America is a Poor Advertisement for Democracy
Congressional paralysis, voter suppression, and widespread political polarization all suggest that American democracy is far from exemplary.
Missing from the Climate Talks: Corporate Powers to Sue Governments That Limit Pollution
Allowing extractive industries to file expensive lawsuits over environmental regulations could undermine whatever agreements might be reached at COP26 in Glasgow.
The United States of Tax Havens
The Pandora Papers reveal how billionaires, oligarchs, and despots the world over exploit America’s patchwork of tax havens.
Climate Change and the Limits of Economic Growth
If economic growth ushered in this era of climate change, how can economic growth also be part of the solution?
Super Stuxnet? U.S., Israel Escalating Malware War Against Iran
Never mind just sabotaging centrifuges, couldn’t “Super Stuxnet” scramble Iran’s air defense systems in advance of an Israeli and/or U.S. attack?
Nuclear Weapons Projects Don’t Even Qualify as Pork
Pork is intended to bring significant economic benefits to a representative’s district. For the most part, it’s the elite who profits from nuclear weapons projects.
Iran Plot: A Pretext for War
For many Iran observers, Washington’s latest accusations against Iran — implicating members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in an alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States — come off as surreal, if not wholly bizarre.
At this juncture, it may be too early to pass a credible judgment on the substance and validity of the allegations, but there are just too many reasons to dismiss them as another cynical attempt to further isolate Iran. In the greater scheme of things, such accusations might be part of America’s strategy to push its “regime change” agenda in Iran. Although only a trial in an impartial, credible, and civilian court could shed light on the truthfulness of the U.S. claims, we have every reason to take Washington’s allegations with a grain of salt.
Israelis Beginning to Understand the Consequences of Attacking Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu may not be capable of understanding that the leaks about attacking Iran were intended to keep Israel safe rather than get back at him.
Seven Billion … And Rising
The world’s population surpassed 7 billion on October 31. But except for perhaps the anti-family planning lobby, this was a milestone that few were in a mood to celebrate.
Global capitalism is in a deep, deep funk, with the center economies caught indefinitely in the iron grip of stagnation and high unemployment. Extreme weather events have become a fact of life, yet any move towards a successor to the Kyoto Protocol continues to elude the world’s governments. Agriculture seems to be at the limits of its productive capacity, prompting many to ask: Have we walked into the Malthusian trap?
Is Alarm About Seven Billion People Just Modern-day Eugenics?
Many believe that attempts to control population growth are a conspiracy by the “global elite” to keep the world’s population to a controllable minimum.
Travel Writer Michael Jacobs Does Justice to the Andes
Michael Jacobs explored the length of the Andes from the lush jungles in northern Colombia to the snow-covered peaks of Argentina’s southernmost tip.
Tunisia Elections: The Real Thing This Time
Six years and one national rebellion after the fraudulent 2005 election, Tunisia has just completed the first truly democratic election in its history. It was also the first election of the Arab Spring. The election was held to create a legislative body that will govern the country while it writes a new constitution.
The results were astonishing.
A Silver Lining for Palestine?
Washington’s reticence to acknowledge the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people could severely compromise the potential for future peace.
Breaking Down Bases
Earlier this month, Montana Democrat Jon Tester and Texas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison introduced a proposal to create a commission to evaluate U.S. military presence overseas. The bill does hold out the possibility that such a commission might recommend opening new bases overseas. But that’s just hedging bets. Tester and Hutchison are committed to examining “the potential benefits and savings realized by closing outdated overseas military bases.”