The terrorism trial against Tareq al-Hashemi resumed today, with Hashemi’s lawyers returning in their official capacity but without Hashemi himself. Meanwhile, at least 18 Iraqis were killed and 12 more were wounded.
Can a Bible be a “threat to national security”? For years, the government has employed the risk of “national security” excuse to infringe on a wide range of freedoms — like the right to pass through an airport security checkpoint unmolested, or read library books without Big Brother peeking over your shoulder. Michael L. “Mikey” …
Continue reading “A Biblical Threat to National Security”
Listen to Rep. Paul deliver this address. Last week I joined several of my colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama requesting clarification of his criteria for the lethal use of drones overseas. Administration officials assure us that a “high degree of confidence” is required that the person targeted by a drone is a …
Continue reading “Unconstitutional Use of Drones Must Stop”
“What lies at the nexus of Obama’s targeted drone killings, his self-serving leaks, and his aggressive prosecution of whistleblowers is a president who believes himself above the law and seems convinced that he alone has a preternatural ability to determine right from wrong.” – Peter Van Buren, a 24-year veteran Foreign Service officer at the …
Continue reading “Has the President Become a Law Unto Himself?”
Today’s worst attack took place at a funeral where mourners had gathered to pay respect to a Shi’ite sheikh. Overall, at least 36 Iraqis were killed and 82 more were wounded.
“Do you do this in the United States? There is police action every day in the United States…. They don’t call in airplanes to bomb the place.” – Afghan President Hamid Karzai denouncing U.S. airstrikes on homes in his country, June 12, 2012 It was almost closing time when the siege began at a small …
Continue reading “Till Death Do Us Part”
There is something more than a little creepy about Nicholas Kristof’s incessant interest in prostitutes — only out of concern for their well-being, of course — as he travels across the planet. But in his most recent trek across Iran, he abandons his obsession for a bit in order to look at the U.S. sanctions …
Continue reading “Creepy Nicholas Kristof Rejoices in Murderous Iran Sanctions”
Every time Rand Paul opens his mouth, he seems to put both feet and a couple of other appendages in it. There was that unfortunate interview with Rachel Maddow, there was the “couldn’t get any gayer” quip – and now this. In an alternately opaque and all-too-revealing interview with the Daily Paul web site, in …
Continue reading “Rand Paul’s Oedipal Drama”
Most discussions about the costs of war focus on two numbers: the cost in dollars and cents and the more profound and heartbreaking cost in lives. Yet even as depressing as these numbers are, the figures discussed rarely encompass the whole truth. Over many generations those in power have learned there are benefits to keeping …
Continue reading “Peace Is Profitable”
As Shi’ite pilgrims return home, violence against them has tapered, but attacks against other targets continued. At least 19 Iraqis were killed and 53 more were wounded in attack that focused on west and northern Iraq.
