A High Price for a Hollow Victory

The Iraq supplemental conference report before the Senate today has been widely described as a victory for President Bush. If hardball politics and lock-step partisanship are the stuff of which victory is made, then I suppose the assessments are accurate. But if reasoned discourse, integrity, and accountability are the measures of true victory, then this … Continue reading “A High Price for a Hollow Victory”

Let Iraq Take Care of Iraq

Many Americans today may not be familiar with Will Rogers. However, Will Rogers was at one time considered by many to be the most popular man in America. He once said, "America has a great habit of always talking about protecting American interests in some foreign country." Then he said, "Protect them here at home. … Continue reading “Let Iraq Take Care of Iraq”

Bush Team Split on China, but Realists Hold the Reins

The major new player on the National Security Council (NSC), Robert Blackwill, attended as did the chief Asia specialist at the State Department, Assistant Secretary James Kelly. But when it came time at the Chinese embassy’s dinner last week to lift glasses in honor of the visiting guest, Beijing’s defense minister, Gen. Cao Gangchuan, his … Continue reading “Bush Team Split on China, but Realists Hold the Reins”

Keep Refighting the Good Fight

An interesting report in Friday’s Wall Street Journal looked back at last spring’s Topoff2 drill, which simulated a biological attack in Chicago and a dirty bombing in Seattle. May was a big month for gloating, you’ll recall, and Topoff2 was one of many encores in the Bush apotheosis extravaganza. Where have all the good times … Continue reading “Keep Refighting the Good Fight”

The Neoconservatives’ Plan for American Empire

The Neoconservatives’ Plan for American Empire An inteview with Karen Kwiatkowski A 1½-hour interview conducted by "Philip Dru." Check out his other interviews with prominent libertarians and antiwar personalities. WMV format (requires Windows Media Player)MP3 format (download requires any MP3 player) Karen Kwiatkowski recently retired from the Pentagon where she was a lieutenant colonel in … Continue reading “The Neoconservatives’ Plan for American Empire”

Pentagon Hawk Released; Straws in the Wind?

A major Pentagon hawk has abruptly resigned his post in a move that, in the context of other recent developments, is likely to fuel speculation that the White House might be trying to soften the harder edges of its controversial policies. The Pentagon announced Wednesday evening that Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, … Continue reading “Pentagon Hawk Released; Straws in the Wind?”