After the CIA-led fiasco at the Bay of Pigs in April 1961, President John Kennedy was quoted as saying he wanted to "splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it into the winds." I can understand his anger, but a thousand is probably too many....
Should Obama Fire Gen. McChrystal?
Afghan Lessons from the Iraq War
Shining a Light on the Roots of Terrorism
Media commentary on the upcoming 9/11 trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has raised concerns that state secrets may be divulged, including details about how the Bush administration used torture to extract evidence about al-Qaeda. "I think that we're going to shine a...
Heeding George Kennan’s Sage Advice
I can't remember how many times I have said that the U.S. military adventure in Afghanistan is a fool's errand. The reaction I frequently encounter includes some variant of "How can you blithely acquiesce in the chaos that will inevitably ensue if we and our NATO...
Kipling Haunts Obama’s Afghan War
Intelligence Veterans Demand Accountability for Torture
MEMORANDUM FOR: The President FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) SUBJECT: Accountability for Torture We write you, Mr. President, as former intelligence professionals to voice strong support for Attorney General Eric Holder's authorization of a...
CIA Torturers Running Scared
For the CIA supervisors and operatives responsible for torture, the chickens are coming home to roost; that is, if President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder mean it when they say no one is above the law – and if they don't fall victim to brazen...
Torture: The Fault Is Not in Our Stars
Unlike many of my progressive friends, for me the current administration's behavior on torture is a glass half full. In my view, the real scandal is how very few have taken a sip. Sure, President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have adopted some of the...