Maj. Danny Sjursen, USA (ret.)

This article originally appeared at TruthDig. You’re not supposed to utter these words, but what the heck: Osama bin Laden had a point. No, his grievances, as well as those of his followers and sympathizers, didn’t excuse the mass murder of 9/11 – not by a long shot. After all, I am a native New … Continue reading “What if Osama bin Laden Had Legitimate Grievances?”

Most New Year’s Resolutions last but a few days. By late January the crowd in the gym dwindles down to its normal size. Most resolutions are fantasy, a simple act of wishful thinking. We all know this. Still, dreams are what makes life tolerable. So, in that spirit, let’s take a break from the standard … Continue reading “A Modest Proposal: An Anti-Militarist New Year’s Resolution for America”

This article originally appeared at TruthDig. Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, Do you know what I know In your palace warm, mighty king, Do you know what I know A child, a child shivers in the cold Let us bring him silver and gold…. —Lyrics to the famous Christmas song, “Do You … Continue reading “Jesus Christ Would Be Appalled by America’s Immigration Policy”

Originally posted at TomDispatch. On December 9th, the Washington Post covered Donald Trump’s offhand, if long expected, announcement of the ousting of retired Marine General John Kelly from an embattled White House. Its report focused on the chief of staff’s “rocky tenure” there with a nod to his many merits, among them that he “often … Continue reading “Ringing in a New Year of War”

"Impulsive, irresponsible, and dangerous." Such was the way, just this morning on CNN, that Democratic Representative, and House Minority Whip, Steny Hoyer described President Trump’s recent announcement that he’s bringing home the 2,000 U.S. troops currently in Syria. Last night, Republican Senator Lindsay Graham – a true hawk’s hawk – declared on the Senate floor … Continue reading “Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due – Trump Is Right on Syria”

This article being about the Israel/Palestine crisis – a veritable "third-rail" in American political discourse – it’s necessary to start with a few disclaimers. This author is not anti-Semitic and believes the Israeli state has a right to exist. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s address the controversial caveat: Palestinians, for moral and … Continue reading “Back to Realism: The Conservative Case for Palestine”

This article originally appeared at TruthDig. You have to hand it to him—the man has a way with words and he sure knows how to fire up his base. Early in November, President Donald Trump addressed a crowd of supporters in Montana, and he gushed with pride about his recent deployment of active-duty troops to … Continue reading “This Is What It Looks Like When Imperialism Comes Home”

When he’s right, he’s right. Look, I’ve been critical of this president too many times to count, but – unlike most mainstream media pundits – I’m willing to give credit when it’s due. Last week, in a surprise morning tweet, President Trump called U.S. defense spending, which topped out at a record $716 billion this … Continue reading “Go With Your Gut, Mr. President: You Called US Defense Spending “Crazy,” and You Were Dead On”

This article originally appeared at TruthDig. Empire. It is a word that most Americans loathe. After all, the United States was born through its rebellion against the great (British) empire of the day. American politicians, policymakers and the public alike have long preferred to imagine the U.S. as, rather, a beacon of freedom in the … Continue reading “Tragic Dawn of Overseas Imperialism”

I’ll admit it. I’m sick of writing about America’s longest war – the quagmire in Afghanistan. Still, in a time of near media blackout on this issue, someone has to keep banging the drum. Of late, it seems every single week that those of us who follow the war are inundated with more bad news. … Continue reading “What Is Left for the US To Do in Afghanistan? The Answer: Lose.”