Month: January 2014

Somewhere around various parts of the world, reassigned US military commanders must be shaking their heads at the events overtaking Fallujah, Iraq. Few cities outside Baghdad gave coalition forces more headaches during the war’s rollout: controversial shootings against Iraqi citizens, Blackwater Bridge, white phosphorous and the coalescing of a Sunni insurgency. Multiple security operations left … Continue reading “U.S. Watching Fallujah From Sidelines”

The last several years of US operations in Afghanistan have been an exercise in mondo message management. If it were a sport, it would be the highlight of the ESPN X Games. Between Afghanistan and the "war of perception" in Iraq, students of so-called "strategic communications" will be studying this stuff (the art of deception, … Continue reading “War in Afghanistan: The Jig Is Up”

Goodies against baddies; democratic pro-Europeans against authoritarian pro-Russians; colored revolutions being the forerunners of Arab springs, Ukrainian, Georgian, and Kyrgyz demonstrators craving freedom, just like Iraqi, Syrian, and Lebanese demonstrators. These are the wrong and misleading interpretations that have been dominating the Western media, as well as European and US policies since the year 2000. … Continue reading “The West’s Mistakes”

At least 45 people were killed and 78 more were wounded in today attacks. Few casualties were reported in Anbar province, but this is likely due to the difficulties in counting them in a battle zone. Other attacks occurred throughout the country.

Remember Fallujah? Shortly after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the US military fired on unarmed protestors, killing as many as 20 and wounding dozens. In retaliation, local Iraqis attacked a convoy of US military contractors, killing four. The US then launched a full attack on Fallujah to regain control, which left perhaps 700 Iraqis dead … Continue reading “Iraq: The ‘Liberation’ Neocons Would Rather Forget”

The idea that this country is on a fast track to fascism was never taken very seriously by Americans, and for a very good reason: we have a Constitution that, whatever problems we’ve had living up to it, has generally been a bulwark against the imposition of anything resembling authoritarianism in these United States. Although … Continue reading “The Fight of Our Lives”

Originally posted at TomDispatch. In a 1950s civics textbook of mine, I can remember a Martian landing on Main Street, U.S.A., to be instructed in the glories of our political system. You know, our tripartite government, checks and balances, miraculous set of rights, and vibrant democracy. There was, Americans then thought, much to be proud … Continue reading “American Jihad 2014”

At least 98 people were killed, and another 135 were wounded. Although fighting in Anbar was the cause of many casualties, bombers again struck across Baghdad.

At least 107 were killed and 46 were wounded today. Most of the casualties were insurgents fighting in Anbar and elsewhere.

At least 118 people were killed across Iraq today. One of them was a Tunisian al-Qaeda leader. Another 53 were wounded. These are likely conservative figures, but the actual number will not be known before the Iraqi government takes control of Anbar province.