Pompeo and Haspel are Symptoms of a Deeper Problem

President Trump’s recent cabinet shakeup looks to be a real boost to hard-line militarism and neo-conservatism. If his nominees to head the State Department and CIA are confirmed, we may well have moved closer to war. Before being chosen by Trump to head up the CIA, Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo was one of … Continue reading “Pompeo and Haspel are Symptoms of a Deeper Problem”

We Should Listen to the Iraqi Parliament

This month marks the 15th anniversary of the US war on Iraq. The “shock and awe” attack was launched based on “stove-piped” intelligence fed from the CIA and Pentagon through an uncritical and compliant US mainstream media. The US media was a willing accomplice to this crime of aggression committed by the George W. Bush … Continue reading “We Should Listen to the Iraqi Parliament”

What the FBI/FISA Memo Really Tells Us About Our Government

The release of the House Intelligence Committee’s memo on the FBI’s abuse of the FISA process set off a partisan firestorm. The Democrats warned us beforehand that declassifying the memo would be the end the world as we know it. It was reckless to allow Americans to see this classified material, they said. Agents in … Continue reading “What the FBI/FISA Memo Really Tells Us About Our Government”

Who to Believe on Washington’s Korea Policy, Tillerson or Trump?

President Trump has often said that his foreign policy objective was to keep his enemies guessing. If that’s the goal, you could say that he’s doing a good job. The problem is who does he think his enemies are, because the American people are often left guessing as well. US policy toward North Korea last … Continue reading “Who to Believe on Washington’s Korea Policy, Tillerson or Trump?”

Is North Korea Really a ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’?

President Trump announced last week that he was returning North Korea to the US list of “state sponsors of terrorism” after having been off the list for the past nine years. Americans may wonder what dramatic event led the US president to re-designate North Korea as a terrorism-sponsoring nation. Has Pyongyang been found guilty of … Continue reading “Is North Korea Really a ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’?”

Why Are We Helping Saudi Arabia Destroy Yemen?

It’s remarkable that whenever you read an article about Yemen in the mainstream media, the central role of Saudi Arabia and the United States in the tragedy is glossed over or completely ignored. A recent Washington Post article purporting to tell us “how things got so bad” explains to us that, “it’s a complicated story” … Continue reading “Why Are We Helping Saudi Arabia Destroy Yemen?”

Neocons Hijack Trump’s Syria Policy

Does anyone in the Trump Administration have a clue about our Syria policy? In March, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to be finally pulling back from President Obama’s disastrous “Assad must go” position that has done nothing but prolong the misery in Syria. At the time, Tillerson said, the "longer-term status of President Assad … Continue reading “Neocons Hijack Trump’s Syria Policy”

President Trump Beats War Drums for Iran

President Trump has been notoriously inconsistent in his foreign policy. He campaigned on and won the presidency with promises to repair relations with Russia, pull out of no-win wars like Afghanistan, and end the failed US policy of nation-building overseas. Once in office he pursued policies exactly the opposite of what he campaigned on. Unfortunately … Continue reading “President Trump Beats War Drums for Iran”

What Did Washington Achieve in Its Six Year War on Syria?

Now that the defeat of ISIS in Syria appears imminent, with the Syrian army clearing out some of the last ISIS strongholds in the east, Washington’s interventionists are searching for new excuses to maintain the illegal US military presence in the country. Their original rationale for intervention has long been exposed as another lie. Remember … Continue reading “What Did Washington Achieve in Its Six Year War on Syria?”

How To End the Korea Crisis

The descent of US/North Korea “crisis” to the level of schoolyard taunts should be remembered as one of the most bizarre, dangerous, and disgraceful chapters in US foreign policy history. President Trump, who holds the lives of millions of Koreans and Americans in his hands, has taken to calling the North Korean dictator “rocket man … Continue reading “How To End the Korea Crisis”