War & Peace

What Does History Say About U.S. Success in Arming Rebel Movements?

"So what does history say about how successful the U.S. has been in arming rebel opposition movements? On that, we get two views, Michael Pillsbury was assistant undersecretary of defense for policy planning during the Reagan administration. He was responsible for coordinating covert aid to the Afghanistan mujahideen in their fight against the Soviets. He's now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and still advises the Defense Department. And Robert Dreyfuss is a journalist and contributing editor at 'The Nation' and author of the book 'Devil's Game: How the United States Helped Unleash Fundamentalist Islam.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat Does History Say About U.S. Success in Arming Rebel Movements?

Clashes erupt as Islamists push back in Egypt

"Enraged Islamists pushed back Friday against the toppling of President Mohammed Morsi, as tens of thousands of his supporters took to the streets vowing to win his reinstatement and clashed with their opponents in violence that killed 30 and drove the divided nation toward an increasingly dangerous showdown. The clashes accelerated after the supreme leader of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood defiantly proclaimed that his followers would not give up street action until the return of the country's first freely elected president, swept out of power days earlier by the military. Morsi opponents called out the public to defend against the Brotherhood." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingClashes erupt as Islamists push back in Egypt

Egypt army opens fire on pro-Morsi protesters

"At least three supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi were killed by gunfire as a crowd of several hundred tried to march towards the military barracks in Cairo where he is believed to be held. Al Jazeera's Matthew Cassel, reporting from near the military barracks, said several dozen people were also injured by shotgun pellets fired by the army. Security forces were cordoning the Republican Guard barracks but it was not immediately clear who had opened fire. Also on Friday, Adly Mansour, the newly appointed interim head of state, dissolved parliament by decree, state television said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt army opens fire on pro-Morsi protesters

Canadian military still investigating Afghan sex assaults

"After five years, the Canadian military is still investigating claims that Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan were told by their superiors to ignore incidents where Afghan soldiers and interpreters sexually assaulted young boys. The probe continues, with no specified end date, long after most Canadian soldiers have left Afghanistan and nearly five years after a board of inquiry was convened on Nov. 21, 2008, by Lt. Gen. Andrew Leslie. During the summer of 2008, the Star reported that some Canadian soldiers who had returned from Afghanistan had sought counseling to cope with feelings of guilt because they had not stopped incidents of child abuse." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCanadian military still investigating Afghan sex assaults

US Egypt Policies Don’t Pass the Laugh Test

"Let’s review US policy toward Egypt to see the foolish hypocrisy of the government’s interventionism: First the US props up the unelected Hosni Mubarak for decades, spending tens of billions of dollars to keep him in power. Then the US provides assistance to those who in 2011 successfully overthrew Mubarak. Then the US demands an election. The Egyptians held an election that was deemed free and fair and shortly afterward the US-funded military overthrows the elected president. Then the US government warns the military that it needs to restore democracy – the very democracy that was destroyed by military coup! All this they do with a straight face.." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS Egypt Policies Don’t Pass the Laugh Test

Obama and Israel Stoke a Sectarian Shia-Sunni War

"Obama is acting as an appendage of Israel. He does this by increasing arms shipments to rebels in Syria who are Sunnis. Islamist fighters are flooding into Syria, we read. Obama thereby rewards and encourages extreme religious sentiments, leading to religious conflicts. Moderate Muslims find that their nations are increasingly subject to the drives of the armed extremist contingents who become battle-hardened. Obama and Israel are lighting a keg of dynamite. It will explode in their faces. If enough extremist Muslims become armed and ready to fight, they will eventually turn on Israel." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama and Israel Stoke a Sectarian Shia-Sunni War

Susan Rice for National Security Advisor?

"She and her husband have a net worth estimated at between $23.5 and $43.5 million. From October 1997 to January 2001, she was Bill Clinton's Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. She supported Washington's imperial Afghan and Iraq wars. She urged longterm occupation. She endorsed imperial war on Libya. She falsified claims about Gaddafi forces committing mass rapes. She ignored Western-enlisted death squad atrocities. She's been silent about them throughout Obama's war on Syria. She blames Assad for Western imperial crimes. She asked for UN authorization to wage war. She favors partnering with Israel against Iran." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSusan Rice for National Security Advisor?

The Real National Security Interest of America

"McCain thinks that our common good rests in deeply expanding U.S. government involvements in dozens of foreign countries. How such an indirect, tortuous, and demonstably dangerous path achieves the common good of Americans is a deep mystery. It is beyond belief that the McCains in the Senate think they can improve other countries when they cannot even identify America's common good and take steps domestically to improve that good. Can Senator McCain explain how the U.S. involvements in Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Somalia and Afghanistan have furthered the common good of Americans?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Real National Security Interest of America

North and South Korea prepare to negotiate directly after years of mistrust

"North and South Korea will sit down to their first talks for years on Sunday, confronting decades of mutual distrust in an apparent search for some positive end to months of soaring military tensions. The working-level discussions in the border truce village of Panmunjom are intended to pave the way for ministerial-level talks in Seoul on Wednesday. The talks came about after an unexpected reversal on Thursday from North Korea which suddenly dropped its default tone of high-decibel belligerence and proposed opening a dialogue." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNorth and South Korea prepare to negotiate directly after years of mistrust

China media warns Philippines of ‘counterstrike’ in South China Sea

"China's state media warned that a 'counterstrike' against the Philippines was inevitable if it continues to provoke Beijing in the South China Sea, potentially Asia's biggest military troublespot. A front-page commentary said that the Philippines had committed 'seven sins' in the South China Sea. These include the 'illegal occupation' of the Spratly Islands, inviting foreign capital to engage in oil and gas development in the disputed waters and promoting the 'internationalization' of the waters, said the commentary. The Philippines has called on the United States to act as a 'patron', while ASEAN has become an 'accomplice,' said the commentary." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina media warns Philippines of ‘counterstrike’ in South China Sea