Nafisi the Neocon

The smart money argues that, rather than merely contemplating a war with Iran, the United States is actually in the advanced stages of a cold war with the Islamic Republic. Such a hypothesis is borne out by myriad texts, including a late July cover story in the Wall Street Journal. “In Tehran, Boutiques Stock Hot … Continue reading “Nafisi the Neocon”

Empires and Balkans Don’t Mix

From riots in Basra to rumblings at home, it is becoming obvious that the half-witted "plan" to conquer Iraq is slowly smashing against the hard rock of reality. Unfortunately, evidence also indicates that Imperial leaders will not let something as irrelevant as reality disturb their march of power. In an effort to ex post facto … Continue reading “Empires and Balkans Don’t Mix”

A Case for Hizbollah?

So here we go again, it seems. Blood-thirsty Arabs – Lebanese fundamentalists of the Hizbollah, "the Party of God" – bombed the Israeli town of Shlomi (10.8), killing a 15-year-old boy and injuring several others. Terrorist attack on civilians, three years after Israel has withdrawn its very last soldier from Lebanese soil. Isn’t it the … Continue reading “A Case for Hizbollah?”

Iraq War Critics Purged

The battle of Baghdad is over, but the struggle for control of the Bush administration is just now entering its final stages, with the neocons lunging for the State Department and plenty of old-style conservatives and patriots in government returning fire in earnest. Maureen Dowd acidly notes the attempted coup at the Department of State: … Continue reading “Iraq War Critics Purged”

A Politically Correct War?

Lying propaganda continues to gush from the Bush administration, like vomit from a drunk. The latest comes courtesy of Condoleezza Rice, the President’s national security chief and a woman who, in any other circumstances, would have been out on her ear, but in this clueless administration maintains a highly visible role. Speaking before the National … Continue reading “A Politically Correct War?”

What if You Lived There?

Listen up, all you grassroots conservatives, those whom Grover Norquist calls the "leave us alone" coalition. You don’t want D.C.’s taxes, its welfare, its gun control, its schools, its regulations, in short, its endless meddling in your affairs. Why do you think anyone else does? For just a moment, avert your eyes from the flag … Continue reading “What if You Lived There?”

US Troops in Iraq are Sitting Ducks

August 7, 2003 – A car pulls up in front of the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, in the early morning hours: the occupants exit, and leave the scene. Not too long after, a huge explosion decimates the area: at least 10 people are killed, with as many as 40 wounded. August 7, 1998 – A … Continue reading “US Troops in Iraq are Sitting Ducks”

A Tale of Two Democrats

"I don’t have to get elected to a bloomin’ thing. And I don’t have to do things that are politically correct. The hell with everybody. I’m free at last." – Ernest Hollings, 1992. I‘m going to miss Fritz Hollings, the 81 year old Senator [D-SC] who announced on August 3 that he won’t stand for … Continue reading “A Tale of Two Democrats”

Wolfowitz: Iraq Not Involved in 9-11, No Ties to al-Qaeda

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, one of the main architects for the war in Iraq, admitted for the first time that Iraq had nothing to do with the September 11 terrorist attacks, contradicting public statements made by senior White House and Pentagon officials whose attempt to link Saddam Hussein and the terrorist organization al-Qaeda … Continue reading “Wolfowitz: Iraq Not Involved in 9-11, No Ties to al-Qaeda”

Pentagon Office Home to Neo-Con Network

An ad hoc office under US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith appears to have acted as the key base for an informal network of mostly neo-conservative political appointees that circumvented normal interagency channels to lead the push for war against Iraq. The Office of Special Plans (OSP), which worked alongside the Near East … Continue reading “Pentagon Office Home to Neo-Con Network”