The Symbolic Power of Fallujah

On Sept. 6-7, 2005, the New America Foundation hosted “Terrorism, Security & America’s Purpose,” a policy forum featuring scholars, elected officials, intelligence experts, and journalists. A full list of speakers is available here. Freelance journalist Nir Rosen has made quite a name for himself with his dispatches from Fallujah, Baghdad, Kabul, and other war zones. … Continue reading “The Symbolic Power of Fallujah”

The Terrorists’ Suicide Solution

On Sept. 6-7, 2005, the New America Foundation hosted “Terrorism, Security & America’s Purpose,” a policy forum featuring scholars, elected officials, intelligence experts, and journalists. A full list of speakers is available here. In his presentation, Professor Robert Pape of the University of Chicago outlined the thesis of his most recent book, Dying to Win: … Continue reading “The Terrorists’ Suicide Solution”

India Outfoxed as Pakistan Plays the Israel Card

Pakistan has stunned the world – and its subcontinental neighbor and rival India – by making an overture to Israel, which it long shunned and condemned as a Zionist state. On Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri met his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom in Istanbul, Turkey. Shalom described the meeting – held at the initiative … Continue reading “India Outfoxed as Pakistan Plays the Israel Card”

Katrina and the End of Illusions

You have to give the neocons credit – through rain, through sleet, and through the stormiest of hurricanes, even so debilitating a one as Katrina, they keep their powder and their talking points dry. And their main talking point, in the wake of what David Brooks is calling “the anti-9/11,” is… Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! Both … Continue reading “Katrina and the End of Illusions”

Gas Subsidies for Iraqis, Gas Taxes for Americans

My constituents in the Texas gulf coast are very concerned about the price of gasoline, especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina has left nine gulf coast refineries inoperable, and reduced capacity at four. This will mean the loss of 20 to 40 million barrels of oil in coming months, and prices at the … Continue reading “Gas Subsidies for Iraqis, Gas Taxes for Americans”

The Folly of Empire

“Neocons do not feel that kind of alarm or anxiety about the growth of the state in the past century, seeing it as natural, indeed inevitable. … People have always preferred strong government to weak government, although they certainly have no liking for anything that smacks of overly intrusive government.” – Irving Kristol, “The Neoconservative … Continue reading “The Folly of Empire”

UN Official Says US Interfering in Iraq Constitution Process

U.S. influence in the process of drafting a constitution for Iraq is excessive and "highly inappropriate," a United Nations official says. "It is a matter of public record that in the final weeks of the process the newly arrived U.S. ambassador [Zalmay Khalilzad] took an extremely hands-on role," Justin Alexander, legal affairs officer for the … Continue reading “UN Official Says US Interfering in Iraq Constitution Process”

Alaskan Oil a Key to Keeping Our Freedoms

As gas prices continue to soar, both reflecting and promoting bad foreign and domestic policies, it’s time to recognize that there is another way. We don’t have to be imperialists, bombing and attacking oil-rich nations. We don’t need to invade and occupy much of the Muslim world. We don’t need to fear the consequent terrorism … Continue reading “Alaskan Oil a Key to Keeping Our Freedoms”

Thomas Jefferson, Warmonger?

"What are words for, when no one listens anymore?" – Missing Persons Michael Ignatieff is, by almost any measure, much smarter than the average bear. I am likely to be one of those bears, as are you. Dr. Ignatieff, in fact, is a well-regarded professor of "human rights" at Harvard’s School of Government. Despite his … Continue reading “Thomas Jefferson, Warmonger?”