A Reluctant Warrior Tiptoes to War

Barack Obama has just taken his first baby steps into a war in Syria that may define and destroy his presidency. Thursday, while he was ringing in Gay Pride Month with LGBT revelers, a staffer, Ben Rhodes, informed the White House press that U.S. weapons will be going...

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The Making of a Global Security State

As happens with so much news these days, the Edward Snowden revelations about National Security Agency (NSA) spying and just how far we’ve come in the building of a surveillance state have swept over us 24/7 – waves of leaks, videos, charges, claims, counterclaims,...

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A Note to My Readers

I have some personal business to take care of today, which accounts for the lack of a column. I’ll be back on Wednesday. NOTES IN THE MARGIN You can check out my Twitter feed by going here. But please note that my tweets are sometimes deliberately provocative, often...

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Iraq’s Shi’ite South Targeted: 54 Killed, 174 Wounded

A surge in attacks that began last month resumed after several days of relatively light violence. Shi’ites were targeted in today’s hostilities. Because several of the bombings occurred in southern cities unaccustomed to daily or even weekly attacks, the violence was likely coordinated. Overall, at least 43 Iraqis were killed and 149 more were wounded.
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Secrecy’s Tangled Web of Deceit

The name card at the Senate hearing read, “Hon. General Keith B. Alexander,” but layering on the extra honorific title was not enough to change the sad reality that the National Security Agency’s director — a proven prevaricator — was not “honorable.” You might have...

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