Peace and Security
‘Stability’ a Fig Leaf for Dictatorship
It’s a tricky time to be secretary of state. You have to praise democracy out one side of your mouth while promoting “stability” out the other. You praise democracy because that’s what the United States does. Your promote stability because that’s what our policymakers really want.
Attack on Libya May Unleash a Long War
The United States and its allies launched the war against Libya on the eighth anniversary of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. President Barack Obama says the U.S. will transfer command authority very soon, that military action should be over in “days, not weeks,” and that he wants no boots on the ground. But the parallels with other U.S. wars in the Middle East don’t bode well.
Nuclear Generations
No More Deals with Unscrupulous Government Contractors
The Pentagon reported in January that it had awarded more than $270 billion in contracts to companies found guilty of fraud, and millions more to companies suspended or debarred from federal contracting. Our military brass didn’t seem too worried about these findings, however. The Defense Department assured the public that “existing remedies with respect to contractor wrongdoing are sufficient.” Really?
Colombia Is No Model for Mexico’s Drug War
When Washington ramped up its anti-drug efforts through Plan Colombia, more than 90 percent of the cocaine consumed in the United States came through Colombia. A decade later, we still get about 90 percent of our cocaine via Colombia.
Let’s Stay out of Libya
Yet again, our leaders think they’ve got a calling to save a country in the Middle East.
The Government’s Nuclear Millstone
The Obama administration is making a big fuss over its proposal to boost the Energy Department’s budget to $29.5 billion.
Surprise: Guess Who Wants Gun Control?
Irony isn’t a town, but a concept. Though the state’s political leaders don’t seem at all familiar with it. Claiming to represent the will of the people, they’ve enacted the most free-wheeling gun toting laws in America – no state has fewer restrictions. Which brings us to irony: a recent poll reveals that far from being a wild bunch of devil-may-care gun-slinging ideologues, a majority of Arizonans actually want tougher gun laws. Overall, 55 percent of the residents favor more stringent controls.
More U.S. Aid Won’t End Mexico’s Drug War
With all the astoundingly grisly incidents involving Mexico’s armed forces these days, one thing is clear: the drug war is failing. The Mexican military shouldn’t get another penny of U.S. military aid. However, the White House’s new budget proposal calls for pumping another $282 million into Mexico’s drug war next year.
War Is Hell, Even if You Survive
When you’re back.
Forget for a moment the death, devastation, deprivation, disease, displacement, and despair visited upon civilians in war zones. Let’s briefly contemplate the fate of soldiers. Ours, anyway. We really don’t know (or care) much about theirs except for the reported killings of “suspected militants.” “Suspected militant” has come to mean anybody we happen to kill–man, woman, or child.
