Pentagon: Detainees? What Detainees?

The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military’s most senior leaders, want Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to approve new guidelines that will formalize the George W. Bush administration’s policy of imprisoning so-called enemy combatants without the protections of the Geneva Conventions and enable the Pentagon to legally hold "ghost detainees," a human rights group is … Continue reading “Pentagon: Detainees? What Detainees?”

Billions More for Military Contractors and Permanent Bases

In Baghdad yesterday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told reporters the U.S. has no "exit strategy" for the country – just a "victory strategy." That statement seems in line with the sentiment of most lawmakers on Capitol Hill. They’re posed to approve another $80 billion for American military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan. Included in the … Continue reading “Billions More for Military Contractors and Permanent Bases”

UN Security Council Expansion Thrown into Disarray – Again

UNITED NATIONS – The proposed expansion of the 15-member UN Security Council has been thrown into disarray once again – this time by a spirited political campaign to block the permanent membership of Japan, Germany, India, and Brazil. The campaign is being led by a group of about 40 "like-minded" countries – headed by Italy, … Continue reading “UN Security Council Expansion Thrown into Disarray – Again”

Chinese Govt Censors Anti-Japan Protests

BEIJING – As anti-Japanese protests continued for a third day in a row here, government censors imposed a news blackout on coverage of protests signaling that Beijing was trying to contain further damage to already strained Sino-Japanese relations. None of the nation’s thousands of newspapers, television stations, and news Web sites carried any details of … Continue reading “Chinese Govt Censors Anti-Japan Protests”

Oil and the Coming War With Iran

While our media is filled with stories on the Bush administration and Iran, they almost invariably focus on the Iranian nuclear program (or European negotiations and U.S. non-negotiations about the same). You could read our press for weeks at a time – if you didn’t stray onto the business pages – and not be aware … Continue reading “Oil and the Coming War With Iran”

An Iraqi Potemkin Village

As we approach the second anniversary of the “liberation” of Iraq – marked by the much-touted toppling of Saddam’s statue in Baghdad’s main square – a simple juxtaposition of photos reveals the utter phoniness of the American project in the Middle East. Of course, Antiwar.com was all over that particular deception as it was happening, … Continue reading “An Iraqi Potemkin Village”

Semper Fraud, Senator Roberts

“Semper Fidelis,” Always Faithful. The motto of the United States Marine Corps, and for anyone who sweated their way through recruit training at Parris Island or San Diego, or the Officer’s Basic School in Quantico, these words – usually shortened to a simple “Semper Fi” – take on much meaning. They define a way of … Continue reading “Semper Fraud, Senator Roberts”

Bolton Ducks and Weaves as Dems Come Out Swinging

The man who famously said the United Nations headquarters could lose 10 stories and "it wouldn’t make a bit of difference" appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today as U.S. President George W. Bush’s nominee to be Washington’s next ambassador to the very same world body. But the John Bolton who testified in the … Continue reading “Bolton Ducks and Weaves as Dems Come Out Swinging”

The Time to Oppose the Draft Is Now

In February, the Army missed its recruiting goal for the first time in nearly five years. The Army missed its March goal by 32 percent while the need for soldiers is on the rise. The United States Armed Services have announced a new plan to solve their recruiting problems – convincing parents to get their … Continue reading “The Time to Oppose the Draft Is Now”

The Real Threat From John Bolton

Memo to: Chairman Richard Lugar, Senate Foreign Relations cc: Senator Joseph Biden, ranking Democrat Re: The Plan to Scrap the Nonproliferation Treaty You have obviously told the White House that you will hold your nose and try to get John Bolton through the committee this week and confirmed by the Senate ASAP. It’s no secret … Continue reading “The Real Threat From John Bolton”