The war was over. Families returned to their kibbutzim near Gaza. Kindergartens opened up again. A ceasefire was in force and extended again and again. Obviously, both sides were exhausted. And then, suddenly, the war came back. What happened? Well, Hamas launched rockets against Beersheba in the middle of the ceasefire. Why? No why. You …
Continue reading “Son of Death”
At least 230 people were killed today. Over 100 of them were civilians or security forces. Shi’ite militiamen, not Islamic State militants, apparently slaughtered scores of civilians during services at a Sunni mosque. Another 68 people were wounded across Iraq.
I live in the little town of Sebastopol, in northern California’s Sonoma county: think of Berkeley, only with horses. It’s the kind of town where a sign, posted near an impressive grid of solar energy screens, greets you as you enter the city limits, declaring Sebastopol a "nuclear-free zone" – and where, as you might …
Continue reading “I Trolled My Congressman On Twitter”
Originally posted at TomDispatch. Think of the new “caliphate” of the Islamic State, formerly the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney’s gift to the world (with a helping hand from the Saudis and other financiers of extremism in the Persian Gulf). How strange that they get so …
Continue reading “How To Ensure a Thriving Caliphate”
It’s strange how something ominously frightening — the centralized and militarized police state in the U.S. — can grow for 15 years at least and yet not enter into public debate. The upheaval in Ferguson, Missouri, has changed that. This is all to the good. It means that after the unchecked rise of the police …
Continue reading “The American War Zone”
At least 68 people were killed or found dead across Iraq today. Except for the bodies of three civilians found near Tikrit, all the dead were militants. Another 21 were wounded.
“If you don’t want to get shot, tased, pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton or thrown to the ground, just do what I tell you. Don’t argue with me, don’t call me names, don’t tell me that I can’t stop you, don’t say I’m a racist pig, don’t threaten that you’ll sue me and take away my …
Continue reading “Turning America Into a War Zone, Where ‘We the People’ Are the Enemy”
After every bloody episode of violence perpetrated by Israel, media spin doctors are deployed with one grand mission: Absolve Israel of any responsibility in its acts of carnage. These apologists not only demonize Palestinians, but also anyone who dares to take a stand on their behalf. The main staple of this Israeli strategy is blaming …
Continue reading “Uphill Task for Israel’s Apologists”
Since the August 9 shooting death of the unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown by Ferguson, Missouri Police Officer Darren Wilson, the country – and the world – has been captivated by the ensuing local outrage. Also during the past 11 days media, activists, and bystanders have suffered the brunt of an unprofessional, yet exceedingly-armed local police …
Continue reading “There’s No Proportionality in American Law and Order”
At least 31 people were killed and 28 more were wounded. The low numbers, however, are deceptive. The Iraqi military also reported dozens of militant deaths across the country but gave no solid numbers.
