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"There’s a word for people who say that democracy can’t work in Arab countries, and that word is racist." – former CIA director James Woolsey Yes, James Woolsey actually said that. It happened during last Tuesday’s Nightline "Town Meeting" on Iraq. Six big shots, three for war and three against, fielded questions from an audience … Continue reading “Woolsey’s Folly”

A couple of weeks ago, the lovely "Shock and Awe" theory was floated as the basis on which the war with Iraq might be conducted, should that long-advertised war finally take place. It was just one of many trial balloons loosed to the winds over the last few months. One imagines some Assistant Secretary for … Continue reading “Awe Shocks”

Anyone who believes the attack on Iraq is about defending the U.S. against terrorism should listen to veteran FBI agent Coleen Rowley. Rowley, you’ll recall, caused a sensation when her testimony in front of Congress fingered higher-ups in the Bureau who inexplicably obstructed and effectively derailed the anti-terrorist effort in the crucial days prior to … Continue reading “This War is Treason”

There is a longstanding myth that war benefits the economy. The argument goes that when a country is at war, jobs are created and the economy grows. This is a myth. Many argue that World War II ended the Great Depression, which is another myth. Unemployment went down because many men were drafted, but national … Continue reading “The Myth of War Prosperity”

Most people do not realize how many conservatives are against going to war in Iraq. A strong majority of nationally-syndicated conservative columnists have come out against this war. Just three of many examples I could give include the following: Charley Reese, a staunch conservative, who was selected a couple of years ago as the favorite … Continue reading “Conservatives Against a War with Iraq”

As the frustrated Empire attempts ever harder to justify the unjustifiable and launch an invasion of Iraq with some sort of placating pretext, it was inevitable that the precedent of Balkans interventions would come up again. Richard Holbrooke, former foreign policy hitman for the Clinton regime, complained in the Washington Post on February 23 that … Continue reading “From Kosovo to Baghdad”

The U.S. military is doing its best to bluff it out, but Turkey’s decision to opt out has dealt the War Party a crushing blow. They were counting on Turkish compliance, and when that didn’t come through, you could almost hear the shifting of gears – or was that the screech of brakes? Occurring shortly … Continue reading “The Hapless Hegemon”

I‘ve been doing a bit of radio lately, sometimes brought on as one of those curious folks who question this war and should be examined like a pinned butterfly, sometimes by hosts who seem grateful to have an antiwar spokesman who doesn’t think it all goes back to Mumia. (Your local station can reach someone … Continue reading “What’s the Real Key to Our Freedom?”

[The following is the text of a speech delivered to the Libertarian Party of Illinois state convention, March 1, 2003.] I want to start off by thanking the Libertarian Party of Illinois for the invitation to speak here today. It has been almost twenty years since I last showed up at a Libertarian Party function … Continue reading “Libertarianism in the Age of Empire”

Expats strike rueful poses over their brews and noodles here in Chengdu. Its easy to shake one’s head at the Bush Crew’s follies and swap estimates of the Arabic/Islamic (World?) backlash whilst basking in the Sichuan spring sun, miles and miles away from Iraq. Yesterday at a meeting the Ministry of Propaganda held to discuss … Continue reading “The Safest Place in the World”