A Collapsing Presidency

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center finds that President Bush’s support among the American people has fallen to 33 percent. Even more devastatingly, the survey finds that people’s most frequently used one-word description of President Bush is “incompetent.” The chief chaplain for the New York City Corrections Department told a Tucson audience … Continue reading “A Collapsing Presidency”

The Myth of US Prosperity During World War II

In my previous article, I laid out why war is not good for an economy generally. Yet, while many people admit that the resources used to fight the Vietnam War or either of the U.S. wars on Iraq could have been put to better use, they still have an almost romantic view of how good … Continue reading “The Myth of US Prosperity During World War II”

Consequences of a War State

War consists of killing people and destroying property. That’s all there is to war. Any honest soldier will tell you the same thing: His job is to kill people and destroy property. That’s true of all branches of the service. The difficult question is, When is a nation justified in making the decision to kill … Continue reading “Consequences of a War State”

Sharon’s Successor Comes In From the Shadows

JERUSALEM – After months of flattering opinion polls, the first sign of nerves was beginning to show in the camp of acting Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. In the space of a month, his front-running Kadima (Forward) party had lost 15 percent support, and the acting prime minister’s popularity had also dived in the polls … Continue reading “Sharon’s Successor Comes In From the Shadows”

Agent Orange Leaves Stigma Trail

*with Ngoc Nguyen HANOI – Nguyen Thi Thuy was 22 when she left her village to help build roads for the North Vietnamese army during the war. She remembers crawling into tunnels during the day and covering her mouth with a wet rag when the United States military sprayed the landscape with defoliant. "I didn’t … Continue reading “Agent Orange Leaves Stigma Trail”

India’s Russia Card Ups Nuclear Stakes

NEW DELHI – Hot on the heels of its landmark "nuclear cooperation" agreement with the United States, which allows New Delhi to keep its nuclear weapons, the Indian government has entered into a controversial deal with Russia for the supply of nuclear fuel for two civilian power reactors. The deal is expected to be formally … Continue reading “India’s Russia Card Ups Nuclear Stakes”

A Powerful New Voting Block Emerges

A new national poll shows that a near majority of voters either strongly or somewhat agree with a pledge not to vote for pro-war candidates. This makes the antiwar movement’s potential impact on elections larger than pro-gun, anti-abortion, or anti-gay marriage voters. Politicians will have to pay heed to this new political force. The pledge … Continue reading “A Powerful New Voting Block Emerges”

Washington: The Biggest NPT Violator

Well, according to President Bush’s 2006 National Security Strategy, “America is at war. “This is a wartime national security strategy required by the grave challenge we face – the rise of terrorism fueled by an aggressive ideology of hatred and murder, fully revealed to the American people on September 11, 2001. “This strategy reflects our … Continue reading “Washington: The Biggest NPT Violator”

Last-Ditch Effort

It is almost unfair to analyze the president’s speeches on Iraq these days. It seems increasingly apparent that most Americans aren’t listening any more. Even if Dubya were to defy all expectations and deliver a convincing argument for staying the course (whatever that might mean beyond simply keeping American troops in Iraq where they will … Continue reading “Last-Ditch Effort”

White House Reaffirms ‘First Strike’ Doctrine

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush issued his second-term National Security Strategy Thursday, a document outlining the administration’s strategy for using diplomatic, economic, and military tools to deal with global challenges. Ironically, the 47-page document that outlines a series of "successes" and "extraordinary progress in the expansion of freedom, democracy, and human dignity" since 2002 makes … Continue reading “White House Reaffirms ‘First Strike’ Doctrine”