Killing in the Name
of Democracy

As the Bush administration tub-thumps for imposing democracy upon the entire world, many Americans have forgotten the long and bloody history of the U.S. government forcibly spreading “self-government.” The following discussion, from the “Messianic Democracy” chapter of my new book, Attention Deficit Democracy, illustrates how Bush is not even close to the first U.S. president … Continue reading “Killing in the Name
of Democracy”

Hamas, Son of Israel

Amid all the howls of pain and gnashing of teeth over the triumph of Hamas in the Palestinian elections, one fact remains relatively obscure, albeit highly relevant: Israel did much to launch Hamas as an effective force in the occupied territories. If ever there was a clear case of “blowback,” then this is it. As … Continue reading “Hamas, Son of Israel”

Hamas Upset Rattles Bush Strategy

The stunning victory of the Islamist Hamas party in parliamentary elections Wednesday in the Palestinian Authority (PA) poses stark new challenges to U.S. President George W. Bush’s hopes of advancing an Israeli-Palestinian peace process and promoting democracy throughout the Arab Middle East. Hamas, which gained 76 seats in the new Palestinian parliament compared to only … Continue reading “Hamas Upset Rattles Bush Strategy”

Domestic Spying Hurts Our National Security

According to numerous reports and audits released by entities such as the inspectors general (IGs) of agencies that deal with national security and various presidential commissions, today, more than four years after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, almost all our national security related agencies are in disarray, riddled with incompetence, corruption, and in … Continue reading “Domestic Spying Hurts Our National Security”

Who Lied Us Into War?
Ask George Tenet

In Bob Woodward’s 2004 book Plan of Attack, the famed Washington Post journalist details a pre-Iraq war conversation that allegedly took place between President Bush and then-CIA director George Tenet regarding whether or not Saddam Hussein truly possessed weapons of mass destruction. According to the book’s narrative, a hesitant and skeptical Bush asked Tenet: “George, … Continue reading “Who Lied Us Into War?
Ask George Tenet”

‘We Must All Be Prepared
to Torture’

“We must all be prepared to torture.” – Charles Krauthammer, “The Truth About Torture,” The Weekly Standard, Dec. 5, 2005 Note: All quotes in bold below are from Krauthammer’s piece. Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald announced in a press conference Wednesday that, swayed by the powerful arguments of an article in The Weekly Standard, he is prepared … Continue reading “‘We Must All Be Prepared
to Torture’”

US Tries to Pressure Iran with Attack Stories

Recent reports in the Turkish and German press of the U.S. asking the Turkish government to support a possible attack on Iran and alerting allied countries of preparations for such an attack appear to be part of a strategy to pressure the Iranian regime rather than the result of a new policy to strike Iran. … Continue reading “US Tries to Pressure Iran with Attack Stories”

Bumpy Ride for Indo-US Nuclear Deal

NEW DELHI – The "nuclear cooperation" agreement signed by United States President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, six months ago in Washington, has run into trouble over separation of India’s civilian installations from the military. As a result of this major hurdle, the "one of a kind" deal is unlikely to … Continue reading “Bumpy Ride for Indo-US Nuclear Deal”

Iraq: The End Is Not Near

Americans overwhelmingly lack confidence that Iraq will have a stable government in place within the next year, and more than half say that the war has not been worth its cost, according to a recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. Fewer than one in five, or about 19 percent, of the 1,003 adults quizzed said they believe … Continue reading “Iraq: The End Is Not Near”

US Orders Syria to Do the Impossible

Is there a person anywhere in the world who still thinks there is an ounce of sanity in the Bush administration? If so, let that person read John Bolton’s orders to Syria in the Jan. 24 online edition of the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz. Bolton is Bush’s unconfirmed ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton, a neoconservative … Continue reading “US Orders Syria to Do the Impossible”