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The Real Reason Obama Is Escalating In Afghanistan

by Christian Parenti, The Nation

The real purpose of these 30,000 soldiers is to make Obama look tough as he heads toward the next U.S. presidential election.

Michael Tomasky v. Michael Moore: Whose Afghanistan View is More Imperialist?

by Adele Stan, AlterNet

Michael Moore says the U.S. mission in Afghanistan is about the American empire. Tomasky pleads a moral case for intervention.

2011? Did We Say 2011? Administration Officials Backpedal on Afghan Withdrawal

by Staff, Think Progress

Gen. David Petraeus: "There’s no timeline, no ramp, nothing like that."

Thomas Friedman Can't Stop Comparing Afghanistan to a "Special Needs Baby"

by Liliana Segura, AlterNet

From Charlie Rose to Hardball, Friedman has spent months polishing his favorite new metaphor.

Obama Advisers Backpedal on Afghanistan: "There Is No Timetable;" "We're Not Talking About an Exit Strategy"

by Faiz Shakir, Think Progress

Over the weekend, David Petraeus, James Jones, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden told various news outlets that 2011 is not a hard deadline for withdrawal.

UPDATED: Defense Contractor Makes Up Wild Islamic Terrorism Fantasy; Right-Wingers Act Like it's 9/11 All Over Again

by Joshua Holland, AlterNet

Weird story.

Krauthammer: My Pants Don't Tingle When Obama Gets On His War-Talk!

by Brad Reed, Sadly, No!

War isn't a matter of national security for the neocon.

Unfriendly Fire: Michael Tomasky Attacks Michael Moore on Afghanistan

by Lindsay Beyerstein, Majikthise

I am so sick of hearing this straw man argument from liberals.

Jon Stewart on Swiss Minaretaphobia

by Staff, AlterNet

Amidst call for even more intolerance.

Erik Prince Quitting Blackwater to Teach High School History and Economics

by Alex Seitz-Wald, Think Progress

"I may even coach wrestling. Hey, Indiana Jones taught school, too."

The Swiss Minaret Ban: What Are They Really Trying to Outlaw?

Laila Lalami, The Nation. December 9, 2009.
A voter referendum prohibiting the construction of minarets in Switzerland is part of a disturbing, anti-Muslim trend that's been working its way through Europe for years.

Obama Far Outdoes Bush in Escalating War -- The Numbers Will Surprise You

David DeGraw, Amped Status. December 9, 2009.
Increasing numbers of deployed soldiers, mercenaries and drones all add up to Obama being more of a war president than Bush, in terms of hard numbers.

Iraq-WMD Claim Came from ... a Cab Driver?

John Byrne, Raw Story. December 9, 2009.
News in the UK: Iraqi cab driver was source of an infamous claim made by Prime Minister Tony Blair that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

Is Erik Prince Threatening the U.S. Government?

Jeremy Scahill, The Nation. December 8, 2009.
Did Blackwater's owner speak to Vanity Fair to send a message to the Justice Department about government secrets he can reveal?

How Hyper-Capitalism May Hobble the Copenhagen Summit

Walden Bello, Foreign Policy in Focus. December 8, 2009.
Unless we re-think the export-oriented capitalism that's causing all of our climate problems, the Copenhagen conference will be nothing more than a Band-Aid.

At Least 127 Dead in Baghdad Bombings

Agence France Presse. December 8, 2009.
Five massive vehicle-borne bombs rocked Baghdad on Tuesday, killing scores, iincluding women and students. It was the third coordinated massacre in the city since August.

Are Liberals Pathetic?

Chris Hedges, Truthdig. December 7, 2009.
Sterile posturing and cowardice have hollowed out the liberal cause.

Four Men Leave Guantanamo; Two Face Ill-Defined Trials in Italy

Andy Worthington, AlterNet. December 7, 2009.
Last week, the Obama administration announced that it had transferred four prisoners from Gitmo: one to France, one to Hungary, and two to Italy.

Over 1,000 Delegates for Peace Will Mark 1st Anniversary of Gaza Invasion, Protest Ongoing Israeli Siege

Medea Benjamin, AlterNet. December 7, 2009.
Impressive international delegation coming from 42 countries signed up for the Dec. 31 Gaza Freedom March.

The Other Occupation: Western Sahara and the Case of Aminatou Haidar

Stephen Zunes, AlterNet. December 5, 2009.
How long will U.S. authorities ignore the bleak realities of Moroccan repression?

Obama's War Speech Woke the Sleeping Giant -- Anger Over Afghan Surge Fuels Country-Wide Protests

Jodie Evans, AlterNet. December 4, 2009.
The president's announcement of a troop surge in Afghanistan this week prompted protests in over 80 communities across the country.

Honduras: What Now?

Thelma Mejia, IPS News. December 4, 2009.
The Honduran Congress voted this week not to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya. "Mr. Zelaya is history," said Roberto Micheletti, who took power after the coup.

