Across Iraq, a series of coordinated attacks shattered the relative peace seen in recent days. Conflicting figures are not unusual after so many significant bombings, but about 107 Iraqis were killed and 384 more were wounded
Last week, touching down in India on his way to Afghanistan, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta described reality as you seldom hear it in the confines of Washington and, while he was at it, put his stamp of approval on a new global doctrine for the United States. Panetta is, of course, the man who, …
Continue reading “The Ultimate No-Fly List”
Petroleum is always in the news, especially in an election year, when politicians fear that voters angered by high gas prices will do them in. In addition, much attention has focused on upcoming economic sanctions on imports of Iranian oil (which will soon be imposed by the Europeans) and on financial institutions in other countries …
Continue reading “Smoke and Mirrors in Energy Policy”
A surge in violence occurred today, leaving at least 13 dead and 55 wounded. Once again Shi’ite pilgrims were targeted in Baghdad, but many attacks also occurred outside the capital. Many of those victims were security personnel.
If this were 1951, American families would be bracing right now for another summer of the polio terror. Those younger than say, 55, may not be able to relate. The worst scare we’ve had these days is waiting ten hours in line for a shot for a swine flu plague that never came (though an …
Continue reading “The CIA and Polio in Pakistan”
Within days of SEAL Team Six’s killing of Osama on that midnight mission in Pakistan, Defense Secretary Bob Gates, reading all about the raid in the press, went to the White House to tell President Obama’s national security adviser pungently to “shut the [bleep] up.” Leaked secrets of that raid may have led to the …
Continue reading “Will Heads Roll for the Stuxnet Leak?”
At least four Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in light violence. A Kurdish cleric and an Iraqiya party official were the targets of two more attacks that only produced material damages.
Thirty years ago this week, the Israeli army crossed into Lebanon and started the stupidest war in Israel’s history. It lasted for 18 years. About 1,500 Israeli soldiers and untold numbers of Lebanese and Palestinians were killed. Almost all wars are based on lies. Lies are considered legitimate instruments of war. Lebanon War I (as …
Continue reading “The War of Lies”
Some of the most salient events of the past 20 years were the NATO interventions in the Balkans, notably in Bosnia in 1995 and Kosovo in 1999. These interventions were crucial in reviving the importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an organization that previously had been seen as a Cold War anachronism, destined to …
Continue reading “Welcome to the Balkan Propaganda Machine”
Following President Jalal Talabani’s rejection of the no-confidence petition, supporters of the motion met in Arbil to reevaluate plans to remove Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki from office. Few attacks were reported today; however, mortar fire in Baghdad left dozens killed or wounded. Overall, at least 11 Iraqis were killed and 38 more were wounded.
