Why the Senate Vote To End Yemen War Is So Important

Last week something historic happened in the US Senate. For the first time in 45 years, a chamber of the US Congress voted to pull US forces from a military conflict under the 1973 War Powers Act. While there is plenty to criticize in the War Powers Act, in this situation it was an important … Continue reading “Why the Senate Vote To End Yemen War Is So Important”

Trump Foreign Policy: Doing the Same Thing and Expecting a Different Result

After a week of insisting that a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Argentina was going to happen, President Trump at the last minute sent out a Tweet explaining that due to a Russia/Ukraine dispute in the Sea of Azov he would no longer be willing to meet his Russian … Continue reading “Trump Foreign Policy: Doing the Same Thing and Expecting a Different Result”

Pentagon Fails First Audit, Neocons Demand More Spending!

The Pentagon has finally completed its first ever audit and the results are as many of us expected. After spending nearly a billion dollars to find out what has happened to trillions in unaccounted-for spending, the long look through the books has concluded that only ten percent of all Pentagon agencies pass muster. I am … Continue reading “Pentagon Fails First Audit, Neocons Demand More Spending!”

President Trump’s Iran Policy – Is It ‘Normal’?

It’s not often that US Government officials are honest when they talk about our foreign policy. The unprovoked 2003 attack on Iraq was called a “liberation.” The 2011 US-led destruction of Libya was a “humanitarian intervention.” And so on. So, in a way, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was refreshingly honest last week when, speaking … Continue reading “President Trump’s Iran Policy – Is It ‘Normal’?”

The Saudis Keep Changing Their Story on the Murder of Khashoggi. What Should We Do?

The Saudi version of the disappearance and murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi seems to change every day or so. The latest is the Saudi government claim that the opposition journalist was killed in a “botched interrogation” at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Or was it a fist-fight? What is laughable is that the Saudi king … Continue reading “The Saudis Keep Changing Their Story on the Murder of Khashoggi. What Should We Do?”

Why Are We Siding With al-Qaeda in Syria and Yemen?

Last week, I urged the Secretary of State and National Security Advisor to stop protecting al-Qaeda in Syria by demanding that the Syrian government leave Idlib under al-Qaeda control. While it may seem hard to believe that the US government is helping al-Qaeda in Syria, it’s not as strange as it may seem: our interventionist … Continue reading “Why Are We Siding With al-Qaeda in Syria and Yemen?”

Can’t We Just Leave Syria Alone?

Assad was supposed to be gone already. President Obama thought it would be just another “regime change” operation and perhaps Assad would end up like Saddam Hussein or Yanukovych. Or maybe even Gaddafi. But he was supposed to be gone. The US spent billions to get rid of him and even provided weapons and training … Continue reading “Can’t We Just Leave Syria Alone?”

Trump vs. His Own Administration?

Are President Trump’s senior cabinet members working against him? It’s hard not to conclude that many of the more hawkish neocons that Trump has (mistakenly, in my view) appointed to top jobs are actively working to undermine the president’s stated agenda. Especially when it seems Trump is trying to seek dialogue with countries the neocons … Continue reading “Trump vs. His Own Administration?”

Neocons Demand ‘Crushing’ Sanctions on Russia

You can always count on the neocons in Congress to ignore reality, ignore evidence, and ignore common sense in their endless drive to get us involved in another war. Last week, for example, Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-NC), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and others joined up to introduce what Senator Graham called “the sanctions … Continue reading “Neocons Demand ‘Crushing’ Sanctions on Russia”

The Mueller Indictments and the Trump-Putin Summit: Triumph of the Deep State?

The term “deep state” has been so overused in the past few years that it may seem meaningless. It has become standard practice to label one’s political adversaries as representing the “deep state” as a way of avoiding the defense of one’s positions. President Trump has often blamed the “deep state” for his political troubles. … Continue reading “The Mueller Indictments and the Trump-Putin Summit: Triumph of the Deep State?”