Month: July 2014

Ever since the horrors of submarine warfare became a key issue during World War I, submarines have had a sinister reputation. And the building of new, immensely costly, nuclear-armed submarines by the U.S. government and others may soon raise the level of earlier anxiety to a nuclear nightmare. This spring, the US government continued its … Continue reading “Doom from the Depths: Coming Your Way”

The Iraqi Parliament postponed selecting a new government until next month, despite ongoing fighting across the northern half of the country. At least 159 were killed and 90 more were wounded.

I’m a bit under the weather — frankly, I’m completely exhausted — and so taking an extra long weekend: no column today. However, my present unfortunate state may be fortuitous:  have the distinct impression the next few weeks will be filled to overflowing with important news, so I guess it’s a good idea to rest up for the big sprint just … Continue reading “A Note to My Readers”

Iraq security forces reported the deaths of well over 200 militants today. A number of civilians and security personnel were also killed. At least 258 people were killed and 74 more were wounded.

The first Iranian casualty of war was reported killed today. He was protecting Samarra’s holy sites at the time of his death. Along with him, at least 138 other people died and 88 more were wounded.

In January 1961 a B-52 bomber broke up over North Carolina, dropping two nuclear bombs on rural Goldsboro County. “By the slightest margin of chance,” recently released documents reveal, “literally the failure of two wires to cross, a nuclear explosion was averted.” The new revelations about the Goldsboro incident, one of numerous close calls, will … Continue reading “Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before It Is Too Late”

"The War on Truth" seems to be an appropriate name for the propaganda war waged in the theater of global media over the real war in the eastern Ukraine. I have borrowed the title from an op-ed article in the New York Times by Keith Darden. This particular propaganda war has human victims and has … Continue reading “Ukraine: The War on Truth”

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki refused to step away from his candidacy for prime minister today, even as his political rival, Osama al-Nujaifi, promised to not run for speaker of the house again. This inflexibility on the part of the premier could mean a long battle to create the new Iraq government. It is a battle that can only help Islamic State militants push forward in Iraq. At least 33 people were killed 22 more were wounded in the latest violence.

It doesn’t take a PhD in Sociology to conclude that Iraq was better off with Saddam Hussein than it is today. It’s not that Saddam was a great leader without blood on his hands. It’s just that what six US presidents have done to Iraq over the past 35 years has been much worse than … Continue reading “Six US Presidents Have Destroyed Iraq”

When I was a youngster we still had a school assembly at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month and stood silent for a full minute to remember the fallen from World War One. Given the modern world has no time to waste even a second on the dead I would … Continue reading “The War To End All Comparisons”