Special Coverage: War on Iraq

Former Iraqi PM Allawi Testifies Before Congress, Blasts Maliki

Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation. July 25, 2008.
The former interim PM criticized the surge, the constitution, and warned that Iraqi forces are not loyal to Iraq, but to sectarian militias.

From the blogs

Former Iraqi PM Says 'the Surge' Ain't So Great

by Adele M. Stan, Media Consortium

"Now, militarily, the surge has achieved some of its goals. Politically, I don't think so."

A Surge of Confusion (or: John McGaffe Strikes Again)

by Faiz Shakir, Think Progress

While the Anbar awakening is an important contributor to the drop in violence in Iraq, it is only one of several factors.

McCain: Time to Start Rationing Veterans' Healthcare

by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report

'McCain received a grade of D from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a 20 percent vote rating from the Disabled Veterans of America.'

Air Force Brass Get "Comfort Capsules" on Taxpayer's Dime

by Liliana Segura, AlterNet

A new report finds the Air Force is spending counterterrorism funds on luxury in-flight seating for military and civilian leaders.

Veterans Against McCain

by Vote Vets

New VoteVet.org ad gives voice to veterans for redeployment.

Rethinking Afghanistan

by Katrina Vanden Heuvel, The Nation

Obama is showing sound thinking on Iraq, so why does he continue to talk abou tescalating the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan?

Doesn't McCain Know That "Never Again" Only Applies to White People

by Joshua Holland, AlterNet

A few notes on McCain's cheap shot against Obama.

Iraq Update: Missed Deadlines; Sadrists in the Streets; "Security Agreement" Watered Down

by Juan Cole, Informed Comment

John McCain thinks that Iraq borders Pakistan while the troop agreement misses deadline and Mosul, Diyala, and Fallujah experience violence.

Washington Post Editorial Board Peddles 'U.S. Knows Best' Position on Iraq

by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report

The Washington Post still doesn't believe Maliki, Iraqi officials.

Looking Back: Rumsfeld Praised Mass Murderers Over PM Maliki

by Jonathan Schwarz, A Tiny Revolution

Apparently the Bush Administration not liking Maliki isn't a new thing.

Military Women Get Ready to Rock the Boat

Jennifer Hogg, Women's Media Center. July 25, 2008.
Female service members often remain silent about the dangers they face. Now is the time to break the culture of fear that keeps them quiet.

The Pornography of Power: Lust for Empire Has Weakened America

Emily Wilson, AlterNet. July 25, 2008.
Veteran journalist Robert Scheer on the media's complicity in war, the rise of the neocons and how even Nixon got some things right.

In Iraq, NGOs Eyed with Mistrust

Dahr Jamail, Ali Al-Fadhily, IPS News. July 24, 2008.
Initially looking towards NGOs to provide relief, most Iraqis now seem to think that NGOs are working mainly for money and personal gain.

German Firms Eye Iraq Market

Middle East Online. July 24, 2008.
Iraq was historically a strong partner for Germany.

Media Goof Again: Blackwater Isn't Going Anywhere

Jeremy Scahill, Comment Is Free. July 23, 2008.
Despite reports that the company is leaving the mercenary business, Blackwater's future is secure.

Iraq 2012

Chris Toensing, Caterwaul Quarterly. July 23, 2008.
With neither a Democratic or Republican president likely to withdraw anytime soon, Iraq is poised to be a campaign issue four years from now.

Is Obama Betraying His Promise of Change?

Robert Scheer, Truthdig. July 23, 2008.
Like McCain, Obama seems to embrace the fundamental irrationality of Bush's "war on terror."

Obama's Huge Coup on Iraq: McCain Was Asking for It

Patrick Cockburn, CounterPunch. July 23, 2008.
John McCain and the White House have been clearly dismayed and embarrassed by Iraqi govt. support for Obama's withdrawal plan.

U.S. Soldiers Kill Iraqi Governor's 17-Year Old Son

Ahmad al-Taii, Azzaman. July 22, 2008.
The provincial authorities in the relatively peaceful region have warned of "immediate measures" to avenge the killing.

Anti-War Movement Successfully Pushes Back Against Military Confrontation With Iran

Mark Weisbrot, AlterNet. July 22, 2008.
For something that's not supposed to exist, the anti-war movement sure was effective in fighting a recent resolution to blockade Iran.

Why Average Iraqis Didn't Pay Much Attention to Obama's Visit

Patrick Cockburn, The Nation. July 22, 2008.
With Iraqis more concerned with electricity that the U.S. election, a timetable for withdrawal is the best Obama could give them.

