A Savage ‘War To End All Wars,’ and a Failed Peace

This article originally appeared at TruthDig. “Over there, over there, / Send the word, send the word over there. / That the Yanks are coming, / the Yanks are coming … / We’ll be over, we’re coming over, / And we won’t come back till it’s over, over there.” ~ An excerpt from George M. … Continue reading “A Savage ‘War To End All Wars,’ and a Failed Peace”

Three Thanksgivings – Snapshots From a Career of Failure

Millions of American troops have spent countless holidays away from home, in Iraq, Afghanistan and various smaller wars across the region – it’s worth asking what it’s all for. The memories can be fond, some of them anyway. Patrolling in the morning with a platoon full of mates – brothers, really – and then returning … Continue reading “Three Thanksgivings – Snapshots From a Career of Failure”

Global War to Infinity and Beyond

Originally posted at TomDispatch.I remember Chalmers Johnson once describing to me his surprise on discovering that, after the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union imploded, the whole global military structure that Washington had set up – which he later came to call “America’s empire of bases” or our “globe-girdling Baseworld” – chugged right on. … Continue reading “Global War to Infinity and Beyond”

Nexus of Evil: The Cynical Saudi-Israeli Alliance and the Reshaping of the Middle East

The Saudis did 9/11. Okay, probably not their government or their intelligence services directly – though there is some controversial, if circumstantial evidence that raises serious questions – but rather their citizens (15 out of 19 hijackers) and their ideology. The Saudi Wahhabi brand of fundamentalist Islam differs only ever so slightly from the faith … Continue reading “Nexus of Evil: The Cynical Saudi-Israeli Alliance and the Reshaping of the Middle East”

The Reclamation of George W. Bush Is an American Tragedy

This article originally appeared at TruthDig. The whole charade plays best as farce. Absurdity incarnate. The sight of former President George W. Bush receiving a medal from Democrat Joe Biden – once an ardent opponent of Bush’s war policy – in Philadelphia for “his work with veterans,” on Veterans Day no less, induced nothing short … Continue reading “The Reclamation of George W. Bush Is an American Tragedy”

One Veteran’s Plea – Get Informed or Ditch the Holiday

Today, every public institution will pause and go through the motions of "thanking" America’s veterans; but the whole pretense ignores that the populace hardly cares about foreign policy. Veterans’ Day – maybe we ought to drop the whole charade. Don’t get me wrong, there will be celebrations a plenty: the NFL will roll out the … Continue reading “One Veteran’s Plea – Get Informed or Ditch the Holiday”

Not on the Agenda – America’s Wars Are a Non-Factor in Today’s Midterm Elections

The United States military is actively fighting in seven Muslim-majority countries; and no one cares. As Americans go to the polls today in a ritual pretense of democracy, they will vote for one of the two major political parties on issues ranging from healthcare to immigration to the basic personality of President Donald Trump. The … Continue reading “Not on the Agenda – America’s Wars Are a Non-Factor in Today’s Midterm Elections”

The Limits of Power – The Myth of the Magical American Soldier

We aren’t miracle workers. We’re just soldiers after all – kids barely out of their teens and officers in their mid-20s do most of the fighting. Still, policymakers in Washington, and citizens on Main Street both seem convinced that the mere presence of a few hundred or thousand American troops can alter societies, vanquish the … Continue reading “The Limits of Power – The Myth of the Magical American Soldier”

Saudi Arabia Financed the Killers of American Troops I Commanded

This article originally appeared at TruthDig. It’s time to ask an uncomfortable question: What exactly is the U.S. getting out of its partnership with Saudi Arabia? The answer is: nothing but headaches, human rights abuses and national embarrassment. In the cynical past, the US could at least argue that it needed Saudi oil, but that’s … Continue reading “Saudi Arabia Financed the Killers of American Troops I Commanded”

Quagmire: What the Attack on General Miller in Afghanistan Tells Us

This week, the Taliban ambushed the latest senior U.S. commander in Afghanistan – General Miller. Though he was unhurt, senior Afghan officials were killed. I knew one of them – General Raziq – and he might just have been a war criminal…that’s instructive. by Danny Sjursen This week, the Taliban demonstrated – once again – … Continue reading “Quagmire: What the Attack on General Miller in Afghanistan Tells Us”