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Right-Wing Pundits Now Lecturing the Military: Bases Need More Guns

by Eric Boehlert, Media Matters for America

Logically more guns would mean less shootings, right? Wait ...

Dogs Going Crazy as Their Soldiers Return Home

by Joshua Holland, AlterNet

Priceless.

Marine Reservist Chases, Assaults Greek Orthodox Priest Whom He Mistook for an Arab Terrorist

by Faiz Shakir, Think Progress

Jasen D. Bruce hit the priest in the head with a tire iron, then chased him three blocks.

Korean Warships Exchange Fire on the SK/NK Border

by Staff, AlterNet

The two sides blamed each other for the confrontation, which left one North Korean boat engulfed in flames.

Blaming Muslims For the Fort Hood Massacre Will Only Create More Victims

by Wajahat Ali, Comment Is Free

Whatever was in the mind of alleged shooter Major Nidal Malik Hasan is no reason to question the loyalty of Muslim Americans.

Report: Hasan Snapped Under Weight of Bullying, Anxiety Over Deployment

by Joshua Holland, AlterNet

That's not stopping the usual suspects from crying "jihad."

Who's Been Held Accountable for the Crimes of Bush's "War on Terror"? Four Italians ... Sort of

by Joshua Holland, AlterNet

Certainly not those who ran our shadowy network of secret prisons, nor their superiors who created it.

Joe Lieberman: Swine Flu is Either with Us or the Terrorists!

by Steve M., No More Mister Nice Blog

Oh, Joe ...

Honduras Coup Regime: 'Break-Through Accord' Was Just a PR Ploy ... Zelaya Won't Return

by Lindsay Beyerstein, Majikthise

An adviser to "interim president" Roberto Micheletti says just agreeing was enough to gain international recognition of the upcoming elections.

We Don't Want Obama to Make Bush's Policies Succeed; We Want New Policies

by Leslie Savan, TheNation.com

Obama is better at just about every act of presidenting than Bush was, more graceful, more self-aware. But that's not the point.

Why the Ft. Hood Massacre Is George Bush's Fault

Thom Hartmann, The Smirking Chimp. November 11, 2009.
If Al Gore (or even Ralph Nader) had been President in 2001, the Ft. Hood massacre almost certainly wouldn't have happened. Because George W. Bush was president, it did.

Afghanistan Is Worse Off Than Ever, Thanks to the Sham Army We're Propping Up

Chris Hedges, Truthdig. November 11, 2009.
Cultural barriers and naked corruption have rendered the Afghan National Army completely inept.

Why Are We Locking Up Traumatized Veterans for Their Addictions Instead of Offering Them Treatment?

Penny Coleman, AlterNet. November 11, 2009.
This Veterans Day, let's get past the bunting and ribbons and look at our returning troops' real needs.

Egyptian Marine: Soldiers Often 'Racialize' the Enemy to Cope With Stress

Aaron Glantz, New America Media. November 10, 2009.
NAM Editor Aaron Glantz spoke to former Marine Corps Cpl. Dave Hassan, who served in Iraq. Hassan said that while he was there, racist language was so pervasive he used it himself.

"Women Are Being Killed All Over the World": One Reporter's Fight Against So-Called "Honor Killings"

Robert S. Eshelman, The Brooklyn Rail. November 10, 2009.
A new book tells the story of so-called "honor killings" in Jordan. Author Rana Husseini discusses the growing movement against this deadly form of violence against women.

10 Suicides a Year at Ft. Hood -- War Stress Is Taking Soldiers to the Brink

Dahr Jamail, Asia Times. November 10, 2009.
The shooting tragedy at Fort Hood on Friday points to a much larger problem of combat stress and overdeployment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nobel Laureate Slams the Bible, Calls It "A Catalogue of Cruelties"

Mario de Queiroz, IPS News. November 9, 2009.
The holy book is a "manual of bad morals," according to José Saramago.

As Foreclosure Nightmares Increase, Will More Homeowners Pay Off Their Bankers in Violence?

Scott Thill, AlterNet. November 9, 2009.
The economic crisis revealed late-capitalism's central offense: Human beings are being transparently treated if they were mere transactions. And they're going postal over it.

With Unemployment at 40 Percent, Afghan Teens Enlist in Army, Police

Lal Aqa Sherin, IPS News. November 7, 2009.
In a matter of weeks, Afghanistan's boys can go from high school students, to uniformed soldiers.

The Victims At Fort Hood Are Casualties of War: Why Won't the Government Count Them Among the Dead?

Aaron Glantz, New America Media. November 6, 2009.
Perhaps the most depressing aspect of Thursday's shoot-out at Fort Hood is that none of the people who died will be counted as casualties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If You Say the Taliban = 9/11 Often Enough, Maybe Someone Will Believe It?

Greg Palast, GregPalast.com. November 6, 2009.
It's the latest hit from the same crew that brought you Saddam = 9/11 and its twin chant, Saddam = WMD.

