Life and Death on Vietnam Street

From Dahr’s weblog I haven’t slept very well the last couple of nights, as the growing anxiety of car bombs has me waking at the smallest noises outside my window nowadays. Dave was typing on his computer as I walk past him to the kitchen to make some coffee at 8:15 this morning and a … Continue reading “Life and Death on Vietnam Street”

Retired Diplomats, Soldiers Tell Bush to Beat It

WASHINGTON – In an unprecedented broadside, more than two-dozen top retired U.S. career diplomats and military commanders, many of whom reached their top positions under former President George H.W. Bush, have called for George W. Bush to be defeated in his re-election bid in November. “It is time for a change,” declared a one-page statement … Continue reading “Retired Diplomats, Soldiers Tell Bush to Beat It”

9/11 Panel Denies Al-Qaeda-Iraq Links

WASHINGTON – In a direct challenge to recent assertions by both President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, the special bipartisan commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against New York and the Pentagon has found “no credible evidence” of any operational link between Iraq and al-Qaeda. While the commission, which has … Continue reading “9/11 Panel Denies Al-Qaeda-Iraq Links”

Group Wants US to Intervene in Sudan

WASHINGTON – Amid increasingly strident calls from United Nations officials for international intervention to stop “ethnic cleansing” in western Sudan, a U.S. group is calling on Washington to declare the situation “genocide” and lead a military force into the region until UN troops can be assembled. Washington-based Africa Action on Tuesday announced it was circulating … Continue reading “Group Wants US to Intervene in Sudan”

Halliburton Under Renewed Fire for Iraq Deals

WASHINGTON – U.S. military auditors have criticized construction giant Halliburton for the way it does business in Iraq, concerns amplified by former employees who are alleging financial abuses in the U.S.-occupied country. “In our opinion, the contractor’s billing system is inadequate in part,” said the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) in a report made available … Continue reading “Halliburton Under Renewed Fire for Iraq Deals”

Stymied in Iraq, Hawks Still Positioning US as Globocop

Although their hopes for transforming Iraq into a pro-U.S. base in the heart of the Arab world have been badly set back, neo-imperial hawks in the Bush administration are proceeding as fast as possible to reinvent U.S. forces worldwide as “globocop,” capable of preempting any possible threat to its interests at a moment’s notice. In … Continue reading “Stymied in Iraq, Hawks Still Positioning US as Globocop”

The Essential Dishonesty of Christopher Hitchens

It’s pathetic, really, to have to hear our war birds squawk and complain about the consequences of the policy they wanted so passionately, the glorious crusade they argued for with such overriding certainty and sense of mission. Here’s Andrew Sullivan on the Abu Ghraib horror show: “We have to know who really sanctioned this. And … Continue reading “The Essential Dishonesty of Christopher Hitchens”

Violence Against Female Soldiers Ignored

Sexualized violence and harassment of women is a widespread problem within the U.S. armed services, but according to a government investigation and testimony from numerous female soldiers who have been raped, assaulted and harassed by male soldiers, the Pentagon’s response has been woefully inadequate. The findings come at a time when new evidence suggests that … Continue reading “Violence Against Female Soldiers Ignored”

State Criminal Charges Dismissed Against Peace Activists

In an extraordinary legal maneuver, a New York state prosecutor announced that he will not re-try four peace activists in Ithaca, but instead handed the matter off to the local U.S. Attorney to take over the prosecution. Four peace activists in Ithaca, New York, Daniel Burns, 43, Clare Grady, 45, Teresa Grady 38, and Peter … Continue reading “State Criminal Charges Dismissed Against Peace Activists”