Originally posted at TomDispatch. What is it about the U.S. military and TomDispatch? Last August, I discovered (thanks to a correspondent in that military) that the Pentagon’s computer networks had blocked this website. (The message you received if you tried to get to it: “You have attempted to access a blocked website. Access to this … Continue reading “No Need To Whisper, AFRICOM Isn’t Listening In”

Those were the Good Old Days – when the United States could credibly keep up the pretense of being the agency of moral rectitude, the heroes who come over the hill and, at the last minute, save the day from the savagery of the Orcs and the forces of Mordor. Oh really?, said my young … Continue reading “In the Beginning There Was Kosovo”

A U.S. service member was killed in a non-combat incident.

The only US president to complete his term without war, military attack or occupation has called the United States “the most warlike nation in the history of the world.” During his regular Sunday school lesson at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, Jimmy Carter revealed that he had recently spoken with President … Continue reading “Jimmy Carter: US ‘Most Warlike Nation in History of the World’”

"The president has said that he does not want to see this country involved in endless wars… I agree with that," Bernie Sanders told the Fox News audience at Monday’s town hall meeting in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Then turning and staring straight into the camera, Bernie added: "Mr. President, tonight you have the opportunity to do … Continue reading “Is Bernie Stealing Trump’s ‘No More Wars’ Issue?”

British police dragged WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange out of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on April 11, witnessed by a scrum of international media. Authorities in the United Kingdom and US then tried to drag Assange’s reputation through the mud. The official story was that Assange wore out his welcome at the embassy. News stories … Continue reading “Can WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange Get a Fair Trial?”

ISIS killed an officer during an attack.

So, what have we learned from the Israeli legislative elections on April 9? A whole lot. To start with, don’t let such references as the "tight race" between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his main rival, Benny Gantz, fool you. Yes, Israelis are divided on some issues that are particular to their social and … Continue reading “War Versus Peace: Israel Has Decided and So Should We”

For Israelis, the questions had been hovering for months. Would the right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claim victory and a fifth term, moving his far-right Likud government coalition even further right? Or would the supposedly “centrist” challenger, former army chief of staff General Benny Gantz, ride to victory among corruption allegations against Netanyahu? Netanyahu faces … Continue reading “Trump’s Embrace of Netanyahu Will Haunt the Middle East for Years”

Pollster Gallup admitted on March 28 that three decades of polling data contain fundamental flaws "well beyond what we would attribute to normal sampling error." Gallup’s admission centers on its high-stakes question of whether Americans have greater sympathy for Israelis or for Palestinians. Gallup loudly trumpeted that Americans "increasingly sympathized with Israel in recent years." … Continue reading “Gallup Quietly Admits ‘Israeli vs. Palestinian’ Sympathy Polls Are Misleading”