Month: September 2012

Rumors of Wars

The presidential candidates’ failure to have a serious discussion about Afghanistan and America’s other ongoing wars has been noted by many. Mitt Romney did not mention Afghanistan at all in his acceptance address. In his defense, he cited a speech made to the American Legion on the night before his appearance in Tampa. “The president … Continue reading “Rumors of Wars”

The ‘Pro-Israel’ Network Behind the Innocence Video

If someone had planned to upend US foreign policy — to utterly destroy the very basis [.pdf] of all our diplomats (and military personnel) have been working to achieve in the Middle East and throughout the Muslim world — they couldn’t have done a better job of it than whoever put together Innocence of Muslims. … Continue reading “The ‘Pro-Israel’ Network Behind the Innocence Video”

The ‘Secret’ Revolution That Could Set the Middle East Aflame

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was unequivocal in her condemnation. “We have confronted the Russians about stopping their continued arms shipments to Syria,” she said in remarks earlier this year. “They have, from time to time, said that we shouldn’t worry; everything they’re shipping is unrelated to their actions internally. That’s patently untrue.” In the … Continue reading “The ‘Secret’ Revolution That Could Set the Middle East Aflame”

Anti-American Violence Should Provoke Rethink

The attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four U.S. diplomats, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, is the latest example of tragic blowback from the U.S. government’s interventionist foreign policy in the Islamic world. That it happened on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, an even more severe example of such … Continue reading “Anti-American Violence Should Provoke Rethink”

Diane Roark Talks NSA Retribution

Here in this space we’ve written a great deal about dedicated public servants who, in varying post-9/11 roles in the national security state, became disillusioned when they discovered corruption or outright illegalities in the system. They found blank stares, closed doors — even hostility — when approaching the proper channels for help. The critical decision … Continue reading “Diane Roark Talks NSA Retribution”

Why the Mideast Exploded

“Why Is the Arab world so easily offended?” asks the headline atop an article by Fouad Ajami, which the Washington Post published online last Friday to give perspective to the recent anti-American violence in Muslim capitals. While the Post described Ajami simply as a “senior fellow” at Stanford’s conservative Hoover Institution, Wikipedia gives a more … Continue reading “Why the Mideast Exploded”

Intervention Backfires in Libya

The attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and the killing of the U.S. ambassador and several aides is another tragic example of how our interventionist foreign policy undermines our national security. The more the U.S. tries to control the rest of the world, whether by democracy promotion, aid to foreign governments, or bombs, the … Continue reading “Intervention Backfires in Libya”

When a Courtyard Becomes a Border

RAS EL-AMOUD, Occupied East Jerusalem — Filistin Hamdallah looks disoriented, walking without purpose amidst the furniture strewn in the courtyard, as if she was moving home. Only the fresh laundry hanging on wires indicates that the Palestinian family is here to stay, to stay in conditions with Jewish neighbors that show just how difficult the … Continue reading “When a Courtyard Becomes a Border”