Will Iraq Become the Democrats’ War?

Nothing reminds us more of how much the American constitutional system has been transformed, of just how extreme the “imperial presidency” has become, than Congress’ generally woeful record in the second half of the last century and in the first years of this one to exert any significant control over or brakes on White House … Continue reading “Will Iraq Become the Democrats’ War?”

Will We Suffer from the Iraq Syndrome?

In recent days, we’ve have two reports on timing, when it comes to the future of the president’s “surge” plan for Baghdad. According to Richard A. Oppel of the New York Times, “The plan, which calls for 17,000 additional troops in Baghdad, will continue until at least this fall, the second-ranking commander in Iraq, Lt. … Continue reading “Will We Suffer from the Iraq Syndrome?”

Talking Points for the Next War

At 10:16 p.m. on March 19, 2003, after copious military preparations in the Persian Gulf region and beyond, after months of diplomatic maneuvers at the United Nations, after a drumbeat of leaked intelligence warnings and hair-raising statements by top U.S. officials and the president about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and how close Saddam Hussein … Continue reading “Talking Points for the Next War”

Surging Into
Catastrophe in Iraq

U.S. casualties, which are at a post-invasion high: According to an Associated Press analysis, more American troops were “killed in combat in Iraq over the past four months – at least 334 through Jan. 31 – than in any comparable stretch since the war began”; and February, with 34 American deaths in its first nine … Continue reading “Surging Into
Catastrophe in Iraq”

Thelma and Louise Imperialism: Over the Cliff with George and Dick?

Let me make an argument about Bush administration Iran policy – about the possibility that a regime-change-style, shock-and-awe air assault might someday be launched on Iranian nuclear facilities and associated targets – based on no insider knowledge, just the logic of George and Dick’s Thelma-and-Louise-style imperialism. Of course, we all know at least half the … Continue reading “Thelma and Louise Imperialism: Over the Cliff with George and Dick?”

The Pentagon’s Secret Air War in Iraq

Just last week, in a typical air strike of the Iraq War, two missiles were fired at targets somewhere in the city of Ramadi, capital of al-Anbar province in the heartland of the Sunni insurgency, in the course of a battle with American forces stationed there. According to newspaper accounts, “18 insurgents” were killed. Air … Continue reading “The Pentagon’s Secret Air War in Iraq”

Afghanistan: Just Another
Bush Success Story

Afghanistan remains the forgotten war, yet, in an eerie lockstep with Iraq, it seems to be following a distinctly Bush administration-style path toward “the gates of hell.” While almost all attention in Washington and the U.S. media has been focused on the president’s new “surge” plan in Iraq – is it for 21,000 or 50,000 … Continue reading “Afghanistan: Just Another
Bush Success Story”

The New Investigation Season

At the moment, the spectacle of the I. Lewis Libby trial, of the den of thieves falling out, of the unraveling of old administration war stories, and of the possibility that, in the near future, the vice president might appear in the witness stand for a grilling all occupy Washington’s center stage along with a … Continue reading “The New Investigation Season”

Empire v. Democracy: Why Nemesis Is at Our Door

The dream of the Bush administration – eternal global domination abroad with no other superpower or bloc of powers on the military horizon and a Republican Party dominant at home for at least a generation – long ago evaporated in Iraq. A midterm election and subsequent devastating polling figures tell the tale. The days when … Continue reading “Empire v. Democracy: Why Nemesis Is at Our Door”

The Forgotten American Dead

Rural America Pays the President’s Price in Iraq When we hear about the American dead in Iraq, we normally learn about the circumstances in which they died. Last Saturday, for instance, was, for American troops, the third bloodiest day since the Bush administration launched its invasion in March 2003 – 27 of them died. Twelve … Continue reading “The Forgotten American Dead”