Massachusetts Pays $177 Million in State Taxes to the Pentagon

Just weeks before Tax Day, April 15, Governor Deval Patrick, Obama’s "close friend," signed into law a bond bill that dispenses $177 million in Massachusetts State Taxes to the Pentagon for construction and "upgrades" of U.S. military bases in the state. That’s right, not federal taxes but state taxes. On April 15, last year, the … Continue reading “Massachusetts Pays $177 Million in State Taxes to the Pentagon”

Peace Is No Longer a Partisan Issue

A funny thing happened on the way to a war on Syria – in fact several funny things. First the road to Damascus was blocked by the sentiment of the American people who are fed up with war. Second, international opposition from every corner of the earth, save two or three, joined the barricade, even … Continue reading “Peace Is No Longer a Partisan Issue”

Threatened with Censorship and Ouster by PEN’s Henchmen

In the vast and ever expanding firmament of Western Human Rights NGO’s, PEN, America Center, the writers’ organization, is far from the most luminous and ordinarily barely visible. But a dark side of PEN came clearly into view with the hiring of Suzanne Nossel as its executive director. And the same dark side is becoming … Continue reading “Threatened with Censorship and Ouster by PEN’s Henchmen”

Shenzo Abe Does D.C.

Last October a delegation of the U.S. imperial elite slithered into Japan, led by Richard Armitage, former Undersecrtary of State and Joseph Nye, Dean Emeritus of the Kennedy School of Empire – er, Government- at Dear Old Harvard. They came armed with a diatribe which they had co-authored for the Center For Strategic and International … Continue reading “Shenzo Abe Does D.C.”

US Goading Japan into Confrontation With China

"………..Their defeat Doth by their own insinuation grow. ‘Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes Between the pass and fell incensèd points Of mighty opposites." ~ Hamlet on the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. At the height of the 2012 election campaign in late October, a U.S. delegation tiptoed into Japan and then China with … Continue reading “US Goading Japan into Confrontation With China”

Creepy Nicholas Kristof Rejoices in Murderous Iran Sanctions

There is something more than a little creepy about Nicholas Kristof’s incessant interest in prostitutes — only out of concern for their well-being, of course — as he travels across the planet. But in his most recent trek across Iran, he abandons his obsession for a bit in order to look at the U.S. sanctions … Continue reading “Creepy Nicholas Kristof Rejoices in Murderous Iran Sanctions”

Starve the Beast of Empire: Ax the Income Tax

As we approach April 15, the day when we render unto Caesar what is ours, it is well to bear a few stark and simple numbers in mind. The personal income tax for 2011 will haul in a hefty $1.09 trillion to the federal coffers. The estimate for 2012* is $1.16 trillion.   On the other side of the … Continue reading “Starve the Beast of Empire: Ax the Income Tax”

Hawk Fights Hawk for Mass. Senate Seat

The battle for Senate has been joined in Massachusetts between Scott Brown, a hawk, and Elizabeth Warren, another hawk. Warren began as the darling of the “progressives” here, but as her stance on Iran, the ongoing wars, and the plight of the Palestinians becomes known, the bloom is off the rose. On the first day … Continue reading “Hawk Fights Hawk for Mass. Senate Seat”

Progressives Embrace Humanitarian Imperialism – Again

"Foreign Intervention in Syria? A Debate with Joshua Landis and Karam Nachar." promised the headline on DemocracyNow! of 2/22.  Eagerly I tuned in, hoping to hear a thorough exposé of the machinations of the US Empire in Syria on its march to Iran. But this was neither exposé nor debate.  Both sides, Landis and Nachar, were pro-intervention … Continue reading “Progressives Embrace Humanitarian Imperialism – Again”

President Obama, We Must Not Allow a Tunnel Gap!

Mr. President, we must not allow a mineshaft gap! – Gen. “Buck” Turgidson, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb China is a vast country — “When it is dark in the east, it is light in the west; when things are dark in the south, there is still … Continue reading “President Obama, We Must Not Allow a Tunnel Gap!”