In conversation with a progressive friend of mine the other day, I had occasion to hear a valid criticism of my writing: why, he asked me, do you limit yourself to attacking the left on the war question, why not praise them when they're doing something right? This is...
Old War in New Bottles
In the week since the much publicized withdrawal of "combat" troops from Iraq it has become more evident that the Iraq War continues under a new name: "Operation New Dawn." The first off-message comments came from the Department of Defense. Pentagon press secretary...
Rethinking the Antiwar Movement’s Israel Campaign
Can Americans Who Oppose War and Empire Work Together?
Lindsey Graham, a war-supporting senator from South Carolina, said what he fears most is a Left-Right alliance against the Afghanistan War. He recognizes that such an alliance could stop war funding and force American troops to return home. But the masters of war may...
Why Is the Antiwar Movement Stalled?
A recent gathering of the remnants of the antiwar movement, sponsored by something calling itself the United National Antiwar Conference, underscores the reasons why there is almost no effective organized opposition to the present administration's occupation of Iraq...
Living in the 51st State (of Denial)
[Note for TomDispatch Readers: In recent years, this Web site has had a fine record when it comes to college commencement addresses, in part because I have a fondness for the form at its best, and in part because I think we should all have a chance to graduate into...
Rand Paul Drinks Tea, Turns Into Hawk?
"When it is said that nothing, including a nuclear strike, is off the table on Iran, are those who say it not also threatening genocide?" - Rep. Ron Paul, May 22, 2007 “I don't think you take [nuclear weapons] off the table.” - Rand Paul on Iran, The O'Reilly Factor,...
Buzzkill at the Tea Party
They were certainly not the proudest moments in what has been called the Tea Party Movement: activists on Capitol Hill this weekend to oppose the Democratic health-care bill accused of slinging the N-bomb at black lawmakers, screaming "baby killer" at Rep....
End the Wars
Last Saturday, the Peace Coalition of Monterey County held an antiwar rally on the seventh anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Lawrence Samuels, co-chair of Libertarians for Peace, one of the member organizations, organized the rally with help from Phillip...
Springtime for Obama
The first nationwide antiwar protests in quite a while were held this past Saturday, held in part to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, with a few thousands marching in Washington – I've seen estimates ranging from two to ten thousand – with...