Forcing Square Pegs Into Round Holes

While the original pretext offered to the Australian people for the invasion and occupation of Iraq was the presence of weapons of mass destruction and their certain use against Western targets, the justification has now moved from the pragmatic to the ideological. As Prime Minister Howard has repeatedly articulated, the project is now one of … Continue reading “Forcing Square Pegs Into Round Holes”

Groups Sue Pentagon Over Iraq Abuses

A coalition of civil-rights and veterans groups charged in a New York court Wednesday that the U.S. Defense Department is withholding records about the abuse of detainees in military custody as part of the Bush administration’s “war against terrorism.” The federal court lawsuit accuses the Pentagon of failing to comply with a Freedom of Information … Continue reading “Groups Sue Pentagon Over Iraq Abuses”

Recall Qualifies: Regime Change Imminent in Venezuela?

CARACAS (IPS) – Venezuela will hold a recall vote for President Hugo Chávez, it was confirmed Thursday, after the election authorities announced that the opposition had gathered enough signatures to trigger a referendum. The valid signatures total at least 2.451 million, according to the National Electoral Council. That exceeds the minimum of 2.436 million, or … Continue reading “Recall Qualifies: Regime Change Imminent in Venezuela?”

Chávez Says Opposition May Have Enough Signatures

CARACAS (IPS) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez admitted that the opposition may have gathered enough signatures to trigger a recall referendum that could remove him from power within the next few months. The political crisis thus seems to be moving smoothly in the direction of a peaceful, electoral solution, according to analysts. “I never said … Continue reading “Chávez Says Opposition May Have Enough Signatures”

US Seeks Iraqi Nod for Continued Occupation

UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The United States is seeking the approval of the new interim government in Baghdad for a joint UK-U.S. resolution that will legitimize the continuing military occupation of Iraq. Iraq’s newly-anointed foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, is due to arrive in New York later this week to voice his government’s support for the … Continue reading “US Seeks Iraqi Nod for Continued Occupation”

Celebrating Life in Rafah

Rafah, Jenin, Khan Yunis, Zeitun: Foreign-sounding names of so distanced and disturbing a reality. All that we know of them is what the media have selectively determined to impart, if we are interested to hear the story. The Rafah refugee camp, a small strip of land at the southern edge of Gaza was the target … Continue reading “Celebrating Life in Rafah”

New President, New Car Bomb

While Iraqi and American political players have been frenetically rearranging the chairs of interim government members on the Titanic that is occupied Iraq today, a massive car bomb explosion rumbles my hotel, miles from where it detonated outside of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan building near the so-called Green Zone. So rather than celebratory gunfire … Continue reading “New President, New Car Bomb”