UN’s Big Powers World’s Top Military Spenders

UNITED NATIONS – The world’s biggest military spenders last year were countries that were either permanent members of the Security Council or aspiring to hold that privileged rank, according to the latest figures released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The United States, China, France, Britain, and Russia – all veto-wielding members … Continue reading “UN’s Big Powers World’s Top Military Spenders”

Navy Vet Who Foiled Israeli Attack Honored

What’s the difference between murder and massacre? The answer is Terry Halbardier, whose bravery and ingenuity as a 23-year-old Navy seaman spelled the difference between the murder of 34 of the USS Liberty crew and the intended massacre of all 294. The date was June 8, 1967; for the families of the 34 murdered and … Continue reading “Navy Vet Who Foiled Israeli Attack Honored”

Cleansing Halliburton

It might be terrible times for so many companies suffering through a global economic meltdown, but in the war zone, there seems to be no recession in sight. In fact, with “Obama’s war” in the expanding Afghanistan/Pakistan theater of operations revving up, there’s likely to be money to the horizon, bases to build, and ever … Continue reading “Cleansing Halliburton”

US Soldier: ‘There’s No Way I’m Going to Deploy to Afghanistan’

MARFA, Texas – "It’s a matter of what I’m willing to live with," Specialist Victor Agosto of the U.S. Army, who is refusing orders to deploy to Afghanistan, explained to IPS. "I’m not willing to participate in this occupation, knowing it is completely wrong." Agosto, who returned from a 13-month deployment to Iraq in November … Continue reading “US Soldier: ‘There’s No Way I’m Going to Deploy to Afghanistan’”

Neocon Group Calls for Military Strikes on Media

In the era of embedded media, independent journalists have become the eyes and ears of the world. Without those un-embedded journalists willing to risk their lives to place themselves on the other side of the barrel of the tank or the gun or under the air strikes, history would be written almost entirely from the … Continue reading “Neocon Group Calls for Military Strikes on Media”

‘This Is Mental Health, Military-Style’

The U.S. military said yesterday that it’s charged an American Army sergeant on his third tour in Iraq with murder in connection with Monday’s shooting spree that left five fellow soldiers dead in a mental health clinic at Camp Liberty in Baghdad. Officials said Sergeant John M. Russell, a communications specialist with the 54th Engineering … Continue reading “‘This Is Mental Health, Military-Style’”

Lawmakers Try to Block New Abuse Photos

Civil libertarians are condemning a call by two influential U.S. senators for the White House to block the impending release of photographs showing detainees being abused by U.S. military personnel at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and at other U.S. detention facilities in the Middle East and elsewhere. The plea to intervene to … Continue reading “Lawmakers Try to Block New Abuse Photos”