Month: November 2013

At least 51 people were killed and 97 more were wounded as bombers moved back into northern Iraq.

Should we trust Obama to be honest in his peace talks with Iran and Syria? His lightning shift from warmonger to peacemaker surprised everyone, including his closest regional allies – Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey – not to mention the entire U.S. congress, many of whom seem intent on sabotaging the Iran peace talks by … Continue reading “Are Obama’s Middle East Peace Talks Sincere?”

Eighteen years ago, "peace in Bosnia" seemed as elusive as peace in the Middle East. Every effort to negotiate an end to the bloody civil war had failed. But on November 21, 1995, after three weeks of drama in Ohio, the "General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina," also known as the "Dayton … Continue reading “An Unlikely Peace”

IDLIB PROVINCE, Syria – Concerns are rising that courts run by Islamic clerics in many of Syria’s rebel-held areas may serve as a prelude to Taliban-style justice in what was long a violently repressive but secular state. Many on the ground counter that they are the sole viable option in the present circumstances and should … Continue reading “Fears Rise of ‘Taliban-Style’ Justice in Syria”

At least 32 were killed in continuing attacks throughout central and northern Iraq. Another 65 people were wounded.

So you thought we were withdrawing from Afghanistan, eh? The President has announced it enough: once in 2011, once in 2012, and once in 2013. So if someone says something often enough, does that make it necessarily true? Well, of course not, and certainly not in this case, because NBC News has the scoop: "While … Continue reading “We’re Never Leaving Afghanistan”

Although bombings continued in and around Baghdad today, the deadliest blast took place in Diyala province, where a dozen dumped bodies were found in a river. Also, a militant group claimed to have launched mortars into Saudi Arabia as a warning. Overall, at least 79 people were killed and 106 more were wounded in the bloodshed.

It is hard to believe that even though 64% of the American public favors a negotiated settlement with Iran over its nuclear program fully 37% of those polled also believe that the United States actually needs Israel’s permission before coming to any kind of agreement. To paraphrase the late great Mitt Romney, is that a … Continue reading “The Lobby Is International”

Bombers took over Baghdad again, where a string of bombs unnerved both Sunni and Shi’ite residents who had ventured out between rainstorms that have flooded some parts of the city this week. The rains, which are common this time of year, have been deadly in parts of central and southern Iraq. In attacks, though, at least 66 were killed and 142 more were wounded in Baghdad and across the country.

Originally posted at TomDispatch. As with the rest of our homeland security state, when it comes to border security, reality checks aren’t often in the cards. The money just pours into a world of remarkable secrecy and unaccountability. Last week, however, the Government Accountability Office released a report about a Transportation Security Administration decision to … Continue reading “The American Homeland Is the Planet”