Opinion-Columns.com

The End of War

Not the end of conflict, certainly not the end of fighting . . . but it is worth considering that as we blindly multiply our efforts toward a supremacy-gap between ourselves and the rest of the world in military hardware, the enemy is dissolving before our eyes. What can we possibly be thinking? More to the point, what can the rest of the world possibly think we are thinking?

Thanks and Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You

Local Iraqi interpreters working with either the State Department, Military or private organizations in Iraq have a limited shelf-life. Their ‘use before’ date has never been very long because they have to live among the ordinary population, while keeping their jobs hidden.

The Year of the Naomis--Wolf and Klein--Both with Great Messages

If you read two books this entire year before election day, make them books by the Naomis—Wolf with The End of America and Klein’s The Shock Doctrine.

Unprepared in Iran, the Follow-Up to Unprepared in Iraq

I wrote in 2002 (War With Iraq is Not the Problem) that the difficulties apparent in attacking Saddam Hussein had little to do with overcoming Iraq militarily and everything to do with aftermath. Essentially, we had for so long thirsted for the taste of rabbit that we hadn't bothered looking up any tasty recipes.

Kicking the Last Leg Out From Under the Iraqi Chair

The Pentagon, no doubt while Robert Gates was busy elsewhere, trying along with Condi Rice to rekindle a sense of bi-partisan goals between Russia and the United States, was up to mischief in Iraq. Serious stuff--the kind of decision-making that characterized the early blunders by L. Paul Bremer, for which we are still paying a huge price.

Congress Drops White House Demands Along With Its Pants

In the dance this administration orchestrated over the still-warm corpse of American values, ‘abhorrent’ has come to mean ‘offensive to the mind, but allowable.’ Most of us were flim-flammed by the wording, victims of adminispeak; in common context, the synonyms are repulsive, detestable, obscene and repugnant.

So, NOW What the Hell Are We Doing Here?

It was all about Saddam until it wasn't. Then it was all about al-Qaeda until it wasn't. Then as everything went entirely to hell, it wasn't about 9-11 and wasn't about nation-building, it was all about holding the gangsters away from each other until Iraqis could form a government.

Charles Krauthammer’s Refreshing Dip Into Selective History

How much France may have flipped is far from determined and will take more than a statement at the U.N--a statement that more nearly announces Sarkozy’s arrival on the world stage than it does change the mix in Europe. France is heavily Muslim, heavily invested in Iran and ‘nuclear ambitions’ are in the eye of the beholder—Iran claims a need for nuclear energy.

Jim Moran, the Courtesy Man

But the Jim Moran who’s getting fried by the Washington Post is a different guy. This Moran is a congressman from Virginia and Amy Gardner’s headline, Moran Upsets Jewish Groups Again sounds like upsetting Jewish groups was Jim’s main stock in trade.

The General’s Thoughts Aside, What Do Iraqis Think?

On this sixth anniversary of the multiple attacks on America, while General Petraeus is giving testimony before Congress and Ryan Crocker paints the Bush position, it might be a good time to check in on what Iraqis are thinking.