The Meaning of Sharm el-Sheik

Bombers struck again with utmost viciousness at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik last Saturday. The pattern remains relatively consistent: hitting soft targets, killing innocent civilians, attacking countries whose policies are supposed to be close to Washington’s. There are also some differences compared with past attacks. Last October, bomb attacks on the Egyptian resort of … Continue reading “The Meaning of Sharm el-Sheik”

Thomas Friedman, Liberal Sadist?

The acclaimed New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has often voiced enthusiasm for violent destruction by the U.S. government. Hidden in plain sight, his glee about such carnage is worth pondering. Many people view Friedman as notably articulate, while others find him overly glib, but there’s no doubt that he is an influential commentator with … Continue reading “Thomas Friedman, Liberal Sadist?”

Another Skunk at the Garden Party

It’s almost tempting to breathe a sigh of relief. Raw, heads-in-the-sand stupidity is not limited to those who prop up the Bush agenda here in the land of polarized red and blue. Last week the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) issued a report [.pdf] suggesting that Britain’s backing for the war in Iraq had … Continue reading “Another Skunk at the Garden Party”

Footprints

Imperial Policy in Action Judging by news coming from the Balkans this past week, the usually languid days of summer were anything but. Bosnia underwent another major centralization effort, while Serbia-Montenegro signed a treaty giving free passage through the country to the alliance that bombed it just six years ago. There is talk of fresh … Continue reading “Footprints”

Backtalk, July 28, 2005

G. Federsel’s BacktalkAfter reading Paul Roberts’ reply to my letter posted on July 19, I felt compelled to register my rebuttal. It seems to me that I touched a raw nerve.I have been called all kinds of names, but this is the first time I have been called an ignorant, brainwashed brownshirt. It was quite … Continue reading “Backtalk, July 28, 2005”

Blowback in Iraq

In an eye-opening interview with Aaron Glantz, a Pacifica Radio reporter and author of How America Lost Iraq, Iraqi Minister of Civil Affairs Ala’a al-Safi echoes the demand that many in Congress, and certainly those of us who opposed this war from the beginning, have been advancing for quite some time: “Now we are asking … Continue reading “Blowback in Iraq”

Mr. President, Please Give This Speech

Dear President Bush, I am writing to help you out. You have painted yourself into a bit of a corner in Iraq. But not to worry. I looked back to a speech you gave on April 10, 2003. In that speech, you promised the Iraqi people that the United States had come to their country … Continue reading “Mr. President, Please Give This Speech”

Police Response More Frightening Than the Killing

That an innocent Brazilian was shot dead on the London Underground is tragic; but the near-justification of that killing by the police is frightening. The police have now openly declared a shoot-to-kill policy, and declared that they can shoot to kill just on suspicion. And that suspicion arising not from reliable intelligence or anything like … Continue reading “Police Response More Frightening Than the Killing”

Multipolar’s the Way to Go for US

One of the first stories I covered as the Business Times correspondent in Washington in the early 1990s was the post-Cold War transformation of the relationship between the United States and India. India was beginning to shed the vestiges of its earlier policies of socialism at home and nonalignment abroad. The collapse of the Soviet … Continue reading “Multipolar’s the Way to Go for US”

Civil War Specter Spurs New Iraq Exit Plans

Growing pessimism about averting civil war in Iraq, as well as mounting concerns that the U.S. military presence there may itself be fueling the insurgency and Islamist extremism worldwide, has spurred a spate of new calls for the United States to withdraw its 140,000 troops sooner rather than later. Although resolutions to establish at least … Continue reading “Civil War Specter Spurs New Iraq Exit Plans”