Should Obama Fire Gen. McChrystal?
Facing military pressure to escalate in Afghanistan, President Obama may need an inner Harry Truman, says Ray McGovern. November 20, 2009

The Vision of 'The Blind Side'
The story of a Republican family that adopts a homeless African-American boy is a tale of human potential, writes Lisa Pease. November 20, 2009

The New October Surprise Series
At the 30th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis, Robert Parry reviews the evidence of a history-changing Republican dirty trick:

--How Two Elections Changed America
Secret Republican operations around elections in 1968 and 1980 set the U.S. on today's troubled course, says Robert Parry. November 4, 2009

--The Crazy October Surprise Debunking
To protect the Reagan-Bush-I legacy, Republicans and Democrats created absurd October Surprise alibis, reports Robert Parry. November 6, 2009

--The October Surprise Crystal Balls
A sub-plot of the 1980 October Surprise mystery is how some Reaganites foresaw the U.S. hostage release, says Robert Parry. November 13, 2009

Learning the Wrong Vietnam Lessons
A Newsweek retrospective on Vietnam extracts the wrong lessons and applies them to Afghanistan, says Douglas Valentine. November 19, 2009

A Great Gift or Fundraising Idea
Take advantage of the steep discount for our three-book set, either for a holiday gift or for your own fundraiser. (To read more, click here)

Our Goal: Sell 500 Sets of Parry Books! We are offering the three-volume set of Neck Deep, Secrecy & Privilege and Lost History for only $29, more than a 50% savings. You can save even more by buying a second set for only $20. But we need to sell 500 sets of the books to generate enough money to continue our independent investigative journalism. So far, we have sold about 160 sets. So please consider adding these important books on modern American history to your library or give them as gifts or donate them to a public or school library. For details, click here. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation to keep this Web site afloat, you can do that either by credit card online or by mailing a check. (For readers using PayPal, you can address your contribution to our account, named "consortnew@aol.com"). As always, thank you for your support! Robert Parry, Editor

A Three-Step Afghan Strategy
Decades of U.S. misjudgments on Afghanistan have left President Obama some difficult choices, states Bruce P. Cameron. November 18, 2009

KSM and the MSM
U.S. mainstream media is averting its eyes from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's declared motive for 9/11, writes David Swanson. November 18, 2009

Afghan Lessons from the Iraq War
As President Obama ponders more troops for Afghanistan, he is drawing mistaken lessons from Iraq, says Ray McGovern. November 17, 2009

The Ugly Truth about Jobs
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke hints at how U.S. companies are learning to avoid hiring American workers, reports Robert Parry. November 17, 2009

War and Remembrance in London
Nearly a century after World War I, humanity seems to have learned little about the folly of war, notes Michael Winship. November 17, 2009

History's Bitter Guerrilla War Lessons
Even if President Obama sends more troops to Afghanistan, chances for success may not be good, writes Ivan Eland. November 17, 2009

Facts Behind 'Men Who Stare at Goats'
As crazy as "The Men Who Stare at Goats" may seem, there's a real story behind the psychic experimentation, says Lisa Pease. November 16, 2009

Will the Gun Carnage Ever Stop?
America's love affair with firearms continues to exact a gruesome toll in death and shattered lives, writes Sherwood Ross. November 16, 2009

Is Israel Addicted to the Occupation?
Israeli columnist Gideon Levy says only the United States can help Israel beat its destructive addiction, reports TheRealNews. November 16, 2009

Shining Light on Roots of Terrorism
A taboo in talking about 9/11 is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's stated motive, Israel's abuse of Palestinians, notes Ray McGovern. November 15, 2009

On Bended Knee to Bob Gates
Washington pundits are on their knees before Pentagon chief Bob Gates, but ex-CIA analyst Melvin A. Goodman dissents. November 14, 2009

Leaving Afghanistan to US 'Experts'
Being wrong on Iraq has credentialed many U.S. "experts" to dominate the debate on Afghanistan, observes David Swanson. November 14, 2009

Ray McGovern Talks about Torture
Speaking in Seattle, ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern says George W. Bush followed a "demonic" descent into torture. November 14, 2009

The Real Thanksgiving Day
Pleasant myths obscure the thankless behavior of the Pilgrims toward the Indians who saved them, says William Loren Katz. November 12, 2009

Another Option for the Public Option
There might be a way to set a trigger for a stronger health-insurance public option starting in 2013, says Robert Parry. November 12, 2009

Why the Blasé Attitude about Torture
Ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern confronted a personal crisis when his old agency signed up for Bush/Cheney torture policies. November 11, 2009

Rev. Moon's Troubled Generation Next
The right-wing Washington Times is caught up in the messy succession for Rev. Sun Myung Moon's empire, reports Robert Parry. November 11, 2009

America's Debt to Italian Justice
In a victory for justice, an Italian court convicted U.S. intelligence agents for kidnapping a Muslim cleric, notes David Swanson. November 10, 2009

Why Lieberman Blocks a Public Option
With a shrunken "public option" no longer a threat to private insurers, why is Joe Lieberman vowing a filibuster, asks Robert Parry. November 10, 2009

US Punditry's Anti-Obama Lens
In interpreting last week's elections, U.S. media emphasized the Obama negatives, not the positives, notes Michael Winship. November 9, 2009

Blaming the 'Dithering' Obama
By not getting tougher with Washington, President Obama is earning a risky reputation for "dithering," says Robert Parry. November 9, 2009

Lost Commandment: Help Strangers
One of the most neglected biblical mandates is to show hospitality to strangers, writes the Rev. Howard Bess. November 8, 2009

The American War on Pot Rolls On
U.S. authorities continue to arrest hundreds of thousands of citizens for marijuana possession, notes Sherwood Ross. November 7, 2009

