Coherent Argument, Meet Matt Welch

Matt Welch is vexed. According to him, U.S. involvement in Iraq has unleashed a storm of lies. No, not about uranium from Niger, or 45 minute launch times, or vast stores of anthrax, not those little fibs. Welch is referring to "lies" that exaggerate the impact of sanctions on Iraqis, especially children. These "myths" are … Continue reading “Coherent Argument, Meet Matt Welch”

Let’s Hope Nobody Calls the US’s Bluff

It is significant that US Treasury Secretary John Snow arrived in Beijing on the heels of the six-party talks concerning peace on the peninsula. Snow arrived to discuss the undervalued yuan, which may be held up during next year’s elections as the dead rat fouling up Sino-US relations. The yuan is pegged to the dollar … Continue reading “Let’s Hope Nobody Calls the US’s Bluff”

IMPERIAL EYE FOR THE REPUBLICAN GUY

I‘m not surprised at the news that the citizenship oath all immigrants take is being “updated.” An empire, after all, demands a different sort of loyalty than a republic. As the Los Angeles Daily News puts it: “The citizenship oath, which requires immigrants to renounce loyalty to ‘princes and potentates,’ is getting a makeover after … Continue reading “IMPERIAL EYE FOR THE REPUBLICAN GUY”

Losing the War on Terror and the Prostitution of Faith

If even many supporters of a ground invasion of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq are disappointed in how the military action has gone to date, then much of the blame for the disillusionment can be placed on the rhetoric used to sell the use of ground troops. Despite Hussein being, as the President put it, "one of … Continue reading “Losing the War on Terror and the Prostitution of Faith”

Can We Afford To Occupy Iraq?

The recent bombing of the UN headquarters in Iraq has refocused the world’s attention on the dangerous situation in that nation. The Bush administration is now softening its position against UN involvement, and is considering the use of UN military forces to serve as an international peacekeeping coalition in Iraq. We should not expect any … Continue reading “Can We Afford To Occupy Iraq?”

Candidate Dean Is a Warmonger

Though the presidential race has yet to even pseudo-simmer, the way it kind-of will once the so-called debates begin, my colleagues at Antiwar.com are already seething. They despise Howard Dean, and if you think peaceniks lack bile, try these quotations on for size: "Aside from Dean’s position on the Iraqi war, I don’t see much … Continue reading “Candidate Dean Is a Warmonger”

The Best Possible Course for North Korea

This week the North Koreans and the "coalition" have agreed to talk more and to talk soon. The negotiations had a high note when the DPRK and US reps chewed the fat for a bit in the corner while (assumingly) the other five other delegations pretended not to notice. There wasn’t a lot of complaining … Continue reading “The Best Possible Course for North Korea”