The Third Siege of Fallujah

Dahr Jamail, Ali Al-Fadhily, IPS News. July 21, 2008.
The two sieges of Fallujah in 2004 destroyed 75 percent of the city. Now, amid crumbling security, the U.S. is poised to do it again.

Maliki Endorses Obama's Iraq Timeline in Huge Blow for McCain, Bush

Tom Hayden, Huffington Post. July 19, 2008.
In a stunning breakthrough for Obama, Iraq's prime minister endorsed the Dem candidate's timeline for withdrawing combat troops from Iraq.

Memo to Obama, McCain: No One Wins in a War

Howard Zinn, Boston Globe. July 18, 2008.
We should be asking the candidates: Is our war in Afghanistan ending terrorism, or provoking it? And is not war itself terrorism?

Spending for Spooks: The Intelligence Budget Has Increased Dramatically

Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation. July 18, 2008.
The U.S. is currently spending between $55 and $66 billion a year on intelligence. So why can't we find Osama bin Laden?

Bush to Speed Iraq Troop Withdrawal in to Help McCain

Leonard Doyle, Independent UK. July 17, 2008.
Can the president synonymous with a military disaster put a positive spin on McCain's Iraq plan?

The Dark Side: Jane Mayer on How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals

Eric Umansky, ProPublica. July 17, 2008.
The investigative reporter who connected the dots on detention, rendition and torture, discusses her new book, The Dark Side.

"We're Going to Be Paying For This For a While": Soldiers Bring the War Home

Jill Carroll, Christian Science Monitor. July 16, 2008.
When veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan bring their troubles home, police and judges often are the first to deal with them.

Obama Wants to Shrink One War, But Expand Two Others

Tom Hayden, AlterNet. July 16, 2008.
Obama is serious about a withdrawal plan for Iraq, but he's committed himself to expanding the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dumb Idea.

Deceptive Questioning in Washington Post's McCain-Friendly Poll on Iraq

FAIR. July 15, 2008.
The corporate media keeps giving McCain cover on his unpopular Iraq position.

Iraq Proposes Time Frame for U.S. Withdrawal

Rahmat Al-Salama, Iraq Updates. July 15, 2008.
As the Status of Forces negotiations fall apart, a top Iraqi official says all U.S. and other forces should withdraw by 2011 at the latest.

The Wedding Crashers: U.S. Jets Have Bombed Five Ceremonies in Afghanistan

Tom Engelhardt, Tomdispatch.com. July 15, 2008.
We have become a nation of wedding crashers, the uninvited guests who arrived under false pretenses, tore up the place, offering nary an apology.

Anti-U.S. Sentiment on the Rise in Iraq

Azzaman. July 14, 2008.
As the real American strategic interests in Iraq are laid bare, anger at the U.S. and Iraqi government is fueling the resistance.

Is the Global Oil Crunch a Myth?

Ismael Hossein-zadeh, Middle East Online. July 14, 2008.
Bush and his allies want the focus to be on OPEC, not the instability his foreign policy has wrought.

Canada's Status as a Safe Haven for War Resisters Is Under Attack

Jessica Pupovac, AlterNet. July 14, 2008.
As Canadian immigration officials stand poised to deport U.S. war resisters, activists and Parliament work to provide a safe haven.

John Cusack: Bypassing the Corporate Media

Joshua Holland, AlterNet. July 12, 2008.
Cusack's anti-war polemic, War, Inc., continues to defy expectations, despite the traditional media's dismissive reception.

Chomsky: Bush & Cheney Always Saw Iraq as a Sweetheart Oil Deal

Noam Chomsky, Khaleej Times Online. July 12, 2008.
U.S. war planners want an obedient client state that will house major U.S. military bases, right at the heart of the world's major energy reserves.

With Unexpected Iraqi Withdrawal Demand, Bush Has Lost the War

Gareth Porter, IPS News. July 11, 2008.
New Iraqi resistance to U.S. demands reflects Iran's influence as well as Sadr's belief that he could succeed in driving U.S. forces out.

Are Cheney's Iran Dreams Shattered?

Tom Engelhardt, Tomdispatch.com. July 11, 2008.
Just because there's a will doesn't mean there's a way.

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News and analysis on Sunni, Shiites, Kurds, oil, Blackwater, terrorism, anti-war protests, troop withdrawal debates, and more.

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