Peace and Security
The Drug War Spreads the Bloodbath South
In the grotesque wars that pit Mexican armed forces and drug cartels against each other and civilians who get in their way, the Zetas cartel plays a fearsome role. Born of U.S.-trained Mexican special forces who began working as muscle for the Gulf drug cartel, the Zetas rapidly expanded by employing methods aimed at terrorizing opponents and civilians alike: decapitations, public hangings, and mutilations.
We Need an Armistice in the War on Drugs
Repealing Prohibition was easy by comparison. Pressure from “nice” people who wanted to drink legally again was overwhelming. Plus the liquor racketeers were just getting too involved in everyday life. After a while, the moral revolution that had originally fueled the crusade against alcohol finally flagged, and life returned to normal.
The Iraq War Isn’t Over
No U.S. troops were killed in Iraq last month. So why aren’t we celebrating? Because the war isn’t over yet and it costs way too much — in Iraqi lives and our money.
Enough War Already
Don’t Tread on My Guns
Do you remember when Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) returned to Congress just in time to cast a vote for raising the debt ceiling and slashing the safety net? I wish that she had instead returned to the Capitol to cast a decisive and historic vote for gun control.
9/11 is No Excuse for Bashing Muslims
On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, we’ll be transfixed once more by images of the planes ramming into the World Trade Center and people, caught in the flames, leaping to their deaths. We’ll see pictures of the burning Pentagon and hear stories of the heroic firefighters and police officers who sacrificed their lives to save others.
10 Years of 9/11 Wars is Enough
The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is sure to bring televised images of somber reflection. Looking back is, in some ways, easier for commentators and pundits than wrestling with the current state of Washington’s so-called “war on terror.”
Al-Qaeda Lost the Battle Long Ago
Osama bin Laden didn’t live to see the 10th anniversary of September 11. And his organization, according to many U.S. government insiders, is on its last legs since his death at the hands of U.S. Special Forces in May. “We’re within reach of strategically defeating al-Qaeda,” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta recently observed. Others disagree, pointing to the strength of al-Qaeda in Yemen.
Endless War Isn’t the Answer to 9/11
Tens of millions of people will soon observe the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. In New York City, the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died on that day will be read out loud, and presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama will join the families of the victims to unveil a new memorial.
Terrorism in the Eye of the Beholder
