Realists, Neocons in New Iran Argument

A new round in the ongoing battle between realists and neoconservative hawks over Iran policy got underway here Monday with the publication by a task force of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) of a new report urging Washington to engage Tehran on a selected range of issues of mutual concern. The task force, which … Continue reading “Realists, Neocons in New Iran Argument”

Grief, Outrage for Families of Dead GIs

Many families of U.S. service members killed in Iraq say the pain of having lost a loved one does not grow easier to deal with as time passes. Some say it only worsens. More and more, the families of men and women killed in Iraq are speaking publicly against the war. Relentless Grief Jane Bright … Continue reading “Grief, Outrage for Families of Dead GIs”

The Daily Show With George Bush

What would you do if your army was mired down in a country turned hostile by your invasion, forced to hide behind fortified positions, and only able to make an occasional foray to kill a few women and children along with an occasional insurgent? A plethora of reports are issued revealing that the reasons you … Continue reading “The Daily Show With George Bush”

‘Saving the World’ With Your Money

The Millennium Challenge Act, a new foreign aid scheme I wrote about back in May, received its hoped-for $2.5 billion from Congress last week. Only 41 members of Congress supported an effort to strip the funding, demonstrating once again that the two parties are not serious about reducing federal spending. Considering all the rhetoric in … Continue reading “‘Saving the World’ With Your Money”

House Republicans Fight International Criminal Court

In a new effort to exempt the United States from international law, the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives has approved a measure that would ban certain kinds of economic aid to U.S. allies if they fail to sign a bilateral accord forbidding them from transferring U.S. citizens or foreign nationals working for the … Continue reading “House Republicans Fight International Criminal Court”

The New Credibility Gap

The infinite chutzpah of the War Party is exemplified by its taking out after Joe Wilson for having … a credibility problem. Look who’s talking! These are the same people who stovepiped lies cooked up by a bunch of Iraqi exiles and passed it off as “intelligence”: nuclear “centrifuges” that didn’t exist, links to Al … Continue reading “The New Credibility Gap”

US Sikhs Shocked by ‘Inflammatory’ AP Article

“The FBI is intensifying efforts nationwide to enlist Muslims, Arab-Americans and Sikhs to help thwart a possible terrorist attack this summer or fall.” So says the first line of a July 9 Associated Press story that was picked up by numerous newspapers, radio and television outlets including CNN.com, ABCNews.com, National Public Radio and the Guardian … Continue reading “US Sikhs Shocked by ‘Inflammatory’ AP Article”

Where the Taliban Once Tread

LONDON – Dr. Massaouda Jalal is not a winner yet, but she has won at least something just by contesting the presidential elections in Afghanistan as the only woman candidate. Dr. Jalal, 41, just about qualified to contest past the minimum age of 40. This makes her also a younger candidate than the 13 males … Continue reading “Where the Taliban Once Tread”

Risk-Transfer Militarism and the Legitimacy of War After Iraq

A renaissance of warfare is one of the most striking features of the early twenty-first century. War, it seems, is not the prerogative of international criminals, but the first resort of the righteous. After September 11, 2001, it was widely believed that might could indeed enforce right: President George W. Bush was quick to proclaim … Continue reading “Risk-Transfer Militarism and the Legitimacy of War After Iraq”