Peace has never been a particularly popular word in Washington, DC. This is, after all, the home of the Pentagon and the major military contractors, not to mention all the think tanks and congressional lapdogs that lie in the king-size family bed with them. But the word “peace” has acquired such a negative reputation inside the Beltway that the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), which saw Congress nearly ax all its funding over the summer, is now considering a name change.
To Whatever Extent Libya Is a Victory, It’s a Defeat for Nuclear Nonproliferation
States that may be developing nuclear weapons as well as those that aspire to may draw the wrong conclusions from the U.S.-NATO Libya campaign.
Christian and Muslim Extremists: Power-Mad Brothers Under the Skin
About the only difference between the Islamist far-right and the Christian (and Jewish) far-right is the tone.
Will Obama Sabotage His Jobs Plan With Job-Killing Free-Trade Agreements?
In his speech Thursday, President Obama is expected to express support for previously stalled trade pacts, even though government studies predict that they would increase the U.S. trade deficit and cost the United States more jobs.
Did Nuclear Weapons Tests Tear Holes in the Sky?
Did nuclear weapons tests damage the atmosphere in ways that we have yet to be able to quantify?
UN Origins Project Series, Part 4: In WWII, It Took Teamwork to Defeat Not Only Germany, But Japan
The Philippines, Australia, and even China helped the United States defeat imperial Japan in World War II.
“War Follows Child Abuse as Night Day”
Contrary to what international relations types may think, leaders seldom do a rigorous cost-benefit analysis of the results before waging war.
Cut Deficit, Increase Militarization?
The recent deficit deal includes potentially deep cuts in U.S. security spending. One likely but perhaps counterintuitive outcome would be staffing reductions in foreign development programs and in diplomatic missions. The deal will also hit the budgets of domestic security programs like border patrols, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service. These are not the sort of security cuts decried by hawkish lawmakers who fear that potential cuts to the military will hollow out the U.S. armed forces and cripple the military industry.
Islamophobia’s Poisoned Wellsprings
The right has been conducting a campaign with deep pockets to instill fear and hatred of Islam in Americans.
Hiroshima, Mon Ami: “History’s Most Awkward Handshake”
Reality TV today has nothing on a show from the 50s that hosted both a prominent Hiroshima victim and the co-pilot of the Enola Gay.