Jim Lobe

Three out of four self-described supporters of President George W. Bush still believe pre-war Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or active programs to produce them, and that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein gave “substantial support” to al-Qaeda terrorists, according to a survey released Thursday. Moreover, as many or more Bush supporters hold those beliefs … Continue reading “Bush Backers Steadfast on Saddam, WMD”

Amid growing reports of violence in Haiti‘s capital Port-au-Prince, the United States announced Tuesday it will consider requests to sell weapons to the country’s interim government on a case-by-case basis, signaling the end to a 13-year arms embargo. The decision, confirmed by the State Department, appears designed to begin supplying weapons to the 2,500-man police … Continue reading “US Lifts Haitian Arms Embargo as Tensions Mount”

While the Bush administration expresses frustration that its motivations in the "war on terrorism" are questioned throughout the Islamic world, it has a similar problem with Muslims at home, according to a major survey [.pdf] of nearly 2,000 followers of Islam across the United States. A plurality of 38 percent of Muslims in the United … Continue reading “Muslim-American Support for ‘War on Terror’ Plummets”

With the presidential election coming down to the wire, the possibility of a revived military draft is looming as a potentially decisive factor in the outcome. While President George W. Bush and his fellow Republicans vehemently reject any suggestion that a draft, which was eliminated by former President Richard Nixon during the last years of … Continue reading “Fear of Draft Affecting Election”

Now that President George W. Bush’s allegations about former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s ties to al-Qaeda and ambitious weapons programs have been thoroughly discredited, another outstanding charge remains to be resolved. During a campaign speech in September 2002, Bush cited a number of reasons – in addition to alleged terrorist links and weapons of mass … Continue reading “So, Did Saddam Try to Kill Bush’s Dad?”

Thursday’s recommendation by the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Division that 28 soldiers be charged in connection with the beating deaths of two prisoners held at a detention facility in Afghanistan in December 2002 has spurred new calls for an entirely independent investigation of abuses of detainees by U.S. forces in "war on terrorism." The announcement, … Continue reading “Afghan Deaths Spur Calls for Independent Investigation”

While the successful penetration by suicide bombers, who killed ten people, including four U.S. nationals, of the carefully guarded “Green Zone” in downtown Baghdad grabbed headlines here this week, another measure of the deteriorating security situation in Iraq came from a more surprising source. In an article published Thursday in the online edition of the … Continue reading “Plight of Iraqi Christians Provokes Calls for Special Protection”

The environmental group Greenpeace has echoed a call by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to permit the UN watchdog to return in force to Iraq to track nuclear-related materials looted after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion there and help protect and treat the population from exposure to deadly radiation The group’s appeal followed a report … Continue reading “Greenpeace Warns of Iraq Nuclear Contamination”

Word that the administration is holding talks this week with its European allies on their proposal for a deal with Iran on safeguarding its nuclear program is raising new questions about whether President George W. Bush is easing his confrontational approach to the Islamic Republic. At the same time, the administration’s reported plans to send … Continue reading “New Flexibility on the Evil Axis?”

Sidelined by their failed predictions for Iraq and President George W. Bush’s efforts to reassure voters he is not a warmonger, prominent neoconservatives and their Christian Right allies are nonetheless trying hard to prepare the ground for future U.S. adventures in the Middle East. Echoing increasingly threatening noises from the government of Israeli Prime Minister … Continue reading “Sidelined Neocons Stoke Future Fires”