The Poor Man’s Air Force

In a column on March 23 (“A Vision, Bruised and Dented“), David Brooks of the New York Times wrote about “the rise of what Richard Lowry of the National Review calls the ‘To Hell With Them’ Hawks.” In part, Brooks characterized these hawks as being conservatives who “look at car bombs and cartoon riots and … Continue reading “The Poor Man’s Air Force”

The President’s ‘Final Jeopardy!‘ Question

Words fail. As last week ended, the vice president, we learned (in papers filed in federal court by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald in the Plame-Niger-uranium, sixteen-fateful-words, disagree-with-us-and-we’ll-whack-you case), told his chief of staff, “Scooter” Libby, that the president “specifically had authorized defendant to disclose certain information in the NIE” – in other words that George … Continue reading “The President’s ‘Final Jeopardy!‘ Question”

Cutting and Running in Baghdad

It didn’t take long after the invasion of Iraq began in March 2003 for one of the radioactive words of the Vietnam era to make its first appearance, even if in stunted, referential form. Media pundits, former military men, and others began fretting, even as American soldiers advanced, about the “Q word.” They were, of … Continue reading “Cutting and Running in Baghdad”

Returning to the Scene
of the Crime

In the Vietnam era, the subject of war crimes was the last to arrive and the first to depart. When, in 1971 in Detroit, Vietnam Veterans Against the War convened its Winter Soldier Investigation into U.S. war crimes in Southeast Asia, it was roundly ignored by the media. Over 100 veterans gave firsthand testimony to … Continue reading “Returning to the Scene
of the Crime”

The Hyperpower Hype and Where It Took Us

Just last week, a jury began to deliberate on the fate of Zacarias Moussaoui, who may or may not have been the missing 20th hijacker in the Sept. 11 attacks. At the same time, newly released recordings of 911 operators responding to calls from those about to die that day in the two towers were … Continue reading “The Hyperpower Hype and Where It Took Us”

What Ever Happened to Congress?

In Part 1 of his interview, Chalmers Johnson suggested what that fall-of-the-Berlin-Wall, end-of-the-Cold-War moment meant to him; explored how deeply empire and militarism have entered the American bloodstream; and began to consider what it means to live in an unacknowledged state of military Keynesianism, garrisoning the planet, and with an imperial budget – a real … Continue reading “What Ever Happened to Congress?”

Cold Warrior in a Strange Land

As he and his wife Sheila drive me through downtown San Diego in the glare of midday, he suddenly exclaims, “Look at that structure!” I glance over, and just across the blue expanse of the harbor is an enormous aircraft carrier. “It’s the USS Ronald Reagan,” he says, “the newest carrier in the fleet. It’s … Continue reading “Cold Warrior in a Strange Land”

Connecting the Dots, Bush-Style

As readers flee news on the printed page for an online life and classified ads head out the door for Craigslist and points west, the Washington Post became just the latest major newspaper to announce significant staff cuts. With fourth-quarter revenue down 3 percent from the previous year, eighty jobs – 9 percent of the … Continue reading “Connecting the Dots, Bush-Style”

Reprogramming the Infinite Loop

Since today’s dispatch is by a former federal prosecutor, let me suggest a small “law” of my own, one fit for the present moment: When it comes to the Bush administration, whatever the subject may be and however bad you think things are, they’re going to be at least several fallback positions worse than whatever … Continue reading “Reprogramming the Infinite Loop”

Baghdad’s Besieged Press

Back in September 2004, the Wall Street Journal‘s Farnaz Fassihi, then covering Iraq, wrote an e-mail to friends that began: “Being a foreign correspondent in Baghdad these days is like being under virtual house arrest.” A year and a half later, it’s still a striking account to read, because the grim news she was delivering … Continue reading “Baghdad’s Besieged Press”