Month: April 2016

The army captured a small village near the Makhmour front lines.

Did the CIA meet with some of the 9/11 hijackers ahead of the attacks on New York? Did the Saudi government help finance those hijackers? Someone knows the answers, and soon, you might know as well.This Summer?James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, told the New York Times the so-called “28 pages,” a still-classified section … Continue reading “Is This What’s in Those 28 Pages? And Does it Matter?”

What’s the difference between “boots on the ground” and military personnel wearing boots who are engaged in combat – and perhaps dying – on the ground? If you can answer that question convincingly, perhaps you’d like to apply for John Kirby’s job, because he’s not doing it very successfully. Kirby is the State Department spokesman … Continue reading “Orwell’s Ghost is Laughing”

The controversy surrounding the infamous “28 pages” on the possible Saudi connection with the terrorists that were excised from the joint Congressional report on the 9/11 attacks is at fever pitch. But that controversy is a distraction from the real problems that Saudi Arabia’s policies pose to the United States and the entire Middle East … Continue reading “The Classified ’28 Pages’: A Diversion From Real US-Saudi Issues”

USA Today reported on April 19 that U.S. air forces bombing Syria and Iraq have been operating under new, looser rules of engagement since last fall. The war commander, Lt. Gen. Sean McFarland, now orders air strikes that are expected to kill up to 10 civilians without prior approval from US Central Command, and US … Continue reading “The US Decision To Kill More Civilians in Iraq and Syria”

At least 94 people were killed and 44 were wounded in recent violence. Battles are ongoing in Tuz Khormato. Parliament was able to confirm several new Cabinet members but not without chaos and infighting.

The neocons have been in a panic this election season. One by one, their preferred choice for the Republican presidential nomination has been soundly rejected by the uncooperative American voting public. Sen. Lindsey Graham made a run for the nomination saying, “If you’re tired of war, don’t vote for me,” and nobody did. Perhaps the … Continue reading “Neocons Panting for President ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis”

In Batman Vs. Superman, the intrepid reporter Lois Lane (played by Amy Adams), tries to expose a dastardly villain and gets herself into a deadly predicament from which Superman must save her. This has been the Lois Lane formula since 1938. But in this case, the rescue has blowback. The villain in question was an … Continue reading “The Hell on Earth Paved by Samantha Power’s Good Intentions”

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has convincingly advocated a reassessment of U.S. alliances around the world. President Obama’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia should prompt such a reevaluation of the U.S.-Saudi relationship. The United States no longer needs to coddle the despotic monarchy and should end this alliance of convenience. The informal U.S.-Saudi alliance began … Continue reading “The US Should Quit Coddling Badly-Behaving Saudi Arabia”

At least 159 people were killed and 103 were wounded across Iraq. Fighting again raged in Tuz Khormato where a ceasefire did little to quash sectarian tensions.