Backtalk, December 11, 2004

Feeding the Iraq Moloch … There is no excuse for government’s paying for innocent hostages. Killing innocents will isolate the terrorists to the support of immoral people. The exchange of hostages is only reasonable if all are combatants. As long as we release their innocents and they behead ours my support for this war will … Continue reading “Backtalk, December 11, 2004”

Rebellion in the Ranks

It was a Maalox moment for Donald Rumsfeld. At a forum held with U.S. troops in Kuwait who are headed to Iraq, the barrage of friendly fire soon scored a direct hit when a scout with the Tennessee National Guard, one Specialist Thomas Wilson, rose, and, his voice confident and clear but with an undertone … Continue reading “Rebellion in the Ranks”

US Credibility Under Friendly Fire

"When truth becomes war’s first fatality, Trust quickly becomes the second." "Since my son’s death … I don’t trust them [the Pentagon] one bit." One need only read the article in the Los Angeles Times to sense the loss felt by Mrs. Mary Tillman whose son, former pro-football star Corporal Pat Tillman, was killed in … Continue reading “US Credibility Under Friendly Fire”

Tillman’s True Tragedy

Although I had some thoughts at the time, I thought it would be churlish to question the decision of Pat Tillman, in his fourth year as a linebacker for the NFL Arizona Cardinals, with a $3.6 million contract, to give up professional sports and enlist in the Army Rangers after the 9/11 attacks. Although he … Continue reading “Tillman’s True Tragedy”

Deception as a Way of Life

During the Balkans wars of the 1990s, quite a few people who dared question the Official Truth as presented by the Western media and governments frequently complained that reports from Bosnia and Kosovo at the very least distorted the truth, and sometimes even made it up entirely. As intervention escalated and the shape of the … Continue reading “Deception as a Way of Life”

Mishandled Money Plagued US-Ruled Iraq

U.S. management of the Iraqi economy was plagued by irregularities, corruption, failures, and the mishandling of billions of dollars, according to analysts and multiple recent audits. Sloppy accounting and lax oversight of contracts were routine under the now defunct U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), which handled Iraq’s reconstruction funds and left blueprints for the economy … Continue reading “Mishandled Money Plagued US-Ruled Iraq”

US Hypocrisy on Ukraine

President Bush said last week that, “Any election [in Ukraine], if there is one, ought to be free from any foreign influence.” I agree with the president wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, it seems that several U.S. government agencies saw things differently and sent U.S. taxpayer dollars into Ukraine in attempt to influence the outcome. We do not … Continue reading “US Hypocrisy on Ukraine”

Bush Gets Weak Intel Reform – Barely

While opinions are divided over whether the revamp of the U.S. intelligence community laid out in the compromise bill just approved by Congress will improve the performance of the relevant agencies, there is little doubt that the failure of President George W. Bush to push the bill through would have badly damaged his political credibility. … Continue reading “Bush Gets Weak Intel Reform – Barely”

Something Rotten in the State of Ukraine

One of the advantages of writing anonymous editorials is that you can wantonly spew forth bile without worrying about anyone pointing the finger at you individually. In the Dec. 2 issue of the pro-Yushchenko English-language Kyiv Post newspaper, an editorial entitled "An Orange March East" featured the following passage: "What should Viktor Yushchenko and his … Continue reading “Something Rotten in the State of Ukraine”

US Attacks Global Court as GIs Sanctioned

The United States is poised to punish some of its closest friends overseas for supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a growing number of its soldiers are being sanctioned for abusing prisoners in the "war on terrorism," said U.S. human rights groups Wednesday. A measure inserted into the current omnibus appropriations bill in Congress … Continue reading “US Attacks Global Court as GIs Sanctioned”