In the Loop

I saw In the Loop last night and I can’t recommend it enough. The film is an offshoot of the British television series “The Thick of It” which I have only seen a couple of episodes of. The series and film have a sort of docu-drama feel although the actors don’t confront the camera at [...]

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Want to read an angry post on the travesty of Guantanamo Bay?

Oh, it will make you angry.
There are several dimensions to the debate over the U.S. prison facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba that the media have largely missed and, thus, of which the American people are almost completely unaware. For that matter, few within the government who were not directly involved are aware either.
The first of [...]

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We are the enemy

The widow of US anthrax victim Robert Stevens has called for US government compensation for her husband’s death.
Maureen Stevens thanked the FBI for their investigation into Bruce Ivins, who killed himself last week after being told he was to be charged.
But she said it was “shocking” that the army scientist had been able to handle [...]

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White House Bullies

In response to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s endorsement of Barack Obama’s withdrawl plan, Dana Perino makes what certainly sounds like a threat to me.
“We don’t think that talking about specific negotiating tactics or your negotiating position in the press is the best way to negotiate a deal,” Perino said after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was [...]

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Obama’s Foreign Policy

A good short article by Arianna Huffington.
Republicans love to portray Obama as naïve when it comes to foreign policy. Let’s go to the scorecard. Iraq: Prime Minister Maliki just announced he supports Obama’s troop withdrawal plan. Afghanistan: Obama has long argued that Iraq has been a dangerous distraction from what should [...]

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Naomi Wolf: Sex Crimes in the Whitehouse

I like how Naomi Wolf always takes a subject that the average American may think is far removed from themselves and puts that subject in a context that is recognizable.
I had a sense of déjà vu when I saw the photos that emerged in 2004 from Abu Ghraib prison. Even as the Bush administration was [...]

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It’s almost like they want us to leave or something

It’s encouraging to know that it is the Iraqis themselves who may end this war and thus control their own destiny. Think about every justification you have ever heard about the war from George Bush. Those justifications are tremendously hollow when the liberated people don’t want you there.
Iraq will not accept any security agreement with [...]

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BBC Finds Missing Iraq Billions

Remember how we lost (literally) billions of dollars in Iraq? This needs to be read in full so I have posted it in full. The link to the article is here.

A BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq.
For the first time, the [...]

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Everybody Knows

An interesting history of the Bush Administration with Leonard Cohen’s brilliant Everybody Knows as the soundtrack.

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John McCain is Insane

Remember 4 years ago when all the networks played over and over the video of Howard Dean after the Iowa caucus. His wheeee replayed hundreds of times over several days probably had a lot to do with his poor showings in the primaries.
Yet John McCain acts like a crazy man and no one is replaying [...]

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The no-win situation that is Guantanamo Bay

Whoever takes the presidency in November will have difficulty finding a solution to the mess of Iraq. Though perhaps one individual may be worse than the others, Obama, McCain and Clinton are doomed to failure because this administration never considered part two of playing war.
In reference to the prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay here’s [...]

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Women and War

An often used argument for electing women leaders around the world is that women by their nature are not warmongers and that the world would be more peaceful if ruled by women. It is said women and mothers in particular better understand the value of life because they have the ability to give life.
Yet in [...]

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An Impassioned Rant on the Media

Then George W. Bush and a half dozen cabinet members in some back room somewhere authorize the torture of prisoners in U.S. custody, but we can’t pay attention to that because we’ve all got to decide whether we want a president with good bowling scores.
Where did we get this notion that the President of the [...]

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Bush’s Short To-Do List Before Leaving Office, Part 1

Things To Do

Straighten out that whole Israeli-Palestinian peace thing. (Roadmap drafted in October 2002)
Find Osama Bin Laden. (Said I would September 13, 2001)
Bring peace and stability to Iraq. Oh yeah, shirked that off on the next guy. Phew.

Suggestions welcome for part II.

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The Coalition is Shrinking

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he is confident about explaining to the US President his decision to bring combat troops home from Iraq.
Australia has been pretty supportive, so I think this shows how most everyone thinks it is time to go home.

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Have we misread the world?

Read a post on Andrew Sullivan wondering why there hadn’t been another 9/11. Here’s my take (sent him an email):
I can think of a good reason why America hasn’t been attacked since 9/11, because to do so would be a strategic mistake in Al Queda’s military struggle against the USA. Al Queda’s war aim at [...]

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The Bush Administration Coins a New Phrase: Reverse Surge

The worry is that if we leave Iraq now, all the benefit of the surge will have been squandered as a corresponding reverse surge from our enemy will diminish our gains.
This is why Mr Gates signalled during his Baghdad visit that he favoured the idea that US troops should be held at pre-surge levels [...]

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Every Day 5 U.S. Soldiers Try to Kill Themselves

Every day, five U.S. soldiers try to kill themselves. Before the Iraq war began, that figure was less than one suicide attempt a day.

The dramatic increase is revealed in new U.S. Army figures, which show 2,100 soldiers tried to commit suicide in 2007.
“Suicide attempts are rising and have risen over the last five [...]

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The Wisdom of Training Manuals

Since training manuals actually have a practical purpose, they tend to be a whole lot more honest than official speak.
Take for instance a Canadian training manual for their diplomats:
A training manual for Canadian diplomats lists the United States as a country where prisoners risk torture and abuse, citing interrogation techniques such as stripping prisoners, blindfolding [...]

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New Phantom Limb Pain Therapy

This is a fascinating article on a therapy that uses mirrors to treat Phantom Limb Pain. Phantom limb pain is experienced by people who have lost a limb and is described as excruciating pain in the location where the limb used to be.
He tried several painkillers, including methadone, but the pain didn’t let up. Then [...]

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A Modest Column

Definitely worth the full read.
People in high office — like the president and the vice-president — have difficult, complicated jobs. If they forget to do stuff, or if they cut corners here and there, or if they tell a white lie now and then, that’s OK, because the important thing is for them to protect [...]

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Headline: “Bin Laden says U.S. seeks to exploit Iraqi oil”

“America seeks, alongside its agents in the region, to create an allied government … that would accept in advance the presence of major U.S. bases in Iraq and give the Americans all they wish of Iraq’s oil,” he said.

While I’ve no doubt the administration is preparing a response to the above, Bin Laden is not [...]

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