Peace and Security
How to Honor the Kids Who Died at Sandy Hook
Confronted by a hostile Republican Congress, President Barack Obama has chosen to flex his political muscles on a range of pressing issues. He increased the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors. He struck a climate deal with China. He's protected as many...
Torturing Obama’s Legacy
An old bumper sticker offered a stinging response to the Bush-Cheney regime's enthusiasm for waterboarding: "Impeach Bush," it urged. "Torture Cheney." Bush and Cheney escaped unscathed. The Senate has just released an astonishing report detailing the depths of their...
Operation Endless War
Only a few months ago, President Barack Obama announced the good news that our combat role in Afghanistan — the longest war in U.S. history — would finally end by New Year’s Day. Put away that champagne. A flock of screeching war hawks brought heavy political pressure...
The Prejudicial System
The Pentagon’s Fiscal Forecast: Slushy
The Department of Defense is requesting a base budget of nearly half a trillion dollars for the coming year. That may sound like a lot of money. But that figure doesn’t even count the Pentagon’s multibillion-dollar slush fund — known to policy wonks as the "Overseas...
Cashing In on the ISIS Crisis
Maybe you think the U.S. air war on the Islamic State is a fine plan. Maybe you don’t. Either way, have you considered how little Washington’s latest military foray in the Middle East has to do with America’s welfare? In case you haven’t heard, shock and awe are out...
The First Casualty of War
Reflecting on World War I, California Senator Hiram Johnson famously said: "The first casualty when war comes is truth." Actually, in America's recent wars, officials have slaughtered the truth even before the fighting. The Bush-Cheney regime hustled America into its...
The Dogs and Cats of War
Burying the Hatchet with Iran
Don't tell anyone, but the United States and Iran are getting closer — perhaps closer than ever — to letting go of 35 years of enmity. No, Washington and Tehran aren't going to be BFFs or anything. But they do share a common interest in rolling back the so-called...
Afghanistan’s Poppy Output Hits New Highs
I have breaking news from the frontlines of the war. No, not the new war in Iraq. That really is Iraq War III for us — our nation's third trip there in just 25 years. Maybe the third try will be the charm, though I really don't think there's anything charming about...