Claim: CIA Sent Prisoners Abroad to Be Boiled Alive and 'Raped with Broken Bottles'

Daniel Tencer, Raw Story. November 6, 2009.
Former British ambassador alleges CIA relied on intelligence based on torture in prisons in Uzbekistan.

Stop U.S. Meddling; Support Afghan Women at the Table

Jodie Evans, CODEPINK Women for Peace: Action Blog. November 6, 2009.
Meddling in Afghanistan’s elections and U.S. failure at every turn to deliver security and justice is increasing the potency of the Taliban.

Republicans and Democrats Come Together to Launch Unprecedented Attack on International Law

Stephen Zunes, AlterNet. November 5, 2009.
This is George W. Bush's foreign policy legacy, which — through this resolution — the Democrats, no less than their Republican counterparts, have now eagerly embraced.

Gorbachev on His Legacy, and Obama's Chance to Lead an American Perestroika

Katrina vanden Heuvel, Stephen Cohen, The Nation. November 4, 2009.
The former Soviet leader on his push for a peaceful dissolution of the Russian empire, and his idea that the US should follow suit.

23 CIA Agents Convicted in Italy for Kidnapping Egyptian Cleric

Gina Doggett, Agence France Presse. November 4, 2009.
The CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Seldon Lady, was sentenced to eight years in prison and othersto five years, all in their absence in the landmark trial.

A Call for Clarity on the War in Afghanistan

Sonali Kolhatkar, Foreign Policy in Focus. November 4, 2009.
It will take time and complexity, as well as trial and error, to help rebuild Afghanistan for ordinary Afghans, and by extension make Americans safer.

Nothing But Bad Policy Options for Obama in Afghanistan

Tom Engelhardt, Tomdispatch.com. November 4, 2009.
Can we avoid an approach to Afghanistan where impending disaster is seen as an invitation to make things even worse?

"Pro-Israel" Group's Money Trail Veers Hard Right

Eli Clifton, IPS News. November 4, 2009.
StandWithUs, a pro-Israel group known for challenging the credentials of more moderate Israel lobbyists, has accepted contributions from a slew of hard-right beneficiaries.

U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Are Burning Copies of the Koran? Are We Really That Stupid?

Abdullah Obaidi, Asia Times. November 4, 2009.
According to villagers, several U.S. soldiers burned Korans when they couldn't locate insurgents they believed had blown up part of their convoy.

Iraq Movie, 'The Hurt Locker' Is Generating Oscar Buzz: But Does It Deserve It?

Jasmin Ramsey, AlterNet. November 4, 2009.
Critics have praised the film as a realistic, Academy Award-worthy piece of filmmaking. But is there really anything realistic about it?

Why Can't the Corporate Media Just Tell the Truth About Iraq & Afghanistan?

Rory O'Connor, MediaChannel.org. November 4, 2009.
One NY Times reporter finally 'fesses up that the invasion of Iraq wasn't presented truthfully by the big media outlets. It's still not too late to tell the truth.

An All-Out War Rages in Brazil's Slums

Fabiana Frayssinet, IPS News. November 3, 2009.
Despite a spike in drug-related violence, Brazilian authorities have insufficient resources to halt gang confrontations.

In Afghanistan, Victory For a Crooked, Corrupt, and Discredited Government

Patrick Cockburn, Independent UK. November 3, 2009.
The election in Afghanistan has turned into a disaster for all who promoted it.

Baghdad Bombing Atrocity Threatens Iraqi Elections

Ali Karim, Institute for War and Peace Reporting. November 3, 2009.
Concerns that violence could deter voters in upcoming polls come amid widespread anger at government’s security failings.

Chaos In Afghanistan as Abdullah Abdullah Pulls Out of Election

Kim Sengupta, Independent UK. November 2, 2009.
The much-anticipated runoff vote in Afghanistan has become a one-horse race for President Hamid Karzai.

Hey Obama, Your General McChrystal Is Trying to Sucker You on Afghanistan

Scott Ritter, Truthdig. October 31, 2009.
Don't give in.

Why Obama's Grand Schemes for Iran Are Doomed to Fail

Dilip Hiro, Tomdispatch.com. October 30, 2009.
Following the Bush pattern of expecting the leaders of Iran to do the bidding of Washington means placing a bet on the inconceivable.

Elie Wiesel's Shocking Stage Appearance With Mad Preacher and Anti-Semite John Hagee

Max Blumenthal, AlterNet. October 29, 2009.
The controversial Christian right figure baselessly trashed Obama, and Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Wiesel calls him "dear pastor." What gives?

There's No Hope for Afghanistan If Women Aren't Involved

Ann Jones, The Nation. October 28, 2009.
What happens to women in Afghanistan is not merely a "women's issue." It is the central issue of stability, development and durable peace.

Why Won't Obama Send Condolence Letters to the Parents of Soldiers Who Have Committed Suicide?

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!. October 28, 2009.
The bereaved parents of Chancellor Keesling, a US soldier who took his own life in Iraq, wonder why the death of their son is treated differently than other mortalities.

