The expansion (and contraction) of great empires has long been driven by tactical and strategic “asymmetries” in the conduct of war. Norman archers overcame sword- and spear-wielding Anglo-Saxons at Hastings in 1066. Musket- and rifle-bearing Europeans slaughtered...
Slain Writer’s Book Says US-NATO War Served al-Qaeda Strategy
Al-Qaeda strategists have been assisting the Taliban fight against U.S.-NATO forces in Afghanistan because they believe that foreign occupation has been the biggest factor in generating Muslim support for uprisings against their governments, according to the...
Tuesday: 7 Iraqis Killed, 10 Wounded
Return of the Anti-Interventionist Right
Late last month, when U.S. air strikes caused civilian casualties in Afghanistan, an angry Hamid Karzai issued an ultimatum. If future U.S. strikes are not restricted, we will take "unilateral action" and America may be treated like an "occupying power." That brought...
Holding the President Accountable on Libya
Listen to Rep. Ron Paul deliver this address. Last week, more than 70 days after President Obama sent our military to attack Libya without a congressional declaration of war, the House of Representatives finally voted on two resolutions attempting to rein in the...
CNAS Conference Becomes ‘Thumbsucker’
This is the fourth year I’ve attended and written about the perennial flocking of Washington's military courtier class, otherwise known as the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) annual conference, always at the luxurious Willard Continental Hotel, always...
Monday: 5 US soldiers, 26 Iraqis Killed; 47 Iraqis Wounded
The deaths of five U.S. troops eclipsed the deaths of at least 26 Iraqis. Another 47 more were wounded in the latest violence. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki back-pedaled from his threats to fire ministers if they were unable to implement significant...
Apocalypse Now?
The Republican congressional leadership was in a panic: their covering for the Obama administration’s unconstitutional and unnecessary war in Libya was rapidly unraveling as a resolution by Rep. Dennis Kucinich calling for an end to it gained momentum –...
Sunday: 10 Iraqis Killed, 23 Wounded
Conjuring the Black Hat
In the afternoon hours of May 26, the president of Serbia called a surprise press conference to announce, in Boratesque English, the arrest of General Ratko Mladic, wartime commander of Bosnian Serb forces. Entirely by coincidence, or so President Tadic's crack team...


