Despite strong pressure to reduce the yawning federal deficit, the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is asking Congress for a slight increase in funding for the State Department and foreign aid next year. The administration is requesting a total of some $56 billion in “international affairs” spending for fiscal year (FY) 2013, which begins …
Continue reading “Obama Requests Higher Foreign Aid for 2013”
On Valentine’s Day, opening the little cartoon on the Google page brought up a sentimental animation with Tony Bennett singing “Why can’t I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?” Here in Dubai, where I’m awaiting a visa to visit Afghanistan, the weather is already warm and humid. But my bags are …
Continue reading “Cold, Cold Hearts”
Although most of today’s attacks were small, one bombing in Mosul left over 20 people dead or injured. In Baghdad, a brigadier general was assassinated. Overall, at least six Iraqis were killed and 34 more were wounded.
Despite renewed media speculation regarding possible Israeli attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities as early as this spring, skepticism that such a campaign could actually be successfully carried out remains relatively high, raising the question of whether there is more bark than bite to Israeli threats. It cannot expect a repeat of 1981 when the Israeli …
Continue reading “Israeli Attack on Iran: Easier Said Than Done”
Our War Party has been temporarily diverted from its clamor for war on Iran by the insurrection against the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. Estimates of the dead since the Syrian uprising began a year ago approach 6,000. And responsibility for the carnage is being laid at the feet of the president who succeeded his …
Continue reading “On to Tehran – or Is It Damascus?”
Contrary to what some outsiders might believe, the annual Conservative Political Action Conference is not a big happy tent for conservatives. Rather, think of the vaunted “CPAC” as a veritable planet of partisan uniformity, to which its predominantly college-age participants instinctively flock each year, their behavior, language and dress code all working off the same …
Continue reading “CPAC Devolving on Defense”
Iraq was relatively quiet today, but insurgents were still able to stage a number of attacks, including some against security personnel. At least 10 Iraqis were killed in the violence or found in an old grave, while 12 more were wounded.
The forces of peace and liberty have made great strides in the past few years: most ordinary Americans have turned against the War Party. The truth about how and why we invaded Iraq has turned even formerly staunch interventionists into skeptics of American power, on the right as well as the left. In the battle …
Continue reading “What Now?”
In Afghanistan, “victory” came early — with the U.S. invasion of 2001. Only then did the trouble begin. Ever since the U.S. occupation managed to revive the Taliban, one of the least popular of popular movements in memory, the official talk, year after year, has been of modest “progress,” of limited “success,” of enemy advances …
Continue reading “Prisons, Drones, and Black Ops in Afghanistan”
Turkish planes shelled northern Iraq again, the first time since Feb. 3. A number of casualties were reported. At least five Iraqis were killed and 19 more were wounded in other violence.
