Thomas Knapp

The US Department of Defense wants to retire an old aircraft carrier early while building two new ones (and adding other goodies to their shopping list). Surprise, surprise – politicians from states with the shipyards and naval bases that employ their constituents want to keep the old carrier AND build the new ones. America and … Continue reading “Aircraft Carriers: Give Truman and Ford a Burial at Sea”

As February draws to an end, rumors abound that we’re about to see Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Or at least that someone – namely, newly confirmed US Attorney General William Barr – is about to see that report. The rest of us, maybe not so … Continue reading “Mueller Report: Secrecy Shouldn’t be an Option”

Washington’s political establishment went berserk when US Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) publicly noted that US-Israel relations are “all about the Benjamins” – slang for $100 bills, referring to money shoveled at American politicians by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Omar was accused of antisemitism – immediately by Republicans, shortly after by members of … Continue reading “The First Rule of AIPAC Is: You Do Not Talk about AIPAC”

I’m not ashamed to admit it: I’m a peacenik. I think war is a bad thing. I’ve seen it up close and personal as an infantryman, and I’d like to see less of it, preferably none at all, either up close or from a distance. In part, this desire also makes me a “non-interventionist.” That … Continue reading “A Preference for Peace: Not the Same Thing as Support for the Bogeyman of the Week”

On January 23, the President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Juan Guaido, was sworn in as “interim president.” In what was presumably a pre-coordinated move, Guaido’s administration was quickly recognized by the governments of the United States, Canada, and several countries in Latin America. Guaido’s claim rests on a provision in Venezuela’s constitution which allows him … Continue reading “Venezuela: None of Our Business”

US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) thinks – I’m using the term “thinks” very loosely here – that Americans dying in Syria is a compelling reason to continue exposing Americans to the danger of dying in Syria. So do Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Inhofe (R-OK), and Jack Reed (D-RI). Ever since US president Donald Trump … Continue reading “Syria: In the History of Bad Excuses, This One’s Top-Tier”

The New York Times reports that “[i]n the days after President Trump fired James B. Comey as FBI director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the president’s behavior that they began investigating whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests.” That’s an interesting way of putting it, but let’s try … Continue reading “Now More Than Ever, It’s Clear the FBI Must Go”

In March, US president Donald Trump promised the American public that US troops would be leaving Syria “very soon.” Nine months later, he threw Washington’s political establishment into turmoil by finally ordering the withdrawal he’d promised. Politicians like US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who’d never once in four years bestirred themselves to authorize the previous … Continue reading “Trump’s Holiday Gift to America: Hope for a Little More Peace on Earth?”

Bahia Amawi works as children’s speech pathologist for the Pflugerville Independent School District in Texas. Or, rather, she used to work as a children’s speech pathologist for the district. After nine years, Glenn Greenwald reports at The Intercept, the district’s administration declined to renew her contract because she refused to sign a loyalty oath. Not … Continue reading “The Strangest Loyalty Oath You Probably Never Heard Of”

On October 29, US president Donald Trump took to Twitter, warning that a migrant “caravan” approaching the US-Mexico border was “an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!” On November 18, as the caravan reached Tijuana — and the border — he reiterated the “invasion” claim: “[T]he U.S. is ill-prepared for … Continue reading “Doing Justice to Trump’s ‘Invasion’ Claim”