Lucy Steigerwald

On Wednesday, President Obama finally noticed the United States had been bombing the Islamic State (ISIS) and figured he should ask Congress to give permission for that which had already begun. As outlined in a letter, Obama has asked for authorization for a three year fight against ISIS. This will include further airstrikes, and no … Continue reading “The Vague Suggestion of the War Powers Resolution”

Earlier this week, we learned it was possible to witness a captive of ISIS being burned to death. Soon afterwards, I concluded I had no interest in doing so. An anecdotal Internet browse made me suspect others feel differently. (Obviously, anyone on the Internet can find as much torture and death pornography as they wish, … Continue reading “Do ISIS Atrocity Videos Teach Us Anything?”

What with its title, "The Tragic Decline of the American Military", Atlantic Monthly’s January-February cover story at first blush appears to be a thoughtless pro-military screed. But in spite of that headline, and the cover asking "Why Does The Best Military in the World Keep Losing?" it isn’t a bad piece at all. Author James … Continue reading “The Unquestioned, Ignored, Heroic Military”

Considering what Charlie Hebdo staffers suffered during the attack on their offices, followed by the nauseating sight of so many world leaders marching for the freedom of speech they support with heavy caveats at best, the lingering irreverence of the publication is endearing. Cartoonist "Luz", who drew the latest cover, seems to be uneasy with … Continue reading “Victims of War and Terrorism Lose Their Individuality”

Nothing justifies slaughtering a bunch of cartoonists and editors, or police officers trying to save lives. Let’s get that essential, should-be-obvious truth out of the way first and foremost. Though some prominent people like Glenn Greenwald and the writers at the leftist Jacobin magazine found Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons to be from distasteful to downright racist, … Continue reading “Are Free Speech ‘Martyrs’ Worthier Victims Than War Casualties?”

It’s strange how often football comes up in stories about World War I. Blood-poet Jessie Pope famously and obscenely compared the conflict to a game. And to many, the most memorable part about the Truce of Christmas,1914 was the football match played between British and German soldiers. For the centennial of this famous and cozy … Continue reading “Playing the Christmas Truce”

After several years of absence from the national spotlight, former Vice President Dick Cheney has unfortunately returned in recent weeks in an attempt to defend the Bush administration and to condemn the Senate’s torture report. That report is, Cheney noted, “full of crap.” It is unsurprising that he would react that way. If there’s anything … Continue reading “The Obscenity of Respectable Politics”

Often in this space, the subject of militarized police comes up. The connection between America’s domestic cops and its war-making actions abroad is psychological, aesthetic, and literal. The country has a police force and a criminal justice system that react aggressively to minor or consensual criminal behavior, and even expressions of rights such as the … Continue reading “Wars, Torture, and ‘Others’”

For that first week or so after the August 9 shooting of Michael Brown, it seemed like there was momentum towards police reform. During the long months between the shooting and the grand jury’s lack of indictment of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, though, things got too complicated. Conservatives initially interested in police reform backed … Continue reading “The Failure of Police Reform”

On November 21, the third film in the Hunger Games series was released. Mockingjay, Part 1 continues the films’ habits of improving upon their earnest, and gratuitously violent Young Adult novel origins. This is thanks to the brilliance of Jennifer Lawrence’s performance, and a general habit of the filmmakers of taking author Suzanne Collins’ story … Continue reading “War in Mockingjay and the Hunger Games Series”