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A 10-member international task force of prominent analysts and former diplomats has warned that recommendations by a special commission on the Bush administration’s plans for Cuba, released last May, “will poorly serve U.S. interests in Cuba and the wider region”. In an open letter to the commission’s co-chair, Secretary of State Colin Powell, the task … Continue reading “Think Tank Blasts Bush Commission Report on Cuba”

NEW DELHI – As attacks against the media in the disturbed Himalayan kingdom of Nepal continue unchecked, international media organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) warns this will impact independent reporting in the region. The organization is supporting efforts by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) to obtain the release of three journalists held by the … Continue reading “Nepalese Maoists, Security Forces Attack Media”

Sgt. Samuel Provance sealed his fate as a soldier on May 21, 2004, when he went on record with ABC News. His experiences as a U.S. Army junior noncommissioned officer since committing one of the greatest imaginable mistakes in service – speaking out to the news media – have left him dazed, afraid, wondering and … Continue reading “Soldier for the Truth: Sgt. Samuel Provance”

Eugene Koontz’s backtalkEugene Koontz misses the point. Most people don’t pay close attention to the details of state policy because we’re biologically designed for a way of life in which all the major decisions affecting our lives are made in small primate social groupings. After the demands of work, family, friends, neighbors and the immediate … Continue reading “Backtalk, September 8, 2004”

In 1987, Jonathan Pollard, U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was imprisoned for life for selling a roomful of U.S. secret documents to Israel. Tel Aviv refused to return them. At the Clinton-Netanyahu summit at Wye River, Pollard became a subject of contention. ”Bibi” Netanyahu wanted to fly the American traitor back to Israel where he is … Continue reading “Pollardites in the Pentagon?”

BAGHDAD – The new outbreak of violence in Baghdad has shattered ceasefire talks between Shia militants and the Iraqi government. Following a successful if fragile ceasefire in the holy city Najaf, it was hoped that talks in the impoverished Sadr City of Baghdad would become a model for further negotiations between the government and followers … Continue reading “Sadr City Peace Talks Fall Apart”

Anyone following the Larry Franklin Pentagon spy story is keenly aware of the solidarity binding neoconservatives, AIPAC, Israel’s right-wing Likud Party, the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the war drums neocons are beating against Iran. By this time, only the willfully ignorant could be unaware that top neocon policymakers in the George W. Bush administration … Continue reading “A Shabby and Sinister Case for War”

Just kidding of course, but after I watched Pat on Meet the Press Sunday morning, I e-mailed him: "Have you ever thought of running for president?" When he did last time out I supported him, up to the point where I thought he went bonkers on China and trade. Now out of elective politics, he … Continue reading “Pat Buchanan for President!”

These are bad times for Israeli spy operations. It wasn’t enough that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was outed, last week, as a major supplier of U.S. secrets to Tel Aviv: on Monday, Israel’s spy satellite – meant to keep an eye on Iran’s nuclear ambitions – went kaput on lift-off. Measured in … Continue reading “Neoconservatism and Espionage”

UNITED NATIONS – As the United Nations gets ready for the opening of the 59th session of the General Assembly next week, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked the 191 member states to provide more than 30,000 troops for an anticipated surge in demand for peacekeeping operations in the world’s battle zones. "The number and scope … Continue reading “UN Chief Seeks 30,000 More Troops for Peacekeeping”