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I write before President Bush’s address, on the assumption that it will offer an ultimatum that will trigger war within days, without offering justifications that persuade me this war is necessary, justifiable or constitutional. So what do we do once the war begins? Polemicists like Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, of course, argue that once the … Continue reading “Making Lemonade”

Before the ink on President Bush’s new budget had dried, one man was already uncorking some bubbly. No, it wasn’t Mitch Daniels. It was Norman Pattiz, Middle East Director at the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal panel responsible for beaming American ideals into tens of millions of living rooms worldwide. The reason for … Continue reading “An Aural MOAB for the Middle East”

As we shiver in the shadow of war, waiting to be shocked and awed by the malevolent magnificence of militarism in action, some in the antiwar movement are calling for "direct action." What this amounts to is what happened the other day in downtown San Francisco, when about 200 people marched to the Pacific Stock … Continue reading “This Isn’t About You”

Jiang is putting the pieces into place to solidify not only his legacy, but the ideas of Old Deng and the position of his protégé, Hu Jintao. The 10th National People’s Congress this month was a showcase for the New Generation of leaders and Jiang’s Three Represents Theory. Lawyers and accountants sit in the Chinese … Continue reading “Soft Power Moves Abroad”

In the midst of a furious debate over the key role of pro-Israel ideologues in pushing us into war, the FBI has announced it is looking into the possibility that “a foreign government is using a deception campaign to foster support for military action against Iraq.” Remember the forged “evidence” the U.S. submitted to the … Continue reading “What’s It All About, Ari?”

Just a day before United States President George W. Bush delivered a fresh diatribe against Iraq in his State of the Union address, India’s Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee did something unexpected. He appealed to the Great Powers to show "great restraint" and "patience" in dealing with Iraq and make "all efforts" to avoid a … Continue reading “India, Pakistan in Diplomatic Maze Over Iraq”

Even I was beginning to worry if I was going to be proven wrong: for the entire nine years that Tony Blair has been leader of the Labour party, I\’ve guaranteed everyone who\’d listen that \’Clare Short will do the dirty on Tony Blair\’, and nothing much happened. She lashed out a few times, in … Continue reading “The Limits of Conservatism”

"I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." – (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene II) Two shots – one in the chest, one in the stomach – abruptly ended the reign of Zoran Djindjic at lunchtime Wednesday, as a yet unidentified sniper assassinated the Prime Minister of Serbia. Djindjic was killed at the … Continue reading “Death of a Manager”

They’re already awarding contracts for the "reconstruction" of Iraq. But who will reconstruct our old republic, once it morphs into an empire? As they test weapons of mass destruction in the midst of one of the most populated states in the union, flexing their muscles and bellowing belligerence, the War Party exudes confidence. The ideologues … Continue reading “Postwar Blues”

War advocates are loudly complaining about the United Nations, which they allege stands in the way of a justified American attack on Iraq. Some say the U.S. should ignore the U.N. and act unilaterally. And yet, much of their case for war against Iraq hinges on Saddam Hussein’s violations of United Nation resolutions. So while … Continue reading “UN Loyalties Expose Hypocrisy for Hawks and Doves Alike”