All Commentaries
It’s All About Israel
If former Defence Secretary-designate Sen. Chuck Hagel’s lacklustre performance at his confirmation hearing Thursday heartened neo-conservatives and other hawks opposed to his nomination, those who argued that the Israel lobby has been exerting too great an influence on U.S. foreign policy were ecstatic. In fact, the degree to which Israel and the threat posed to it by Iran dominated the hearing was somewhat understated: The full transcript revealed that Israel was brought up no less than 178 times, followed closely by Iran with 171 mentions.
Republicans Use Border Control to Obstruct Immigration Reform
Conservative and liberal media alike highlight the opposition of the president to any provision linking citizenship to a “secure” border.
Setbacks Push Mideast Peace to Back Burner
Speculation that President Obama might put significant effort into Israel-Palestine peace was fueled by his nominees for two key Cabinet posts: John Kerry for secretary of state and former Senator Chuck Hagel for secretary of defence. Since Obama’s re-election, however, there has been considerable debate in the U.S. media about whether he would re-engage in peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians.
Pomegranate Means Grenade
Hold a pomegranate in your palm,imagine ways to split it, think of the breaking skin as shrapnel. Remember granada means pomegranate and granadameans grenade because grenade takes its name from the fruit; identify war by what it takes away from fecund orchards.
Salvadoran Gang Leaders Achieve a Measure of Redemption
Experts traveled to El Salvador to gain insight into how a truce between the gangs Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 led to a marked decrease in violence.
The Mali Blowback: More to Come?
The French-led military offensive in its former colony of Mali has pushed back radical Islamists and allied militias from some of the country’s northern cities, freeing the local population from repressive Taliban-style totalitarian rule. However, despite these initial victories, it raises concerns as to what unforeseen consequences may lay down the road.
Egyptian Protesters Eat Their Own
Egyptian protesters are forced to waste precious resources policing each other.
The Hagel Hearings: The Last Best Chance for the Truth About a Lost War and America’s War-Making Future
While Chuck Hagel ultimately voted to authorize the war in Iraq — despite grave misgivings — there is a perception that, in the future, Hagel would be reticent to plunge the United States into yet more reckless wars and a strong belief exists among his supporters that he will stand up for America’s sons and daughters in uniform. However, his seeming unwillingness to face up to, no less tell the whole truth about, the Vietnam War he saw should raise serious questions.
The Sunday Times of London’s Odd Timing on Controversial Netanyahu Cartoon
The Sunday Times of London’s controversial Netanyahu cartoon highlighted the difficulty many experience differentiating between a political comment and a religious insult.
Postcard from Tokyo
Against a drumbeat of resurgent Japanese militarism, more than 140 Okinawan civic representatives made a historic trip to Tokyo on January 27. This was the first time since Okinawa reverted to Japanese control in 1972 that leaders from every municipality have visited the nation’s capital. And despite the bitter cold, they were met with a warm reception by 4,000 Tokyoites at a rally in Hibiya Park—before coming under assault by angry nationalists .