Late Friday night, Congress passed legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security for one week. This vote followed weeks of debate over efforts to attach a prohibition on funding President Obamas executive order granting amnesty to certain illegal...
Interventionism Kills: Post-Coup Ukraine One Year Later
It was one year ago last weekend that a violent coup overthrew the legally elected government of Ukraine. That coup was not only supported by the US and EU governments much of it was actually planned by them. Looking back at the events that led to the overthrow...
How Many More Wars?
Last week President Obama sent Congress legislation to authorize him to use force against ISIS and associated persons and forces anywhere in the world for the next three years. This is a blank check for the president to start as many new wars as he wishes,...
Obama’s Force Authorization Is a Blank Check for War Worldwide
The president is requesting Congress to pass an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) resolution against ISIS. Congress has not issued a similar resolution since 2002, when President Bush was given the authority to wage war against Iraq. The purpose of...
The Failed ‘Yemen Model’
Last September President Obama cited his drone program in Yemen as a successful model of US anti-terrorism strategy. He said that he would employ the Yemen model in his effort to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. But just a week ago,...
Lessons from Paris
After the tragic shooting at a provocative magazine in Paris last week, I pointed out that given the foreign policy positions of France we must consider blowback as a factor. Those who do not understand blowback made the ridiculous claim that I was excusing the attack...
The Real Meaning of the 1914 Christmas Truce
One hundred years ago last week, on Christmas Eve, 1914, German and British soldiers emerged from the horrors of World War One trench warfare to greet each other, exchange food and gifts, and to wish each other a Merry Christmas. What we remember now as the...
For Truly Better Relations with Cuba, Open the Door and Get Out of the Way!
President Obama has taken a bold and surprising step toward ending the futile 50 year US embargo of Cuba. The president announced he would begin normalizing relations, including upgrading the diplomatic mission in Havana to embassy status. The president also said he...
Do They Really Oppose Torture?
The Senate Intelligence Committee released its long-awaited report on CIA torture of detainees and the reaction has been strong. While some still maintain that torture is justified, the emerging details of the program have left most of the country disgusted and...
House Chooses New Cold War With Russia
Last week the US House voted overwhelmingly in favor of an anti-Russia resolution so full of war propaganda that it rivals the rhetoric from chilliest era of the Cold War. Ironically, much of the bill condemns Russia for doing exactly what the US government has been...


