War hero John Bolton calls for war with Iran

John Bolton barks again.
Bolton, one of the signatory of infamous Project for a New American Century and accomplished military expert and  war “hero” who, while supporting Vietnam war, declined to enter combat duty enlisting in the National Guard to attend a  law school, plays his “ neocon blues” for the UK audience.

John Bolton: ‘I think we [...]

Iraq war – the truth exposed

There have been many theories and guesses on why Bush & Co decided to stir the Middle East, invade Iraq, then threaten Syria and Iran. All the speculations feed the discussions, dominate the news and thrive as a subject all over the blogosphere. And yet, only a detailed and painstaking analysis of the events allowed [...]

Blackwater – black deeds for rent

  Blackwater USA’s mercenary mission in Iraq is very much in the news this week, and rightly so. The private military contractor’s war-for-profit program, which has been so brilliantly exposed by Jeremy Scahill, may finally get a measure of the official scrutiny it merits as the corporation scrambles to undo the revocation by the Iraqi [...]

What Freedom of Speech? Part V

The historical record strongly suggests that neither Jewish neo-conservatives in particular nor mainstream Jewish intellectuals generally have a primary allegiance to Israel ­ in fact, any allegiance to Israel. Mainstream Jewish intellectuals became “pro”-Israel after the June 1967 war when Israel became the U.S.A.’ s strategic asset in the Middle East, i.e., when it was [...]

What Freedom of Speech? Part IV

Why the blackout? For one thing, reporting on these groups is not easy. AIPAC’s power makes potential sources reluctant to discuss the organization on the record, and employees who leave it usually sign pledges of silence. AIPAC officials themselves rarely give interviews, and the organization even resists divulging its board of directors. Journalists, meanwhile, are [...]

War dance

As in 2002, time has come for the US to question anything  related to the UN attempts to prevent another illigal war, this time with Iran. And, as before an unprovoked attack on Iraq, the players are the same: Chief of IAEA Mohamed ElBaradei and the State Department. My deep concern is that the undermining [...]

What Freedom of Speech? Part III

On May 2, 2006 the Senate, in a vote of 94 to 2, and the House, 352 to 21, expressed unqualified support for Israel in its recent military actions against the Palestinians. The resolutions were so strong that the Bush Administration–hardly a slouch when it comes to supporting Israel, attempted to soften its language so [...]

What Freedom of Speech? Part II

The authors ask why this is the case, and argue that strategically there is no reason for it. The end of the cold war removed a central justification for the special relationship, as Israel no longer provided the US with a barrier to communism in the region. Post 9/11, the US and Israel are presented [...]

What Freedom of Speech? Part I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”  

Not since Foreign Affairs magazine published Samuel Huntington’s ‘The Clash [...]

Primum non nocere – doctors and torture Part IV

There are many reasons why doctors become involved in torture, ranging from workplace loyalty to threats of violence.
Some doctors work within a bureaucratic structure in which their loyalty to their employer is both assumed and expected. They may even become, as one report described it, ”cogs in a system of state terror”. Doctors may not [...]