The Biden administration’s inconsistency on what gets called a “genocide” or “war crime” reflects a longer U.S. history of politicizing international law.
The Biden Administration and the Politics of Naming
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Ethnic Cleansing
Trump Isn’t Just Incompetent and His Agenda Isn’t Just Bad. It’s Evil.
After a year that’s brought us closer to nuclear war, ethnic cleansing, and climate catastrophe, it’s time to consider that the Trump-GOP agenda may be genuinely evil.
The Middle East’s New Nakba
The chain of events set into motion by the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq is reaching its logical conclusion — the disintegration of multi-ethnic states and a great expulsion of innocents.
Slavery, Genocide, Abuse: The Dark Side of Asia’s ‘Tiger Economies’
From declining worker protections to violent labor trafficking and ethnic cleansing, the dark underbelly of Southeast Asia’s “tiger economies” is on full display this year.
Recognizing Palestine
As more European governments line up to recognize a Palestinian state, Israel (and the U.S.) look more isolated than ever.
We Called It Genocide in Guatemala. Why Not in Gaza Too?
Even some critics of Israel bristled when its recent attacks on Gaza were called “genocidal.” But a closer look reveals disturbing parallels with genocides past.
Table the Red Line
One year after President Obama declared that Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons would cross a “red line,” Syria stands accused of carrying out a cruel sarin gas attack against opposition groups and activists, killing hundreds of people in rebel-held East and...
Obama Poised to Dine with Architects of Burma’s Ethnic Cleansing
Hate speech and exhortations to attack the Rohingya Muslim minority are pervasive in western Burma.
Why Haven’t the Burmese Joined the Recent Wave of Pro-Democracy Protests?
Burma’s ruling junta’s response to pro-democracy protests might not be as brutal as in the past.
Annotate This: John McCain at VMI
On April 11, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) visited the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) to defend his support of the “surge” tactic in Iraq. Meant to bolster his campaign, McCain’s appearance was not quite the shot in the arm he’d hoped for. The 1,200 cadets were a friendly venue – an important factor if one is a candidate for president. But reporters found that not all of the students agreed with McCain that the “surge” is going to stabilize Iraq sufficiently to allow other post-war programs to function. McCain’s remarks went beyond the “surge” to encompass other national security issues: the ramifications of a perceived “defeat” in Iraq, U.S. strategy and international security, and how the politics of today might influence the shape of terrorism tomorrow. “Supporting the troops” was another predictable theme. Less predictable was McCain’s reference to the Iraq War as not only necessary but also “just” – a characterization made twice but with a different tone each time.