How a Dysfunctional Immigration System Keeps Hard-Working Families Apart

Meredith Higashi, Ronald Lee, Immigration Impact. October 28, 2009.
Those who say the status quo works just don't grasp how damaging it is to the families it tears apart.

Pakistani Government Closing Schools Amid Increased Attacks

Ashfaq Yusufzai, IPS News. October 27, 2009.
Between 2007 and 2009 alone, a total 188 schools for girls and 97 for boys were destroyed by the Taliban in Swat, displacing some 500,000 students.

6 Signs That the American Empire Is Coming to an Early End

Michael T. Klare, Tomdispatch.com. October 27, 2009.
The day of America's global pre-eminence is over. We must face the new global realities.

Attack of the Drones? Airstrikes Won't Build a Better Future in Afghanistan

Priya Satia, The Nation. October 26, 2009.
The media is enamored of high-tech, sexy-sounding airstrikes over Pakistan. They shouldn't be.

Is the End Near for the Right-Wing's Vice Grip on U.S. Israeli Policy?

Joshua Holland, AlterNet. October 26, 2009.
Obama's national security adviser will keynote the inaugural conference of the moderate advocacy group J-Street, an alternative to Washington's hawkish Israel lobby.

Will Anyone Actually Vote in Afghanistan's Much Anticipated Run-Off Election?

Hafizullah Gardesh, Institute for War and Peace Reporting. October 23, 2009.
While the candidates prepare for the elections, experts question whether a second round is even possible, given the security crisis, bad weather, and Afghan disillusionment.

It's Not Too Late for Obama to Choose Between Being a Peace President and War President

Nick Turse, Tomdispatch.com. October 23, 2009.
Obama can choose between going on the peace maker-route, or take the path of recent presidents and continue with the war games.

An Historical Shift: American Jews Rethink Israel

Adam Horowitz, Philip Weiss, The Nation. October 23, 2009.
The Jewish push for peace is surging through the grassroots, but leaders and policy-makers are still turning a deaf ear.

Under Guise of "War on Terror," Assault on American Muslims Still in Full Swing

David L. Ostendorf, Imagine 2050. October 23, 2009.
The civil liberties of American Muslims are regularly assaulted and the religious rights of faithful peoples are casually trampled.

Neocons Salivating Over Their Next Great Exaggerated "Threat": Electromagnetic Pulse Attack

Robert Farley, Right Web. October 22, 2009.
A diverse array of rightwing factions have united behind the effort to promote the EMP threat thesis.

"They Gave Me $100 And Told Me To Fend For Myself": Why One Iraqi Deported From Britain Fears For His Life

Kim Sengupta, Gaylan al-Ogaidy, Independent UK. October 22, 2009.
Abu Yousif fled Iraq after his life was threatened over his work for a U.S.-employed firm. "Working for foreigners made you a target, but I needed the money to feed my family."

Does Military Service Turn Young Men into Sexual Predators?

Penny Coleman, AlterNet. October 22, 2009.
"Everyone has the potential to be a sex offender. It depends on how they have been conditioned."

It's Official: Run-off Vote in Afghanistan

Stephen Collinson, Agence France Presse. October 20, 2009.
Washington spent several days pressuring Afghan President Hamid Karzai to enter a second round of voting following his fraud-tainted election win.

Bill Moyers: How Can the U.S. Be an Empire and a Democracy at the Same Time?

Bill Moyers, Bill Moyers Journal. October 20, 2009.
An interview with Mark Danner, whose new book, Stripping Bare the Body, explores the strange notion of a democratic empire and the wars it wages.

Will the Soldiers We Train in Afghanistan End Up Trying to Kill Us in the Future? It's Happened Before

Tom Engelhardt, Tomdispatch.com. October 20, 2009.
For 30 years we've been deeply involved in creating, financing, and sometimes arming a part of the world that has shown willingness to create violence on our own soil.

Revealed: American Diplomat's Troubling Role in Iraqi Oil Politics

Helena Cobban, IPS News. October 19, 2009.
For many years, U.S. diplomat Peter Galbraith had a secret financial interest in the political breakup of Iraq.

CodePink Founder Jodie Evans Challenges Obama Up Close and Personal on His Afghanistan Policy

Don Hazen, AlterNet. October 17, 2009.
Armed with the signatures of thousands of Afghan women asking him not to send more troops, Evans told Obama that women must have a seat at the negotiating table.

Getting to Zero: A Future of No Nukes and a Death-Free Definition of National Interest

Russ Wellen, The Faster Times. October 17, 2009.
"Slowly but surely, not only the United States, but much of the world, seems to be walking back the number of deaths it accepts in the interest of national defense."

Striking Graphic History Tells Story of Honduras Coup and Unrest

Dan Archer, Nikil Saval, AlterNet. October 17, 2009.
Check out this stunning graphic portrayal of the unrest that's ripped through Honduras.

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