Against Stereotype, Budget Hawks and War Hawks Edition

French President Francois Hollande, by reputation, is an unlikely budget hawk; as a candidate for office, he ran against austerity measures. But the realities of governing sometimes complicate politicians’ promises. After taking office, the euro crisis is now forcing Hollande to pledge to cut the French budget deficit down to 3% of GDP by the … Continue reading “Against Stereotype, Budget Hawks and War Hawks Edition”

That Villaraigosa Moment

No one believed the vote on the “God and Jerusalem” wording in the Democratic platform was conducted fairly or democratically: a two-thirds vote was required to restore the deleted words and that clearly — and audibly — didn’t happen. Neither the audience nor the news media was convinced by Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s ruling … Continue reading “That Villaraigosa Moment”

A Bipartisan Assault on Middle East Peace

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a dangerous piece of legislation, H.R. 4133, which would undermine the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, weaken Israeli moderates and peace advocates, undercut international law, further militarize the Middle East, and make Israel ever more dependent on the United States. The margin was an overwhelming 411-2, with eight abstentions. … Continue reading “A Bipartisan Assault on Middle East Peace”

America’s Elites Look Out for Each Other

Excerpted from With Liberty and Justice for Some: How the Law is Used to Destroy Equality and Protect the Powerful by Glenn Greenwald, published October 25th by Metropolitan Books, an imprint of Henry Holt and Company, LLC. Copyright © 2011 by Glenn Greenwald. All rights reserved. Given the clarity of this law [Article 2 of … Continue reading “America’s Elites Look Out for Each Other”

Needed: An Antiwar Movement That Puts Peace Over Politicians

After campaigning as the candidate of change, the man awarded a Nobel Prize for peace has given the world nothing but more war. Yet despite Barack Obama’s continuation—nay, escalation—of the worst aspects of George W. Bush’s foreign policy, including his very own illegal war in Libya, you’d be hard-pressed to find the large-scale protests and … Continue reading “Needed: An Antiwar Movement That Puts Peace Over Politicians”

All War All the Time

[Note for TomDispatch Readers: I’m sad to report that Chalmers Johnson died on Saturday. He was a stalwart of this site, writing for it regularly from its early moments. Without the slightest doubt, he was one of the most remarkable authors I’ve had the pleasure to edit, no less be friends with. He saw our … Continue reading “All War All the Time”

Election 2010: A Disaster for Peace

The expected Election Day Republican “wave” that broke over our heads is a disaster for the anti-interventionist cause in the immediate sense – but there may be a silver lining. The disaster is embodied in the various GOP warmongers who will be placed in key positions in Congress, and a good case could be made … Continue reading “Election 2010: A Disaster for Peace”

Whatever Happened to the Antiwar Movement?

Note: The following is the text of a talk given Oct. 25 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Whatever happened to the antiwar movement? Remember all those marches, all those placards, those giant puppets and loud displays of moral outrage? It’s vanished! Gone! Evaporated like morning mist! At one point, millions were marching in … Continue reading “Whatever Happened to the Antiwar Movement?”

Foreign Policy and the Midterms

The United States is currently fighting two wars, and a third one in Pakistan that is as yet unacknowledged – and yet, with the midterm elections coming up in a matter of a few weeks, we don’t hear anything about this from the candidates. Why is that? Three reasons, the first being the old adage, … Continue reading “Foreign Policy and the Midterms”

The Democrats’ Day of Reckoning

Why does no one on the Left say it outright ? Obama and his Democratic Party gang should be punished mercilessly in the November elections. If they escape such punishment, then they will continue to break every real and implied promise to their base, and the goals of an end to wars and a decent, … Continue reading “The Democrats’ Day of Reckoning”