U.S. officials routinely portray Ukraine as a democratic ally and the symbol of an existential fight between freedom and authoritarianism. That simplistic portrayal has intensified since Russia launched its large-scale attack in February 2022. The reality is that...
The Ticking Time Bomb of Ukrainian Debt (That the West Will Have To Pay)
The G7 recently made the headlines by agreeing to lend Ukraine $50bn which will be repaid using the yearly interest accrued on $329bn of confiscated Russian sovereign foreign exchange reserves. When it is finally structured, the loan will consist of a series of loans...
Iraq Weekly Roundup: 29 Killed
Mourning Donald Sutherland, The Antiwar Activist
It is with great sadness that I note the passing of actor Donald Sutherland. Many will eulogize his roles in M*A*S*H, The Hunger Games, and a variety of other famous movies. My memory of him is much more radical. When the US invasion and occupation of Viet Nam was...
Mourning Donald Sutherland, The Antiwar Activist
It is with great sadness that I note the passing of actor Donald Sutherland. Many will eulogize his roles in M*A*S*H, The Hunger Games, and a variety of other famous movies. My memory of him is much more radical. When the US invasion and occupation of Viet Nam was...
Why Putin Sent Russian Ships to Cuba
On June 17, Russian naval vessels left Cuba without incident, concluding a five-day visit. The visit may have been without incident, but it wasn’t without meaning. Frustrated that their diplomatic messages were not being heard, Russia sent a louder message. But that...
Is Joe Biden Issuing Legal Orders to the US Military?
Reprinted from Bracing Views with the author’s permission. Is it legal for a U.S. president to order American troops to take action that enables a genocide? I should think not. The president takes essentially the same oath of office as military members do. Its...
A Terribly Lopsided, Very Cruel War Continues
As I write this, in the last 15 days, Israel has bombed a tent city and a UN school and has killed 276 Palestinian non-combatants in a mid-day raid to gain the release of four Israelis being held as hostages. Almost 400 people were killed in the three actions, with...
When US Officials Show You Who They Are, Believe Them
"When someone shows you who they are,” Maya Angelou said, “believe them the first time." That should apply to foreign-policy elites who show you who they are, time after time. Officials running the Pentagon and State Department have been in overdrive for more than 250...
Joe Biden’s Time Interview Should Set Off Alarms
On May 28, U.S. President Joe Biden gave an interview to Time. His delivery and content were concerning for a number of reasons. Biden, at times, seemed misinformed and detached from reality. Sometimes, he seemed off message; other times, he seemed convinced by his...


