Jim Lobe

Led by a familiar clutch of neoconservative hawks, major right-wing publications are calling on the administration of President George W. Bush to urgently plan for military strikes – and possibly a wider war – against Iran in the wake of its announcement this week that it has successfully enriched uranium to a purity necessary to … Continue reading “Neocons Turn Up Heat for Iran Attack”

Three years after the fall of Baghdad and the city’s disastrous plunge into chaos, U.S. military brass appear engaged in a new campaign: getting rid of Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld. While the offensive has so far been limited to generals who have recently retired from the service, they claim strong support for their views on … Continue reading “New Military Offensive Against Rumsfeld”

One month after the publication by two of the most influential international relations scholars in the United States of a highly controversial essay on the so-called "Israel Lobby," their thesis that the lobby exercises "unmatched power" in Washington is being tested by rapidly rising tensions with Iran. Far more visibly than any other domestic constituency, … Continue reading “Iran Showdown Tests Power of Israel Lobby”

Three years after the fall of Baghdad to U.S. forces, Washington is abuzz about new reports that the administration of President George W. Bush is preparing to attack Iran, possibly with nuclear weapons. In just the past few days, lengthy articles detailing planning for aerial attacks on as many as 400 nuclear and military targets … Continue reading “Psy-War or Serious? Washington Mulls Iran Attack”

Efforts by the United States to split the Shi’ite United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) and deny interim Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari his claim to head the next government could well prove counter-productive to long-term U.S. objectives in both Iraq and the larger region, according to some specialists here. Not only has heavy-handed U.S. intervention in negotiations … Continue reading “US Efforts to Oust Jaafari May Backfire”

One week after the Palestinian Authority (PA) swore in its new Hamas-led government, the United States Friday announced that it will suspend all direct aid to the PA while sharply increasing humanitarian assistance to the people under its control. The move, which followed a similar announcement by the European Commission (EC) Thursday, comes as the … Continue reading “Washington Cuts All Aid to Palestinian Authority”

Although still united in pushing for confrontation with Iran, the coalition of hawks that propelled U.S. troops toward Baghdad three years ago appears to have finally run out of steam. Demoralized by the quagmire in Iraq, as well as President George W. Bush’s still falling approval and credibility ratings, the coalition of aggressive nationalists, neoconservatives, … Continue reading “Bush’s War Hawks Edged Out of the Nest”

While anti-U.S. sentiment has deep roots in Latin America, particularly among populist and left-wing parties that are winning elections there, specific policies pursued by the administration of Pres. George W. Bush and the Republican-led Congress are fueling the growing alienation from Washington, according to a new report. An analysis of recent public opinion polls, statements … Continue reading “Bush Policies Stoke Anti-Yanqui Sentiment”

The vast majority of the U.S. public appears to have grown thoroughly disillusioned with President George W. Bush’s crusade to spread democracy abroad, according to a new survey by one of the country’s premier public opinion analysts. The survey, designed by Daniel Yankelovich, also found that public concern about U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources … Continue reading “Public Continues to Sour on Bush’s Crusade”

Moving with unusual speed, the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush officially normalized military relations with Indonesia Wednesday when the State Department posted a formal notice permitting the sale of lethal military equipment to Jakarta for the first time in seven years. The announcement in the Federal Register came just two weeks after Condoleezza … Continue reading “US Lifts Ban on Sale of Arms to Indonesia”