Today is Arbaeen, which marks the end of the 40-day mourning period observed by Shi’ite pilgrims in honor of Hussein bin Ali, the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson. As expected, insurgents staged a major bombing against pilgrims. It alone left about 200 casualties. Overall, at least 71 people were killed and 145 more wounded. It is unknown if any foreigners were among the casualties.
read moreCyber War: Reality or Hype?
During his confirmation hearings this past June, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned the Senate, "The next Pearl Harbor we confront could very well be a cyber attack that cripples our grid, our security systems, our financial systems, our governmental...
War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery … and Fighting Back is ‘Aggression’
The US Department of Defense recently promulgated a new "defense" guidance document: "Sustaining US Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense." I use scare quotes because it just doesn't seem quite right to use "defense" to...
Iran’s Relations with Latin America Less Than Meets the Eye
Its economy hurting from sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been making a show of bolstering its ties to Latin America, with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this past week making his sixth official visit to the region...
Attacks Focus on Northern Iraq: 7 Killed, 45 Wounded
Today’s attacks appeared to take place mostly in the northern part of the country. The Kirkuk province alone saw several, some perhaps coordinated, bombings. Overall, at least 7 Iraqis were killed and 45 more were wounded in new violence. Also, an unknown number of people were injured during incidents in Latifiya and Samarra.
read moreGuantánamo, Our Gulag
I recently read an article by Kelley Vlahos about Thomas Drake, a news-worthy fellow who attained notoriety by becoming a federal whistleblower. Instead of being lauded as a hero, he faced criminal charges and lost his job at the National Security Agency. Drake...
Obama’s Mission Accomplished Moment?
Iran: The Neocons Are At It Again
The same neocons who persuaded George W. Bush and crew to, in Ron Paul's inimitable words, "lie their way into invading Iraq" in 2003, are beating the drums of war more loudly these days to attack Iran. It is remarkable how many of these warmongers are...
Libya and the New Warmongering
The NATO intervention in Libya is likely to produce a more militarized and insecure world, and this will be its most enduring legacy. The military “success” in Libya has increased the possibility of new wars. There is a widespread perception that NATO has achieved an...
