The neocons in Washington love to talk about how they're promoting freedom and democracy in Iraq. They often cite as their example the country's Kurdish population, staunch allies of Washington, who have been protected by the American military since no-fly zones were...
Quitting Is an Exit Strategy
While George Bush explains his "victory strategy" for Iraq to the American people, his Pentagon chief has already thrown out the most obvious option. There will be no immediate troop withdrawal, cautioned Donald Rumsfeld, because "quitting is not an exit strategy."...
Shame on Congress
What's wrong with our Congress? Two and a half years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, they still refuse to vote against the war. They may carp and complain that the Bush administration lied about weapons of mass destruction, or that too many Americans soldiers have...
Sheik Beaten, Blinded, Tasered, Released Into the ‘New Iraq’
Sixteen months ago, I published a special investigative report on a deadly U.S. military raid. On May 2, 2004, American soldiers raided a Human Rights Office in the ancient city of Babylon while a peaceful meeting was in process. American forces shot two sheiks...
Baghdad Traffic Jam
Try this for freedom. Iraqi police backed by American forces with Humvees and armored personnel carriers set up hundreds of checkpoints around Baghdad last week – with the goal of checking every driver's license plate. Because of an acute gas shortage and...
Iraq’s Hollow Sovereignty
Anyone interested in Iraq's new constitution would be advised to check out the film Return to the Land of Wonders, which focuses on the crafting of Iraq's interim constitution in the Spring of 2004. The documentary was shot by Maysoon Pachachi, the daughter of 82 year...
Why Casey Sheehan Was Killed
Since President Bush won't meet with Cindy Sheehan to explain why her son Casey died in Iraq, I thought I would put forward the information I have. Like Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, I was in Baghdad's Sadr City on April 4, 2004. I was there as an unembedded...
A Constitution Without Independence
When Iraq's elected leaders approve their country's new constitution next week, will it make any difference in the lives of the Iraqi people? I doubt it – the Bush administration rarely pays attention to what the Iraqi people want and has little respect for...
Mr. President, Please Give This Speech
Dear President Bush, I am writing to help you out. You have painted yourself into a bit of a corner in Iraq. But not to worry. I looked back to a speech you gave on April 10, 2003. In that speech, you promised the Iraqi people that the United States had come to their...
Iraqi Official Demands Timetable for Withdrawal
The following interview with Iraq's minister of civil society activities, Ala'a al-Safi, was conducted July 20, 2005, after Iraqi Premier Ibrahim al-Jaafari's historic visit to Iran. In the interview, al-Safi explains how the Iraqi government is endeavoring to warm...