Demonstrations took place as Iraqi officials blamed each other for yesterday’s slaughter in Baghdad. Today was more peaceful, but at least six Iraqis were killed and 10 more were wounded.
read moreGay Rights and American Foreign Policy
The announcement that the US government will henceforth push the achievement of “gay rights” internationally, as a key element of its foreign policy, gives new meaning to the phrase “blowback” – and cut out the snickering! Because the...
Make Congress Vote on War on Iran
Returning from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta dropped some jolting news. Asked by CBS's Scott Pelley if Iran could have a nuclear weapon in 2012, Panetta replied: "It would probably be about a year before they could do it. Perhaps a...
81 Iraqis Killed As Maliki Targets Next Political Victim
Updated at 3:15 p.m. EST, Dec. 22, 2011
A coordinated series of bombings shattered the peace in Baghdad, shortly after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ratcheted up tensions between his government and Sunni politicians. Despite international calls for prudence, Maliki is now targeting another senior Sunni politician for harassment. At least 86 Iraqis were killed and 186 more wounded in today’s carnage.
read moreNorth Korea on the Verge of a New Era?
For the last two decades, U.S. administrations have come in like a lion and out like a lamb with their policies on North Korea. Determined to demonstrate Washington's resolve, U.S. presidents have played hardball with Pyongyang in an effort to precipitate regime...
Pvt. Manning and Imperative of Truth
When I was asked to speak at Saturday’s rally at Fort Meade in support of Pvt. Bradley Manning, I wondered how I might provide some context around what Manning is alleged to have done. (In my talk, so as not to think I had to insert the word “alleged”...
Meet the Republican Chickenhawks
Nearly all the Republican presidential candidates are showing their muscles, supporting the war on terror and a robust military while also vowing to do whatever it takes to disarm Iran. They know that it is essential to play the jingoistic “American exceptionalism”...
Maliki Threatens Sunnis and Kurds in Political Squabbles
During a press conference today, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki threatened his Sunni opponents and warned the Kurds not to harbor Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi. Meanwhile, at least six Iraqis were killed and 10 more were wounded in new attacks, and Camp Ashraf may finally be closing down.
read moreNo War for Oil: US Dependency and the Middle East
The one prominent issue that both American political parties can seemingly agree on is that the U.S. should be less dependent on foreign oil. And Santa Claus has apparently listened and granted their wish. The United States is in the midst of a mini-oil boom, which...
The Life and Death of American Drones
It’s 10 pm. Do you know where your drone is? Oh, the confusion of it all! The U.S. military now insists it was deeply befuddled when it claimed that a super-secret advanced RQ-170 Sentinel drone (aka "the beast of Kandahar") that fell into Iranian hands on Dec. 4 —...
