New Book Assembles Eyewitness Accounts from Mavi Marmara

A growing number of activists is contradicting the claims of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) regarding the Gaza Freedom Flotilla debacle in May, including a large faction of both Israeli and U.S. Jews. This faction was evidenced by the distinguished array of Jewish scholars, journalists and professionals who contributed to Moustafa Bayoumi’s new book, Midnight … Continue reading “New Book Assembles Eyewitness Accounts from Mavi Marmara

The Hammer and the Scalpel

A recent New York Times report details the secret war now being waged by the Obama administration across the globe, from Africa to Central Asia – and no doubt places we don’t yet know about. This is nothing new: the Bush regime started this reign of lawlessness, but, according to the Times, the Obama-ites are … Continue reading “The Hammer and the Scalpel”

All the Strangeness of Our American World in One Article

Have you ever thought about just how strange this country’s version of normal truly is? Let me make my point with a single, hardly noticed Washington Post news story that’s been on my mind for a while. It represents the sort of reporting that, in our world, zips by with next to no reaction, despite … Continue reading “All the Strangeness of Our American World in One Article”

Israel Gets Brutal With Media

NABI SALAH, West Bank – Palestinian activists are being jailed, Israeli activists are under surveillance, and the Israeli military is increasingly targeting journalists who cover West Bank protests. The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel issued a statement recently condemning what it sees as a change in Israel Defense Forces (IDF) policy in their treatment … Continue reading “Israel Gets Brutal With Media”

CNN’s Objectivity Questioned in Sacking of Mideast Reporter

CNN’s firing of Octavia Nasr, the editor responsible for the network’s Middle East coverage, over a Twitter post in which she expressed her sadness over the death of a Lebanese cleric has set off a firestorm of debate about what the decision says about CNN’s fairness in reporting on the region. On Sunday, Nasr wrote, … Continue reading “CNN’s Objectivity Questioned in Sacking of Mideast Reporter”

As Israel Kills and Maims, Outrage is Directed at Helen Thomas 

Whenever Israel commits yet another atrocity, its defenders are quick to redirect public attention away from the grisly crime scene.  Currently, there are headlines about allegedly anti-Semitic comments made by senior White House correspondent Helen Thomas. Pundits across the land evince outrage at her off-the-cuff 25-second statement made to a man who appears to be … Continue reading “As Israel Kills and Maims, Outrage is Directed at Helen Thomas “

The Flotilla in the Israeli Press

Not many atrocities can be less controversial than Israel’s attack on the Turkish-based flotilla heading to Gaza yesterday. Like Somali pirates, Israel attacked the boats in international waters. Like the darkest regimes, Israeli forces opened fire on unarmed civilians who had not posed a threat to anybody, except to the siege that Israel (with Egyptian … Continue reading “The Flotilla in the Israeli Press”

Obama Ignores His Own Security Strategy

On May 27, President Obama released his first National Security Strategy (NSS), the congressionally mandated statement of America’s overarching vision of national security and how to achieve it. You didn’t know? Don’t feel bad. Hardly anyone else was paying attention either. In fact, the president himself held a press conference on the morning that the … Continue reading “Obama Ignores His Own Security Strategy”