Wednesday, November 18, 2009

KSM and the MSM

By David Swanson
November 18, 209

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the corporate "mainstream" media make quite a pair.

Read on.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Afghan Lessons from the Iraq War

By Ray McGovern
November 17, 2009

You don’t have to go back 40 years to the Vietnam War to feel the sting of déjà vu. Returning to the Iraq War just three years ago will suffice.

Read on.

War and Remembrance in London

By Michael Winship
November 17, 2009

In Great Britain, Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday of November, the one closest to November 11th, the anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1918. Once, the world called November 11th Armistice Day. Now, in the United States at least, it is Veterans Day.

Read on.

The Ugly Truth about Jobs

By Robert Parry
November 17, 2009

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke has given Americans a glimpse of the ugly truth about their future job prospects. Simply put, companies have found that they can shed workers and rely on technological advances and overseas factories to operate with a lot fewer U.S. employees.

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History's Bitter Guerrilla War Lessons

By Ivan Eland
November 17, 2009

In recent history, very few counterinsurgency wars have ended in success.

Read on.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Will the Gun Carnage Ever Stop?

By Sherwood Ross
November 16, 2009

Every time the young stick-up man tugged at my companion’s purse with his left hand, she would pull back, causing the muzzle of the pistol he held in his right hand to swing back and forth.

Read on.

Facts Behind 'Men Who Stare at Goats'

By Lisa Pease
November 16, 2009

Can people really influence the physical world with thought alone? And if so, dare we use that power for evil, instead of good? Or will the effort come back to haunt us?

Read on.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Shining Light on Roots of Terrorism

By Ray McGovern
November 15, 2009

Media commentary on the upcoming 9/11 trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has raised concern that state secrets may be divulged, including details about how the Bush administration used torture to extract evidence about al-Qaeda.

Read on.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

On Bended Knee to Bob Gates

By Melvin A. Goodman
November 14, 2009

Michael Crowley of the New Republic is the latest journalist to give absolution to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates for his long record of politicizing intelligence and undercutting conciliatory policy initiatives.

Read on.

Leaving Afghanistan to US 'Experts'

By David Swanson
November 14, 2009

The last time I was on Laura Flanders's GRIT TV I argued that the American public opposed the occupation of Afghanistan, but another guest -- some Washington, D.C., "progressive" -- argued that this had no relevance, since the American public didn't know anything about Afghanistan.

Read on.

Friday, November 13, 2009

The October Surprise Crystal Balls

By Robert Parry
November 13, 2009

In fall 1980, as President Jimmy Carter struggled to free 52 American hostages in Iran and as American voters focused on a crossroads election, key supporters of Republican candidate Ronald Reagan were confident not only of Reagan’s victory but that the hostages wouldn’t be released until after Reagan was sworn in.

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Real Thanksgiving Day

By William Loren Katz
November 12, 2009

Thanksgiving Day remains a most treasured holiday in the United States. Work comes to a halt, families gather, eat turkey, and count their blessings. A presidential proclamation blesses the day.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Another Option for the Public Option

By Robert Parry
November 12, 2009

Since the Democrats have already agreed to water down the health-insurance public option and to set its implementation date as 2013, there might be nothing to lose – and possibly a Republican vote or two to gain – if Democrats agreed to a trigger giving insurance companies the next three years to prove they can hold down costs and meet consumer needs.

Read on.

Why the Blase Attitude about Torture

By Ray McGovern
November 11, 2009

“We’re going to talk about the policy of torture,” the radio producer said when she called me five years ago. “And you’ll have ten minutes to defend your side.”

Read on.

Rev. Moon's Troubled Generation Next

By Robert Parry
November 11, 2009

Editor’s Note: In a normal world, the question of who will succeed a crazed cult leader like the 90-year-old Rev. Sun Myung Moon would not be an issue of much public importance. But – incredibly – Moon’s money-laundering empire was allowed to become a major funding source for America’s powerful right-wing media and key Republicans.

Read on.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

America's Debt to Italian Justice

By David Swanson
November 10, 2009

The United States of America owes much of the hope it has right now of remaining what John Adams called "a nation of laws, not men" to Italian law enforcement.

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Why Lieberman Blocks a Public Option

By Robert Parry
November 10, 2009

With the health-reform bill’s “public option” truly reduced to the “sliver” that President Barack Obama once called it – and indeed having become a feature that mostly benefits the insurance industry – the next question must be: why is it still being opposed by industry defenders like Sen. Joe Lieberman?

Read on.

Monday, November 09, 2009

US Punditry's Anti-Obama Lens

By Michael Winship
November 9, 2009

Last Sunday, we visited the ruins of ancient Delphi, two hours or so from the Greek capital of Athens, an extraordinary site at the base of Mount Parnassus overlooking the Pleistos Valley, almost half a mile below.

Read on.

Blaming the 'Dithering' Obama

By Robert Parry
November 9, 2009

Despite House passage of the health-care overhaul bill on Saturday night, the word “dithering” is getting attached to President Barack Obama, much as “hubris” was tagged to George W. Bush and “undisciplined” applied to Bill Clinton.

Read on.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Lost Commandment: Help Strangers

By the Rev. Howard Bess
November 8, 2009

I never cease to be amazed at the teachings of the Bible that are completely ignored. Typically preachers find preaching hobby-horses to ride and meticulously avoid some of the most important and difficult teachings of the Old and New Testaments.

Read on.