The Unnoticed Death of Amada Saria

This is a story about the death of Amada Saria. Amada was the younger sister of Mr. Sam Saria, an engineer from Connecticut. Sam first came to this country in 1986 to study at the University of Connecticut. He stayed on to become a U.S. citizen, marry, and raise a family. Sam and his wife … Continue reading “The Unnoticed Death of Amada Saria”

Govt Sued Over ‘Political Abuses’ as it Seeks Expanded Security Powers

The U.S. government is engaging in political intimidation and improperly investigating law-abiding advocacy groups, civil liberties groups have charged – even as the U.S. Senate weighs renewing controversial counter-terrorism powers and the White House seeks to have them expanded. The government’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces, composed of federal and local law enforcement agencies and scattered … Continue reading “Govt Sued Over ‘Political Abuses’ as it Seeks Expanded Security Powers”

Israeli Arsenal Vexes Nuclear Negotiators

UNITED NATIONS – The U.S. administration has sought to keep a tight focus on the suspected nuclear activities of Iran and North Korea at month-long talks here on the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But other countries also have highlighted the impact of Israel’s nuclear weapons arsenal on efforts to establish a Middle East nuclear-free zone. … Continue reading “Israeli Arsenal Vexes Nuclear Negotiators”

Condi-Diplomacy

On arriving for her first visit to South Korea as Secretary of State, Condi Rice undiplomatically went straight to Command Post Tango, the underground bunker from which Air-Naval-Ground operations would be controlled in the even of a “contingent” war with North Korea. Rice’s visit coincided with a twice-yearly “exercise” of that contingent war plan. Two … Continue reading “Condi-Diplomacy”

Is the US Recruiting for the Insurgency?

The U.S. Army has missed its recruiting goals for the last three months. On Friday, May 20 they stopped recruiting to retrain recruiters who were misleading and threatening potential recruits. At the same time the resistance in Iraq is growing. Is the U.S. military more successful in recruiting for the resistance than it is for … Continue reading “Is the US Recruiting for the Insurgency?”

More Manly Galloways, Fewer Slimy Colemans

If you would like a role model on how a manly person should act in front of politicians and the media, I highly recommend the Honorable George Galloway, a member of the British Parliament. A Senate subcommittee out to discredit the United Nations made the mistake of inviting Galloway to appear before its members. They … Continue reading “More Manly Galloways, Fewer Slimy Colemans”

Uzbekistan: The Revolution Betrayed

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe the United States government would react with anything but unmitigated outrage if 500 to 750 demonstrators in, say, Russia, had been mowed down in cold blood by government troops. Yet here we have in Uzbekistan the biggest massacre since Tiananmen Square, and the Americans are saying… … Continue reading “Uzbekistan: The Revolution Betrayed”

Security Missteps Spawn Quirky Cases

Expanded powers and a heightened sense of alert have helped U.S. law enforcers take some dangerous people off the country’s streets since the White House declared its "war on terror." But they also have triggered some bizarre missteps. Take the case of the two 16-year-old Muslim girls arrested in New York and detained in Pennsylvania … Continue reading “Security Missteps Spawn Quirky Cases”

An Iraq Correspondent Comes Home

Dahr Jamail, an independent reporter from Alaska, covered our occupation of Iraq for much of 2004 and the beginning of 2005 before coming home early this year. As a “unilateral,” he was a distinctly atypical figure in Baghdad. Unlike reporters for major papers, wire services, and the TV news, he lacked the guards, vehicles, elaborate … Continue reading “An Iraq Correspondent Comes Home”