Peace in the Middle East? Maybe, That Is If the West Stopped Sitting On the Sidelines!
Read full article at CommonDreams.org http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0720-32.htm
US Foreign Policy
The Dark Side
The Dark Side, a Frontline documentary recently broadcast on PBS, is the latest expose? to shed light on how the Bush Administration, led by “Lord Cheney,” duped the American public into supporting the invasion of Iraq – a war that has now cost the lives of 2,500 U.S. soldiers and approximately 40,000 Iraqis. I’m ashamed, infuriated and saddened by the extent of the deceit.
The Crumbling Congress
Thomas Jefferson once said, “If the members are to know nothing but what is important enough to be put into a public message and indifferent enough to be made known to all the world; if the executive is to keep all other information to himself and the House to plunge on in the dark, it …
Antiquated Existence
All this talk about oil dependency got me thinking about other global problems that our legislators make superficial efforts to fix. Thanks to constituents’ indifference and populist sentiment, political leaders apply band-aids instead of searching for comprehensive, long-term solutions.
Oil dependency, weapons trafficking, human trafficking, global warming, AIDS, widespread hunger, 16,119 species in danger of extinction, terrorism and genocide are large scale challenges that most people wish would just go away. Unfortunately they do not. That’s why it’s imperative
Debating “The Lobby”
As a professor of international affairs and a graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, I felt obliged to actually read “The Israeli Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy,” which was posted on a Harvard website. I’ve also read much of the negative press about this academic paper and its authors, professors Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer.
Whether you believe the paper is repulsive or revelatory, its arguments are legitimate grounds for a rational discussion. Twenty years ago, 12 former U.S. officials voiced concerns about this very subject in a book entitled They Dare to Speak Out by veteran Congressman Paul Findley. At that time, people were not ready to engage in an unbiased discussion of the topic. It seems little has changed.
Can You Say “Nuclear?”
or many Baby Boomers, the words “nuclear weapons” conjure memories of air raid drills, during which sirens boomed over intercoms as teachers shooed their pupils underneath desks. Duck and cover! At any moment, Russian bombers might seed the land with mushroom clouds!
Of course, Soviet bombers never did streak across our skies. The enemy has changed
The Dubai Deal Was it really security or misguided revenge?
Immediately after Congress nixed the Dubai ports deal, House Speaker Dennis Hastert announced that he would push through legislation to block any company with Dubai interests from running US ports. This legislation would stop DP World from “encroaching on American security,” was the reason.
I found myself to be a bit shocked and awed. Congress was finally speaking up. Five years after 9-11 Congress somehow found their lost voice. It is a concern, however, that this voice seems to be riding high on fear and xenophobia and the Arab company DP World is the target.
Dictating Democracy in the Muslim World
Across much of the “Muslim world,” thousands of people have joined violent demonstrations following the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad – a person who, according to Islamic tradition, is never to be seen. In response, Al-Jazeera reports that Western nations “have stepped up pressure on Arab and Muslim countries to bring under control increasingly violent protests,” and some Western journalists are chiding the protestors for their lack of tolerance and “self restraint.”
A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
This month we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – the man who “had a dream” of ending injustice. Despite our celebrations, the realization of his dream is more elusive than ever. Injustice is perpetuated by a world perpetually at war.
According to the United Nations, “the 20th century proved to be the most
Awaken the What? The Road to Awareness
” Awareness does not mean discovering and bringing up new parts of ourselves to make war….it is not change that is essential, but the awareness of change…understanding that what is opposing us is part of ourselves that we need.” – Arnold Mindell
After Dorothy is swept away by a tornado in The Wizard of Oz, she’s greeted by the good witch Glinda, who asks, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” “I’m not a witch at all,” says Dorothy – a response that reflects how many of us feel in today’s world: like an outsider, different.
Every day, we’re asked, “What are you?” In reply, we say, “a woman, a minority, a Democrat, an Italian- or African-American, gay or straight, a lawyer, professor or policeman.
What are you?