For America, Denial Is a River in Iraq

Americans don’t know much about geography. In 2006, three years into the bloody War on Iraq, 63% of Americans aged 18-24 couldn’t find the “target-rich” nation on a map. To be fair, only half could find New York State on a map, so it is unsurprising that, in spite of...

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Iran’s Rouhani Needs a Nuclear Resolution

After 34 years of enmity, Tehran and Washington are heavily invested in the success of a deal over Iran’s nuclear program achieved through teamwork. Now the political future of Iran’s new moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, depends on this issue. “Resolving the...

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Ten Killed in Iraq Prayer Day Attacks, Clashes

Baghdad caught a break from the violence today, but attacks and clashes left at least 10 dead elsewhere. Another seven were wounded. A suicide bomber in Ramadi attacked a tribal checkpoint where he killed five men and wounded four more. Clashes continued in Falluja....

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A Note to My Readers

There's no column today: looks like the flu has claimed yet another victim! But don't worry: I'll be back on Monday. Meanwhile, you can read this old column on Mexico's "vigilante" movement, which the rest of the world is beginning to notice this week. Just remember:...

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Applied Rovian Denialism

In spite of the abundant revelations in the preceding year, 2014 in the Balkans seems to portend more of the same. Everyone is still in full-on reality denial mode. Or, rather, entrenched in the imperial belief that assertions can "create their own reality."...

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Secret Wars and Black Ops Blowback

Originally posted at TomDispatch. These days, when I check out the latest news on Washington's global war-making, I regularly find at least one story that fits a new category in my mind that I call: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Take last Saturday's Washington Post...

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Israel Lobby Thwarted in Iran Sanctions Bid for Now

In what looks to be a clear victory – at least for now – for President Barack Obama, a major effort by the Israel lobby and its most powerful constituent, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), to pass a new sanctions bill against Iran has...

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It’s All About Politics

Ron Fournier wants to get politics out of foreign policy decision-making: "This paragraph from a New York Times story on proposed new sanctions for Iran sent a chill down my spine: "’Behind these positions is a potent mix of political calculations in a...

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