Month: April 2014

Last week, National Intelligence Director Gen. James R. Clapper sent a brief letter to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, in which he admitted that agents of the National Security Agency (NSA) have been reading innocent Americans’ emails and text messages and listening to digital recordings of their telephone conversations … Continue reading “A Government Admission of Wrongdoing”

On April 2 at the Fort Hood, Texas, army base, Iraq war veteran Ivan Lopez killed three people, injured 16, then shot himself before he could be taken into custody by military police. Initial reports that Lopez may have been suffering from depression, a traumatic brain injury and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have made … Continue reading “What Does PTSD in Veterans Say?”

A spate of bombings occurred in Baghdad, apparently marking the 11th anniversary of the fall of Baghdad. Bombers also moved south into Wassit province. At least people 61 were killed and 197 more were wounded.

Editorial note: While Justin Raimondo is still recovering from the effects of what turned out to be a kidney stone, we’re running one of his "Between the Lines" columns originally published in Chronicles magazine in February. We have added links that were not in the original. When the Berlin Wall fell, and the Soviet Union … Continue reading “Retro-politics and the Return of the Cold War”

Is there an emotional connection between the oceans and the pursuit of peace? For whatever reason, peace ships have been increasing in number over the past century. Probably the first of these maritime vessels was the notorious Ford Peace Ship of 1915, which stirred up more ridicule than peace during World War I. Almost forty … Continue reading “America’s Peace Ship”

More than twenty-five years ago, Jonathan Pollard, a U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was convicted of spying for Israel. Ever since, Israel has been trying to free him. Some in the United States also have doubted whether Pollard should remain in jail, because, after all, he had "only" been spying for a cherished US ally. However, … Continue reading “Don’t Free Spy Jonathan Pollard”

At least people 108 were killed and 95 more were wounded. Many militants were killed not only in Anbar province but also killed near Baghdad and into Diyala province.

The much admired American Western, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) contains an insightful scene. The main characters are trying to escape and are considering a very dangerous jump from the cliff: Butch Cassidy: They’ll never follow us. Sundance Kid: How do you know? Cassidy: Would you jump if you didn’t have to? … Continue reading “Crimea: Whose War Is It?”

At least 52 people were killed and 52 more were wounded. Also two men were executed on terrorism charges, bringing this year’s total to 46 put to death.

Originally posted at TomDispatch. Here’s what the president said back in June 2013, while reassuring the American people about the National Security Agency’s collection of their phone metadata: “When it comes to telephone calls, nobody is listening to your telephone calls. That’s not what this program’s about. As was indicated, what the intelligence community is … Continue reading “No-Fly-List America”