Rotten in Denmark

The publication of 12 cartoons in Jyllands-Posten, a Danish right-wing newspaper, that caricatured the prophet Muhammad was clearly a provocation – and it has had its intended effect. The editor responsible claims the genesis of the cartoons was the alleged reluctance of artists to illustrate an upcoming children’s biography of Muhammad: they are supposedly too … Continue reading “Rotten in Denmark”

Empire’s Choice

After over six years of occupation, and a year of preparatory propaganda, it appears the Empire is ready to finally separate Kosovo from Serbia. Treated as a fait accompli in the media as they reported on the death of Albanian President Ibrahim Rugova two weeks ago, separation of the occupied province has now been officially … Continue reading “Empire’s Choice”

Juggernaut Gathering Momentum: Next Stop, Iran

What President George W. Bush, Fox News, and the Washington Times were saying about Iraq three years ago they are now saying about Iran. After Saturday’s vote by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report Iran’s suspicious nuclear activities to the UN Security Council, the president wasted no time in warning, "The world will … Continue reading “Juggernaut Gathering Momentum: Next Stop, Iran”

From the Founders
to the Felons

For the past several weeks now, we have had to deal, as a country, with the realization that the Pentagon, the White House, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, and who knows how many other federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been secretly tapping into untold thousands of telephone conversations by U.S. citizens … Continue reading “From the Founders
to the Felons”

Gravest Threat – Not

John Negroponte, our first director of national intelligence, gave his first threat assessment [.pdf] to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week. “Let me begin with a straightforward statement of preoccupation shared by all of us sitting here before you: terrorism is the preeminent threat to our citizens, homeland, interests, and friends. “The War … Continue reading “Gravest Threat – Not”

Following Orders Is No Excuse

"A hoax on the American people, the international community, and the United Nations Security Council." That is how Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell’s February 2003 Iraq WMD speech to the UN was described last Friday (Feb. 3) on PBS by one who ought to know, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to Secretary Powell. … Continue reading “Following Orders Is No Excuse”

The Iran Crisis: ‘Diplomacy’ as a Launch Pad for Missiles

The current flurry of Western diplomacy will probably turn out to be groundwork for launching missiles at Iran. Air attacks on targets in Iran are very likely. Yet many antiwar Americans seem eager to believe that won’t happen. Illusion #1: With the U.S. military bogged down in Iraq, the Pentagon is in no position to … Continue reading “The Iran Crisis: ‘Diplomacy’ as a Launch Pad for Missiles”

Prepare for Perpetual War

The Bizarro World illogic started right off the bat when George W. Bush intoned that what we need more of in public life is “a civil tone.” This from a man who has repeatedly impugned the patriotism of his opponents, and just the previous week declared that critics of the Iraq war are giving “comfort … Continue reading “Prepare for Perpetual War”

Afghan Farmers Feel Pinch of Poppy Eradication

For the last two years he has grown no poppy, and his family have begun to feel the pinch. This year, this farmer from Nangahar province in Afghanistan plans to resume poppy cultivation. And not just he but thousands of others, and not just in Nangahar province but beyond. As Britain leads the Western push … Continue reading “Afghan Farmers Feel Pinch of Poppy Eradication”