Scholars Try to Rein in the ‘Sheikhs of Death’

DUBAI – Denouncing misguided religious fanaticism and terrorism, Muslim scholars and religious leaders who recently attended a major world Islamic conference in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), jointly called for the issuing of a unified fatwa (edict) on pressing issues in order to avoid the misuse of the religion. Attended … Continue reading “Scholars Try to Rein in the ‘Sheikhs of Death’”

The Face of Terror

While conditions for most Iraqis continue to deteriorate, as the country slips even more deeply into an environmental and health crisis, George Bush and his supporters danced to country music on the evening of election day, celebrating the War President’s reelection. This image has haunted me over the last few weeks, as people in Fallujah … Continue reading “The Face of Terror”

Iran’s Stealthy Nukes

Apparently President Bush believes he has been given another four years to subvert and/or replace the half-dozen or so regimes he deems to be either a threat to the “freedom” of its citizens or to our “national security.” Iran is at the top of his list. How else to explain the concerted effort this week … Continue reading “Iran’s Stealthy Nukes”

Greetings from Fallujah!

Preamble: April 28, 2003: U.S. soldiers kill 18 Fallujah school children. Act I April, 2004: In the attack on Fallujah, which ended after 3 weeks in defeat of the “coalition”: "U.S. forces bombed the power plant at the beginning of the assault; …The town was placed under siege; the ban on bringing in food, medicine, … Continue reading “Greetings from Fallujah!”

An Uncommon Mom in Baghdad

BAGHDAD – What is the most common thing moms do? Take care of their kids? That’s what Susan Galleymore was doing when I met her. The uncommon thing was that she’d traveled halfway around the world, from San Francisco to Baghdad, to take care of her son. Nick is a U.S. Army Ranger, an occupation … Continue reading “An Uncommon Mom in Baghdad”

China-Iran Tango Threatens US Leverage

BEIJING – Even as Iran pledges suspension of its uranium-enrichment program to avert United Nations sanctions, U.S.-led international efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities are being undermined by the emergence of an ever stronger partnership between China and the Middle-Eastern country. This was clearly evident when Seyed Hossein Mussavian, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic … Continue reading “China-Iran Tango Threatens US Leverage”

Colombian Illusions

President Bush probably wanted to burnish his self-styled reputation as a fierce opponent of terrorism who has conflated other conflicts with the all-encompassing and likely generations-long War on Terror and can celebrate success wherever his writ runs. But in declaring, for the umpteenth time in recent years, imminent victory in the war on cocaine in … Continue reading “Colombian Illusions”

What Became of Conservatives?

I remember when friends would excitedly telephone to report that Rush Limbaugh or G. Gordon Liddy had just read one of my syndicated columns over the air. That was before I became a critic of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration, and the neoconservative ideologues who have seized control of the U.S. government. … Continue reading “What Became of Conservatives?”

US Jewish Groups Press Mideast Peace

A growing number of American Jews believes that major changes in U.S., Israeli, and Palestinian policies are essential to the resumption of any meaningful negotiations for peace – but they are fighting an uphill struggle because of President George W. Bush’s support for the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Many peace advocates are … Continue reading “US Jewish Groups Press Mideast Peace”