wounded. It is unknown if any foreigners were among the casualties.
read moreCyber War: Reality or Hype?
During his confirmation hearings this past June, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned the Senate, "The next Pearl Harbor we confront could very well be a cyber attack that cripples our grid, our security systems, our financial systems, our governmental...
War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery … and Fighting Back is ‘Aggression’
The US Department of Defense recently promulgated a new "defense" guidance document: "Sustaining US Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense." I use scare quotes because it just doesn't seem quite right to use "defense" to...
