The killing fields of Iraq

According to this article in Alternet, a British polling firm has concluded that "1.2 million Iraqis have met violent deaths since the 2003 invasion."  More disturbing, Americans have no idea that their invasion has caused such misery and, for the most part, the American media doesn't care about reporting these…

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Obama to Bush: You don’t have our support for a war against Iran

The following is an excerpt from a speech Barak Obama is scheduled to give today in Iowa: We hear eerie echoes of the run-up to the war in Iraq in the way that the President and Vice President talk about Iran. They conflate Iran and al Qaeda. They issue veiled…

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Because we’re “kicking ass” in Iraq, President Bush should lead a parade through downtown Baghdad

I’m having a bit of trouble understanding all of the newly released reports coming out about Iraq.  Luckily for everyone, when Australia Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile recently asked President Bush for an update on Iraq, the President told him “We’re kicking ass.” OK.  Fair enough.  That sums it up…

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Vengefulness, bigotry and machismo as justifications for U.S. Middle East meddling

I recently discussed American foreign policy with an attorney over lunch.  Over the years, this fellow had generally shown himself to be thoughtful on many issues.  He is a meticulous lawyer, charged with parsing out bits of relevant evidence regarding the dozens of cases on which he works every day. It eventually became…

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O’Reilly and Ron Paul debate U.S. Middle East policy

This one is difficult to watch because O'Reilly is so utterly condescending and so unwilling to allow his guest (Ron Paul) to speak. The debate does capture the neocon perspective (O'Reilly) and Paul's view, to which I am sympathic. Ron Paul argues that our "troubles" in the Middle East are…

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