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Tag Archives: Middle East
Iraq: Operation Proper Exit, wounded veterans return to Iraq
Yesterday, I joined Captain Ferris Butler and Specialist John Hyland on NPR’s program ‘Talk of the Nation’ to discuss the trip I took with Operation Proper Exit. It’s a program designed by the Troops First Foundation, and supported by the … Continue reading
On Iraq anniversary, the end isn't all that near
Seven years ago, America invaded Iraq. We know how that went, so I’ll spare you an anniversary post. Just want to point out one tiny thing. For the U.S., the Iraq war is actually ending. Americans are no longer dying … Continue reading
Posted in Iraqness, Politics, World
Tagged Al-Qaeda, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq War, Islamic State of Iraq, Middle East, Sunni Islam, United States
3 Comments
The undemocratic invasion for democracy, and some pushback against Iraq victory meme
Returned from Baghdad today, so apologies for the absence of posts. I blame travel–you would, too, had you spent 11 hours yesterday on a Turkish Airways flight wedged into between two rather portly and vocal Russian speakers who just couldn’t … Continue reading
Posted in World
Tagged David Corn, Democracy, Iraq, Iraq War, Middle East, Saddam Hussein, Saudi Arabia, United States
5 Comments
A reminder to Thomas Friedman that history won't be a very kind judge of the Iraq War
I’m going to make a prediction: historians are not going to look kindly on the U.S. war in Iraq. First, a brief digression. Most major foreign policy writers in the U.S. decided to support the Iraq war. Most came to … Continue reading
Posted in World
Tagged Ahmed Chalabi, George W. Bush, Iraq, Iraq War, Middle East, Richard Perle, Saudi Arabia, Thomas Friedman, United States
4 Comments
Newsweek's Iraq cover 'looks mighty like' propaganda
I saw Newsweek’s latest cover today, subtly headlined: “VICTORY AT LAST.” My first reaction was to grab the nearest taser, jam it down my throat, pull the trigger, and hope that my bodily fluids would conduct the 10,000 volts of … Continue reading
Iraq is not the envy of the Middle East, btw
The Daily Beast has two pieces about Iraq’s election up on their website. One is written by Tunku Varadarajan, headlined “Iraq’s Political Miracle” and the other is written by me, titled “Iraq’s Last Election?” Clearly, Mr. Varadarajan see things a … Continue reading
Posted in Iraqness
Tagged Arab people, Daily Beast, Democracy, Iraq, Iraq War, Middle East, United States, Warfare and Conflict
1 Comment
Iraq: An already forgotten headline, the bravery of the dead
This one is a downer, but wanted to highlight a post from Stephen Farrell, a moving account of an Iraqi man who worked with him in Iraq, a driver named Yasser. Yasser, who worked for the Times of London, was killed outside the Hamra Hotel. The post gets at the … Continue reading
Posted in Iraqness
Tagged Abu Nuwas, Baghdad, Green Zone, Hamra Hotel, Iraq, Middle East, Palestine Hotel, Stephen Farrell
1 Comment
O'Reilly says kidnap and waterboard Reid and Pelosi. I say, why stop there?
From Media Matters via The Huffington Post: Bill O’Reilly suggestedthat the CIA should kidnap Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and perhaps even waterboard Pelosi, at a stop on his “Bold & Fresh” speaking … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, World
Tagged Al-Qaeda, Bill O'Reilly, Iraq War, Middle East, Politics, Terrorism, United States
5 Comments
The Hastings Report 