Antiwar.com

Some members of the U.S. National Guard and Reserves are refusing to go overseas, despite the Pentagon’s plan to deploy even more of their ranks in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army Reserve tries to give soldiers at least five years between overseas postings; some are being asked to leave home much more frequently. Hear NPR’s … Continue reading “Reservists Refusing Iraq Deployment”

Bush Versus Bush in 2004? A fraternal fracas brewing in Florida as proxies of the Governor and the President vie to succeed retiring Senator Bob Graham. Jeb backs Katherine Harris, but the White House [allegedly] demurs: “There’s no way the White House will let her run. There’s just no way the president’s going to stand … Continue reading “Pawns Amidst the Palms”

We’re supposed to believe that the President went to Iraq for Thanksgiving because he’s such a brave guy, and just because it was The Right Thing to Do. The growing legion of Bush-haters, who see the President’s every move as a calculated political ploy, frame his recent surprise trip as part of his reelection campaign, … Continue reading “Going AWOL”

The administration of US President George W. Bush is violating the spirit of its own export policy by approving the sale of tools to countries known to use them to torture detainees, according to a new report released here Tuesday by Amnesty International. In 2002, US exports of electroshock weapons and restraints that can be … Continue reading “US Exporting ‘Tools of Torture’”

Even as they enforce a ceasefire along the Kashmir border and make other peace overtures to each other, India and Pakistan continue to fight each other in multilateral forums. They famously indulged in a slugfest three months ago at the U. N. General Assembly. The latest instance of their mutual rivalry concerns Pakistan’s continued suspension … Continue reading “South Asia Spars Over Commonwealth Summit”

While electricity generation now exceeds pre-invasion levels, markets are plentiful, and virtually all school-aged children are back at their desks, the war for Iraqi "hearts and minds" remains very much up in the air, say independent analysts who have recently returned from that country. "This could go either way," Kenneth Pollack, a former Middle East … Continue reading “Experts Returning from Iraq Criticize US Tactics”

e120303.html

The blue-tiled shrine of the Hidden Imam looms over the northern Iraqi city of Samarra, reminding the now rather decrepit and dusty-looking town of its former glory as the seat of the Muslim Caliphate. It was there, perhaps not too surprisingly, that the Iraqi insurgency first raised its head and showed the recognizable face of … Continue reading “Showdown in Samarra”

‘Boot Boortz!‘ All right, the National LP deserves this. But I understand Boortz was booked at the last convention before this “democracy spreading” crap started. If it’s any consolation, I believe I have given you a reason to have hope in the LP. It was you that we invited to our Illinois convention last year, … Continue reading “”

If the success of the unofficial Israeli-Palestinian peace plan launched amid great fanfare in Geneva on Monday were dependent on international goodwill, it could be implemented tomorrow. With three Nobel Peace Prize laureates – including former US president Jimmy Carter – in attendance, as well as messages of support sent from leaders from around the … Continue reading “Unofficial Mideast Peace Plans Get Global Backing”