In Defense of Marla Ruzicka

People all across the political spectrum, encompassing all possible views on the Iraq war, stopped for a moment of rueful silence when the news broke that Marla Ruzicka was killed by a suicide bomber the other day. Well, almost everyone, that is, except for one Debbie Schlussel, a right-wing columnist who tries to market herself … Continue reading “In Defense of Marla Ruzicka”

Call Me Unaccountable: Woodrow Wilson and George Bush

The passage of time permits historians to be truthful in their assessments of presidents. Abe Lincoln, a Republican Party icon since 1865, was exposed in the 21st century as America’s first tyrant by Thomas DiLorenzo. Woodrow Wilson, a Democratic icon since the early 20th century, has now been knocked off his pedestal by Jim Powell … Continue reading “Call Me Unaccountable: Woodrow Wilson and George Bush”

Iraq ‘Uptick,’ Superpower Downtick?

Quote of the Month (November 1967) “In November, as their plans gelled, General Westmoreland embarked on a whirlwind tour of the U.S. to testify before Congress and drum up support for the Johnson Administration. ‘With 1968,’ he said, speaking before the National Press Club in Washington, ‘a new phase is starting .. we have reached … Continue reading “Iraq ‘Uptick,’ Superpower Downtick?”

Watchdog Demands US Torture Inquiry

A leading human rights group demands that the U.S. government launch a sweeping inquiry into the torture of Iraqi and other prisoners by U.S. troops, and that it name a special prosecutor to probe high-ranking officials’ possible role in alleged abuses. Human Rights Watch, in a new report assailing some conclusions of previous investigations, said … Continue reading “Watchdog Demands US Torture Inquiry”

The War for Intel Independence

President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are framing the trials of John Bolton, their nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, as a partisan political squabble. It is much more than that. It is rather a matter of life and death for the endangered species of intelligence analysts determined to "tell it … Continue reading “The War for Intel Independence”

For Whom the Bells Toll

An Iranian technician called Jalal-a-Din Taheri, who had been working at the nuclear reactor at Bushehr, managed to defect to Europe, where he disclosed the ayatollahs’ plans for producing nuclear bombs. Taheri was acclaimed a hero throughout the world. A number of organizations nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. President Bush praised his courage. … Continue reading “For Whom the Bells Toll”

The Devil Made Him Do It

General Sanchez has indeed, to our great non-surprise, been found guilty of authorizing abuses of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, yet marvelously innocent of having anything to do with those unfortunate incidents. Mr. Sanchez has been freed by Mr. Bush’s Pentagon of any responsibility for the brutal and bizarre tortures and killings made possible by the … Continue reading “The Devil Made Him Do It”

Prime Minister Chalabi?

It seems like only yesterday that U.S. government officials, and their media amen corner, were hailing the “turning point” in the Iraq war. The election changed everything, the insurgency is winding down, and victory is at hand – or so the conventional wisdom of the moment assured us. That was then, however – and this … Continue reading “Prime Minister Chalabi?”

Hiroshima or Wheat Smut?

When the parties to the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons meet next month for the 2005 NPT Review Conference, you can be sure that John "Bonkers" Bolton will be there. Why? Well, Bolton is the “point man” in the Bush administration’s campaign to sabotage and/or supersede the existing nuke proliferation-prevention regime. At the 2000 … Continue reading “Hiroshima or Wheat Smut?”