Antiwar.com

Just days before Venezuelans vote on whether to recall Hugo Chavez, U.S. officials and analysts appear increasingly resigned to at least another two and a half years of a government headed by the fiery populist. They have watched Chavez surge in the polls in the past few weeks and, what with a leaderless opposition united … Continue reading “US Set to ‘Grin and Bear’ Chavez Victory”

WASHINGTON – Human rights, veterans and civil liberties groups on Thursday will urge a federal court to order the U.S. government to release records on the alleged mistreatment of prisoners at U.S. military bases and other detention facilities overseas, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are the … Continue reading “Groups Ask Court for Prisoner Abuse Info”

In any war, one of the most useful opportunities is a chance to see the conflict through the other side’s eyes. A Marine captain recently sent me a fascinating look at the misnamed "war on terror" through the eyes of al-Qaeda, in the form of an interview by an al-Qaeda journal, Sawt Al-Jihad, of Fawwaz … Continue reading “The War Through al-Qaeda’s Eyes”

Internal Pentagon documents show that the inspector general tasked with investigating what led to the Army’s abuse of prisoners in Iraq is at least planning to conduct a thorough and wide-ranging investigation. His bottom-up inquiry is not stuck at the bottom with military police, who so far have borne the brunt of the blame. Rather, … Continue reading “Pentagon Questions All Iraq Interrogators Under Oath”

PARIS – France and the United States have begun a new race to compete for favors with undemocratic regimes in Africa. The competition is growing particularly in the oil-rich North and West Africa. The French government announced last month that it is due to sign a military pact with former colony Algeria that would include … Continue reading “US and France Begin a Great Game in Africa”

U.S. tanks crept closer to one of the holiest sites in Shi’ite Islam on Monday as Marines and Army cavalry units backed by aircraft tightened their grip on the center of Najaf, reportedly shelling neighborhoods very heavily and using the main civilian hospital as a base of combat operations. But fighters loyal to rebel cleric … Continue reading “Mehdi Uprising Widens Amid Rumors of US War Crimes”

Our country’s military now declares preparations to attack the Shrine of Ali in the city of Najaf in Iraq. Our country stands on the precipice of declaring war on Islam. An attack on the Shrine of Ali is an attack on the heart of Islam and must be nonviolently resisted in our country. The U.S. … Continue reading “Hands Off Najaf”

After endorsing an appeal from the bipartisan 9/11 Commission to drastically overhaul the U.S. intelligence community, President George W. Bush on Tuesday nominated as his next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) the longtime chair of a congressional panel that the commission called complacent in the run-up to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. … Continue reading “Bush’s CIA Pick: ‘Business as Usual’”

Just as the U.S.-led forces refused to release thousands of adult prisoners after the June 28 handover of partial sovereignty to Iraq, U.S. and UK authorities continue to incarcerate children. The Pentagon says around 60 teens, "primarily aged 16 and 17," are still being detained, though unnamed sources at the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command … Continue reading “US Silent on Torture of Children”

I am so preoccupied with reading Imperial Hubris, written by an “anonymous” current employee of the CIA, that I’ve suppressed my urge to write another one of those “I told you so” columns. I can’t say I’m happy John Kerry lived up (or down) to my worst expectations, but to all those Anybody But Bush … Continue reading “Dog Days”