As I was driving back to the office at midday today, I heard a news report that President Bush had nominated John Bolton to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel my blood pressure climb through the roof. John Bolton....
Who Killed Rafik Hariri?
The recent hate campaign against Syria is ratcheting up to a fever pitch, as exemplified by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas), who told a convocation of veterans at the Suncreek United Methodist Church in Allen, Texas, of a conversation he had with our sainted chief...
The Unfortunate Incident Protocol
"A little girl running in fear from armed men is killed in cold blood. The authorities are trying their best to come up with a reason why this schoolgirl was shot so many times after she was dead because that's the unusual part. But in no way will the...
Negroponte: Policy Hack or Intelligence Reformer?
The CIA has long been caught in the crossfire from the left and the right. Human rights critics and left-center internationalists have charged that the CIA has engineered coups and trained paramilitary units. On its right flank, the agency has been accused by...
What Noncompliance?
Addressing the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna last week, Jackie Sanders, the U.S. representative, warned the panel that it "cannot ignore forever its statutory obligation to report this matter to the United Nations Security...
Going to War With the Army You Have
"'If you look back over the last year, we estimate we have killed or captured about 15,000 people as part of this counter-insurgency,' [Gen. George] Casey, the only four-star American general in Iraq, told reporters." (Jan. 26, 2005) "[Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen....
Backtalk March 6, 2004
Bush Keeps Fueling the Fire I really respect Eric Margolis and his views, but he is just plain wrong when he says that the one true election to occur in the Arab world was that in Algeria in 1991. It needs to be hammered home repeatedly and at every opportunity that...
From Lebanon to Iraq and Back
For Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon all the current euphoria about the rising New Lebanon, marking the start of a revolutionary change in the Middle East, must have the feel of déjà vu all over again. After all, when Israeli troops under the order of then Defense...
Why Israel Really Fears Iranian Nukes, Part Three
Western rhetoric about the prospect of an Iranian nuclear bomb is typically full of references to "security," "destabilization" and "a terrorist regime" that sound compelling and alarming. But because such terms are closely examined only...
Saudis Break New Ground Eyeing Russian Weapons
UNITED NATIONS Saudi Arabia, a traditionally authoritarian regime that recently held the first Western-style local elections in its 73-year history, is trying to break new ground by turning to Russia for arms purchases. As one of the world's biggest single...


