Category: politics

The largely mythical US success in Iraq is now to be replicated in Afghan towns like Marjah and skirmishes there will be heavily reported. A NATO spokesman says the people of the town will soon “feel the benefits of better governance, of economic opportunities and of operating under the legitimate authorities of Afghanistan.” But according to a leaked cable from the US ambassador in Kabul Karl Eikenberry to President Obama three months ago, no such Afghan authority exists at any level. Instead he warned that US troop reinforcements, which are now going into action, will only ensure “an indefinite, large-scale US military role in Afghanistan.” Full article.

Some of the biggest military operations are underway in Afghanistan soon, and officials say civilian casualties are “inevitable.” Worse than that callousness is an indifferent media that’ll ignore the death and injury of noncombatants.

Journalist and author Chris Hedges on Obama, Afghanistan and the media. This is the next installment in the Boiling Frogs interview series, co-hosted with Sibel Edmonds. Chris Hedges gives us a quick sketch of his latest book Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle. He discusses the real ro…le of the US media as one of the main culprits in promoting a sense of exceptionalism by disseminating fantasy, and poisoning civil and political discourse with entertainment and trivia: “it’s an old story. empires in their decline become frightfully disconnected from reality.” Listen to podcast.

The High Court’s rejection of the ban on direct political spending by businesses, industry associations and their surrogates, and of limits on the amount of money they may spend on campaigning, sets up a dystopia in which our elections–including this year’s critical Congressional and state contests–could become little more than Super Bowl games, with corporations spending whatever it takes to sell their products, er, candidates. Full article.

“It is difficult to get a fair trial in this country if the government wants to accuse you of terrorism,” said Foster. “It is difficult to get a fair trial on any types of charges. The government is allowed to tell the jury you are a terrorist before you have to put on any evidence. The fear factor that has emerged since 9/11 has permeated into the U.S. court system in a profoundly disturbing way. It embraces the idea that we can compromise core principles, for example the presumption of innocence, based on perceived threats that may or may not come to light. We, as a society, have chosen to cave on fear.” Full article.

“At times, he said, Blackwater forces cross the line from trainers or advisers and actually participated in raids. “That gives the Pakistani government the cover to say, ‘Hey, no, we don’t have any Westerners doing this. It’s all local and our people are doing it,'” said the former executive. “But it gets them the expertise that Westerners provide for [counterterrorism]-related work.” After the US soldiers were killed on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility and said the dead men worked for Blackwater. Full article.

Rarely has self-interested mythology—or well-meaning gullibility—been more quickly exposed. There was no fundamental break in foreign policy, as opposed to diplomatic mood music, between the Bush 1, Clinton and Bush 2 Administrations; there has been none between the Bush and Obama regimes. The strategic goals and imperatives of the us imperium remain the same, as do its principal theatres and means of operation. Full article.

dr margaret flowers – a spectacular spokesperson/activist for a govt-run single-payer healthcare system – let’s get behind her.

Watch Dr Margaret Flowers on Bill Moyers Journal.

i thought we were not supposed to be in pakistan!

Three US soldiers have been killed in a bomb blast as they attended the re-opening ceremony for a girl’s school destroyed in a previous attack.

The soldiers, who were killed on Wednesday in the Lower Dir district in Pakistan’s restive North West Frontier Province, are considered to be the first American fatalities in Pakistan’s lawless tribal regions.

They were also among 60 to 100 members of a Special Forces Operation team that trains Pakistan’s paramilitary troops in counter-insurgency techniques.

At least three children were also killed in the explosion claimed by the Taliban. Watch video.

Public Interest Lawyers will lodge a claim for judicial review on behalf of all the alleged victims on Friday. Because so many similar cases have come to light, a single inquiry should be held into the UK’s detention policy in south-eastern Iraq, the firm
says. The allegations include claims that British troops subjected Iraqi prisoners to rape, sexual humiliation and torture. The law firm is currently representing 66 Iraqis who claim they were abused by British troops. Full article.

v interesting. i had never heard of her testimony before.

“The high drama of that day’s proceedings revolved around the question of whether or not U.S. District Judge Richard Berman would grant Aafia’s repeated demand to take the stand in her own defense.
Aafia’s lawyers appeared to be animate in their opposition to her taking the stand, while the prosecution appeared (on the surface) to be in favor of Aafia being entitled to her Fifth Amendment right. Her brother (Muhammad) was apprehensive about her taking the stand, leaning more in favor of her following the advice of her lawyers. Even Pakistani Ambassador Hussain Haqqani became involved. During a short visit he was allowed with the defendant, he reportedly advised Aafia to follow the advice of her lawyers.” Full article.