Powell on Mideast: Seduced or Cynical?

I almost hope that Secretary of State Colin Powell’s opening to more involvement in the always-ephemeral Middle East "peace process" is a public relations gesture that is essentially a cynical ploy rather than a serious move. One can imagine it being so. There are not only governments in the region but established and influential lobbying … Continue reading “Powell on Mideast: Seduced or Cynical?”

The Myth of Pearl Harbor

With the release of Pearl Harbor, a cinematic reenactment of the popular myth handed down to us by Roosevelt’s hagiographers, the Memorial Day weekend will culminate in an orgy of lying war propaganda. The movie, starring somebody named Ben Affleck (so I’m not into popular culture, what can I tell you?), steadfastly ignores recently unearthed … Continue reading “The Myth of Pearl Harbor”

McCaffrey Must Go

In denying that he is a war criminal who attacked retreating Iraqi soldiers and killed thousands in the Gulf War after the ceasefire, Clinton’s drug czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey has been all over the media, booked from morning ’til night, running hard and fast to beat the charges. The Clintonians even appealed to “human rights” … Continue reading “McCaffrey Must Go”

Libertarians and China

I always knew R. W. Bradford was a sellout, and now his recent screed, “China: The ‘Crisis’ and the Facts,” has confirmed my long-standing suspicion. But before we get to that, some background material might be helpful, starting with the essential question: Who the heck is R. W. Bradford, anyway? GOING MODAL With his bushy … Continue reading “Libertarians and China”

Three Mavericks

Something’s in the wind. From the rocky shores of the Sea of Japan to the sandy beaches of the Adriatic, a new and benevolent form of nationalism is on the rise: not the dark irredentism that infected prewar Germany and the comic-opera totalitarianism of Mussolini’s Italy, but an international trend on the right that emphasizes … Continue reading “Three Mavericks”

International Aspects of Drug Wars Undercovered

The big news in drug reform circles this week is the Supreme Court’s decision that there is no "medical necessity" exception to federal prohibition of marijuana distribution or manufacture that can be claimed by the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative. The court did not overturn California’s law allowing patients with a recommendation from a licensed physician … Continue reading “International Aspects of Drug Wars Undercovered”

A Short History of Warmongering at the National Review

NATIONAL REVIEW: AN UNCHANGING MONOLITH? I have entitled this piece "A Short History," because a full history of warmongering at National Review magazine would be long indeed. James J. Martin wrote two volumes in the early 1960s on the turn of The New Republic and The Nation from a critical view of US foreign policy … Continue reading “A Short History of Warmongering at the National Review

Why They Hate Us

America-haters the world over were ecstatic that the US was not reelected to the UN “Human Rights Commission.” That great champion of human rights, Communist China, gleefully pontificated in their state-controlled media that “the U.S. election loss shows that America’s long-standing pursuit of confrontation and hegemonism in international relations has aroused widespread anger. Its double … Continue reading “Why They Hate Us”

Vidal’s Non-Interventionist Manifesto

Justin has the flu so today we present a classic Raimondo column from last year. October 18, 2000I can write all the columns I want, pointing out this or that outrage committed by the US government in the realm of foreign affairs, railing about the hubris of the empire-builders, proving and re-proving the folly of … Continue reading “Vidal’s Non-Interventionist Manifesto”