The US Stumbles Over North Korea, Taiwan

National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice’s Asia trip produced several noteworthy developments. Although topics of conversation included trade and human rights, the talks with Chinese, Japanese and Korean officials revolved around the two major points of conflict in the region: North Korea and Taiwan. The first important development is the role of Jiang Zemin, former President … Continue reading “The US Stumbles Over North Korea, Taiwan”

Déjà Vu, ElBaradei?

Mohamed ElBaradei – director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency – was in Israel last week pursuing a nuke-free Middle East. Now, ElBaradei has already certified Iraq to be nuke-free. And Iran. So, isn’t the Middle East already nuke-free? Well, not according to Mordechai Vanunu. Vanunu was a technician at the Israeli nuclear facilities … Continue reading “Déjà Vu, ElBaradei?”

A Scheme to Cancel the Elections?

We’re fighting a war to export "democracy" to Iraq – as U.S. government officials openly discuss the possibility of canceling the November elections. While it’s no surprise that a government official of any nationality would talk out of both sides of his mouth, in the Bizarro America of the post-9/11 era a distinctly double-jointed rhetorical … Continue reading “A Scheme to Cancel the Elections?”

Torture as Due Process

After 9/11, the word of the president was supposedly the only protection that the rights and liberties of the American people needed. After 9/11, President Bush granted himself unlimited, unchecked power over anyone in the world suspected of being a terrorist. The Supreme Court, in a series of rulings on June 28, 2004, trimmed that … Continue reading “Torture as Due Process”

Backtalk July 11, 2004

Senate Iraq Report Said to Skirt White House Use of Intelligence American principles (truth, justice, responsibility) anyone? It’s been quite a while since anything I’ve read on Antiwar.com has gotten me riled up. But today, two articles really bothered me. First, it appears the 9/11 commission has agreed not to focus on the misinterpretations of … Continue reading “Backtalk July 11, 2004”

Rights Groups: Pentagon Subverting Court’s Decision

While the Pentagon claims that it is trying to expedite the implementation of last week’s decision by the Supreme Court to provide fair reviews of the status of some 594 terrorist suspects held at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, human rights groups are concerned that the Pentagon is trying to subvert the decision. … Continue reading “Rights Groups: Pentagon Subverting Court’s Decision”

The Butterfly Effect, From Iraq to Asia

Media attention in late June focused on the European Union summit in Ireland, the NATO summit in Turkey, and the surprise early transfer of “sovereignty” to the Iraqi interim government. As noteworthy as each of these might have been, equally significant events were occurring or being planned in East Asia, ones that, in an interdependent … Continue reading “The Butterfly Effect, From Iraq to Asia”

Army Whistleblower Says Superiors Hid Torture

A U.S. Army counterintelligence agent who accused fellow National Guardsmen of abusing Iraqi detainees says that his own commander coerced an Army psychiatrist into diagnosing him as “delusional.” According to Sergeant Greg Ford, his commanding officer confronted psychiatrist Angelina Madera, a captain with the 30th Medical Support Element, after she had initially assessed Ford to … Continue reading “Army Whistleblower Says Superiors Hid Torture”