Progressive Leaders Pan Obama's Decision for More War in Afghanistan -- 10 Reactions

AlterNet. December 4, 2009.
Tom Hayden says he's taking the Obama bumpersticker off his car, Laura Flanders says the Bush Doctrine is still alive, and more.

Why Should We Get Out of Afghanistan? Because Imperialism Is a Fool's Game

Larry Beinhart, AlterNet. December 3, 2009.
Imperial occupations have become geometrically more difficult since the Second World War.

Obama's War Speech Offered Something for Everybody -- But Who's Buying It?

Rory O'Connor, MediaChannel.org. December 2, 2009.
Obama's promise: Let's come together and get along to end the war - by waging the war more intensely…but only for eighteen months, and then we all get to go home.

Hightower: What Is Obama Getting Us into in Afghanistan?

Jim Hightower, Creators Syndicate. December 2, 2009.
Cut the music, and let's all ponder what Barack Obama, Roberts Gates, Stanley McChrystal and Co. are getting us into ... and whether we really want to go there.

Obama's Afghan Surge Rationale Contradicts His Own Recent Position

Gareth Porter, IPS News. December 2, 2009.
Obama's rationale for escalation in Afghanistan is based on a notion that he recently rejected: the supposedly indissoluble link between the Taliban insurgency and al Qaeda.

A Humanitarian Disaster in the Making Along the Chad-Cameroon Oil Pipeline -- Who's Watching?

Brendan Schwartz, Valery Nodem, AlterNet. December 2, 2009.
The discovery of oil in Chad was supposed to allieviate poverty and human suffering, but it's only enriched Western Oil companies and the local dictators.

Obama's Misguided War Speech Shouldn't Be the Last Word on Afghanistan

John Nichols, The Nation. December 1, 2009.
Presidents are not supposed to begin and end the discussion about war. With both parties divided over Afghanistan, it's time for Congress to debate the Obama's war plan.

Will A Long-Awaited Israel/Palestine Prisoner Swap Finally Go Through?

Jerrold Kessel, Pierre Klochendler, IPS News. December 1, 2009.
Whether or not Marwan Barghouti will be among those released on the Palestinian side could have important implications for the peace process.

Michael Moore: An Open Letter to President Obama on Afghanistan

Michael Moore, MichaelMoore.com. December 1, 2009.
You still have the opportunity to save thousands of lives and live up to your campaign promises. Don't become the next war president, Mr. Obama.

Former Member of Afghan Parliament: Obama, We Don't Want a Troop Surge in Our Country

Malalai Joya, Comment Is Free. December 1, 2009.
If Barack Obama heralds an escalation of the war, he will betray his own message of hope and deepen my people's pain.

Amy Goodman Detained at Canadian Border; Guards Demand Notes For Speaking Event

Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez, Democracy Now!. November 30, 2009.
Border guards held Goodman and her colleagues for an hour and a half, searching their belongings and telling them they could only stay in the country for two days.

Politicians' Symbolic Opposition to Afghan Escalation is Pointless As Long As Congress Keeps Writing Checks

Norman Solomon, AlterNet. November 30, 2009.
It doesn't much matter whether people "support" the escalation. What matters is whether they openly oppose it -- and, if so, how vocally and emphatically.

Whatever Happened to the CIA Black Sites?

David Corn, Mother Jones. November 26, 2009.
The CIA ordered its secret prisons closed, but lawyers for terrorism suspects want them preserved as possible evidence -- and the CIA won't say what's going on.

The Battle of Durban II: New Film Brings Dose of Sanity to Debate Over Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Brian White, Gotcha Movies. November 26, 2009.
It's a great feat to bring an even view to international politics. The Battle of Durbin II does just that.

Citing "National Defense Needs," Obama Administration Says it Won't Sign Ban on Land Mines

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!. November 26, 2009.
Stephen Goose, director of Human Rights Watch's arms division, called the decision to keep the Bush-era policy "an appalling decision."

Is Obama Following in the Footsteps of Bill Clinton?

Jeff Cohen, AlterNet. November 26, 2009.
Obama's shown a Clinton-like willingness to roll over progressives to enact corrupt legislation and compromise for the votes of Republicans.

Palestinian Children Face Daily Attacks While Going to School

Mel Frykberg, IPS News. November 25, 2009.
A safe walk to school is something many American children take for granted. Not so for many Palestinian youths who are facing attacks from Israeli settlers.

Murder at Guantanamo? The Mysterious, Unsolved Death of Mohammad Saleh al Hanashi

Jeffrey S. Kaye, TruthOut.org. November 25, 2009.
Mohammad Saleh al Hanashi was found dead inside a psych ward at Guantanamo. It was ruled a suicide. But disturbing evidence suggest the truth may be far uglier.

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