War & Peace

Civil Liberties and Security in an Age of Terrorism

"Civil Liberties in an Age of Terrorism: A special evening with our 'Challenge of Liberty Summer Seminars' students and featured by C-SPAN's Book TV. Watch this eye-opening, timely discussion on the recent revelations of systematic government spying—including NSA accessing of phone records, USPS photocopying the exterior of all mail, and the dangers posed to liberty and security by these and other such unchecked and unconstitutional powers." Continue reading →

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Iran and Iraq, BFF (Best Friends Forever)?

"Why did Iraq invade Iran in 1980? A major reason was the fact that Iraq's majority is Shiite. Let's not forget that the majority of Iran's citizens associate themselves with the Shi'a branch of Islam. Remember Saddam Hussein? Well he was a Sunni, and the Sunnis were in control in Iraq. Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi military were backed by the US, Britain, and other Western countries. Saddam invaded Iran to establish Iraq as the dominant Gulf state, and to also suppress the Shi'a majority from revolting in Iraq. Now the government of Iraq is ruled by Shiites. The government of Iran is also Shi'a dominated, with the majority of the population being Shiite." Continue reading →

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Afghanistan Audits Reveal Billions in U.S. Taxpayer Waste

"As the U.S. prepares to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, the government watchdog charged with overseeing nearly $100 billion in contracts to reconstruct the country has found almost $2 billion in potential waste, fraud and abuse in the last three months alone — some of which has likely led to the deaths of American servicemen and women, according to the agency’s reports. The string of alleged violations includes phantom projects, improperly awarded contracts, aborted projects, deserted construction, a general lack of transparency to comprehensively oversee projects and, in one instance, building a $34 million military facility that will never be used." Continue reading →

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Seven killed, hundreds injured in new round of dueling protests in Egypt

"At least seven people were killed and hundreds wounded in scattered violence across Egypt during mass rallies for and against the army’s overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, who was placed under investigation for murder. With hundreds of thousands taking to the streets on Friday, the new bloodshed deepened the turmoil convulsing the Arab world’s most populous country, and could trigger a decisive move by the military against Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood. The country of 84 million people forms a bridge between the Middle East and North Africa and receives $1.5 billion a year in mainly military aid from Washington." Continue reading →

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Paul Craig Roberts: The Two Faux Democracies Threaten Life On Earth

"The Pentagon’s 'AirSea Battle' and Lieber and Press’ article in Foreign Affairs have informed China and Russia that Washington is contemplating pre-emptive nuclear attack on both countries. To ensure Russia’s inability to retaliate, Washington is placing anti-ballistic missiles on Russia’s borders in violation of the US-USSR agreement. Because the American press is a corrupt government propaganda ministry, the American people have no idea that neoconized Washington is planning nuclear war, or of former President Jimmy Carter’s recent statement, reported only in Germany, that the United States no longer has a functioning democracy." Continue reading →

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Even who we’re in a drone war with is classified

"Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., asked the Defense Department to provide him with a current list of Al Qaeda affiliates. The Pentagon responded - but Levin’s office told ProPublica they aren’t allowed to share it. Kathleen Long, a spokeswoman for Levin, would say only that the department’s 'answer included the information requested.' A Pentagon spokesman told ProPublica that revealing such a list could cause 'serious damage to national security.' 'Because elements that might be considered 'associated forces’ can build credibility by being listed as such by the United States, we have classified the list,' said the spokesman, Lt. Col. Jim Gregory." Continue reading →

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Women in combat no later than 2016, Pentagon says

"Women could be officially moving into combat roles by 2016, according to top US military officials. But some lawmakers continue to express concern about whether the Pentagon will be able to make this move without lowering physical standards. Others express concern that the integration of women into fighting units could increase incidents of sexual assault." Continue reading →

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Army plans switch to ‘green’ bullets containing copper

"The Army has been looking to 'green' small caliber ammo for some time now. In 2010, the Army switched to the greener 5.56 mm M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round. 'The EPR replaces the lead slug with a copper slug,' said Lt. Col. Phil Clark, product manager for small caliber ammunition in the Program Executive Officer Ammunition. 'This makes the projectile environmentally-friendly, while still giving soldiers the performance capabilities they need on the battlefield. So far we have eliminated 1,994 metric tons of lead from 5.56 ammunition production.'" Continue reading →

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Bush Presidential Library Misleads Visitors On WMDs In Iraq

"If you go to war based on what’s later shown to be a lie, how does a museum dedicated to your legacy address it? That’s the overarching question as you set foot into the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which opened last month on Southern Methodist University’s campus. The answer: uncomfortably. In at least eight separate instances, the library offers displays, audio, or video designed to give the impression that Saddam Hussein either possessed weapons of mass destruction, or was on the verge of getting them. It’s the Beetlejuice approach: say 'weapons of mass destruction' enough times and they will appear." Continue reading →

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U.S. Senator Wants Resolution Authorizing War With Iran If ‘Nothing Changes’ In Two Months

"Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said on Tuesday that he plans to introduce a resolution authorizing war with Iran if 'nothing changes' regarding the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program by the end of the year. 'If nothing changes in Iran, come September, October, I will present a resolution that will authorize the use of military force to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb,' Graham told a 'cheering' audience at a conference put on by the right-wing group Christians United for Israel, according to CQ Roll Call." Continue reading →

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