Dan Ellsberg on the Urgency of Truth
Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg explains why it's hard for officials to expose the truth, reports TheRealNews. November 7, 2009

Honduran Political Accord Unravels
Honduran coup leaders balk at letting ousted President Manuel Zelaya resume his office, reports TheRealNews. November 7, 2009

Obama Fails to Reset Foreign Policy
Over the past year, Barack Obama has fallen far short of his promise to revamp U.S. foreign policy, writes Melvin A. Goodman. November 6, 2009

A 'Middle Way' on Afghanistan
Instead of escalation in Afghanistan or withdrawal, Bruce P. Cameron sees hope for a "middle way" toward a less violent future. November 5, 2009

Mel Goodman on Peter B.'s Podcast
Ex-CIA analyst Melvin A. Goodman discusses how the CIA was politicized and how the Washington Post has declined. Podcast #60.

Robert Parry on Peter B.'s Podcast
Journalist Robert Parry reviews Washington political events from the debate on the Afghan War to the fight for health reform. Podcast #61.

Finding Vietnam War Positives
A clever Washington Post article says it would be really cool if Afghanistan turned into another Vietnam, notes William Blum. November 4, 2009

Heeding George Kennan's Sage Advice
Famed diplomat George Kennan's early warning about Vietnam applies as well to Afghanistan today, writes Ray McGovern. November 3, 2009

Will a 'Surge' Work in Afghanistan?
Washington insiders are pressing President Obama to order a "surge" in Afghanistan, but Ivan Eland questions that wisdom. November 3, 2009

Chomsky Doubts Change from Obama
Noam Chomsky says Barack Obama alone cannot change the course of U.S. foreign policy, Mamoon Alabbasi reports. November 3, 2009

The Incredible Shrinking Public Option
Congressional concessions to the insurance industry have shrunk the public option to almost nothing, says Robert Parry. November 2, 2009

Pentagon's Gates Plays Ugly American
Defense Secretary Robert Gates showed off his annoyance with Japan by snubbing invitations, writes Melvin A. Goodman. November 2, 2009

Don't Miss Michael Jackson's 'This is It'
The documentary on Michael Jackson's final rehearsals is a revelation of his extraordinary talents, says Lisa Pease. November 2, 2009

Cheney and the Plame-gate Cover-up
Vice President Dick Cheney denied punishing Iraq War critic Joe Wilson and his CIA wife, Valerie Plame, reports Robert Parry. November 2, 2009

Kipling Haunts Obama's Afghan War
As President Obama weighs escalation in Afghanistan, the imperialist poet Rudyard Kipling comes to Ray McGovern's mind. October 30, 2009

Today's Lessons of Daniel Ellsberg
By leaking the Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg helped end the Vietnam War, but could that happen today, asks David Swanson. October 30, 2009

Al-Qaeda Outwitted Bush, Neocons
Al-Qaeda got the better of George W. Bush and the neocons by bogging the U.S. down in Iraq, writes Robert Parry. October 29, 2009

Letting States Opt-in for Single-Payer
Beyond the public option fight, Congress may scuttle a plan to let states opt for a single-payer system, says David Swanson. October 28, 2009

Inside Bush's Motivational Speech
When George W. Bush debuted as a motivational speaker, his presidential abuses were not forgotten, writes Leslie Harris. October 28, 2009

WPost Misleads on Afghan History
The Washington Post's neocon editorial page misrepresents key facts about Afghan history, writes Melvin A. Goodman. October 28, 2009

Afghanistan Tests Obama's 'Patriotism'
If President Obama balks at escalating in Afghanistan, his "patriotism" will surely be questioned, says Ivan Eland. October 27, 2009

On Public Option, MSM Gets It Wrong
The U.S. mainstream media was sure the public option on health insurance was dead, and is mad that it isn't, reports Robert Parry. October 27, 2009

Ex-Ambassador Murray on Torture
Ex-British Ambassador Craig Murray says the US/UK governments sold out human rights in Uzbekistan, reports TheRealNews. October 26, 2009

Ex-FBI Agent Rowley on 9/11 Mistakes
Former FBI agent Coleen Rowley recalls how Washington missed key clues before the 9/11 attacks, reports TheRealNews. October 26, 2009

How a Torture Protest Killed a Career
When British Ambassador Craig Murray protested "war on terror" torture in Uzbekistan, his promising career was torn apart. October 24, 2009

Texas, Eyes of Justice Are Upon You
Texas has been a laggard in the cause of justice, but one judge tried to make a difference, say Bill Moyers and Michael Winship. October 24, 2009

The High Price of Abu Ghraib Truth
Army Sgt. Sam Provance testified about higher-ups implicated in the Abu Ghraib torture scandal and is paying a high price. October 23, 2009

Obama v. Military-Industrial Complex
President Obama has taken a few tentative steps toward downplaying war and elevating diplomacy, notes Melvin A. Goodman. October 23, 2009

In Case You Missed These Stories
Once a month, we look back at some of the previous month's special stories. Here's a selection from September.

US Health Insurers Up the Ante
America's private health insurers have won concession after concession in the health-reform battle, writes Robert Parry. October 21, 2009

Sorting Out the Facts of Afghanistan
As Washington elites press President Obama to escalate in Afghanistan, Ivan Eland suggests a review of five key facts. October 20, 2009

Wilkerson Gets Intel Integrity Award
Ex-State Department chief of staff Larry Wilkerson is praised for truth-telling about Iraq War deception, writes Coleen Rowley. October 19, 2009

Pakistan's Double Game
After a 2 1/2-year study, foreign policy expert Bruce P. Cameron warns against a U.S. military escalation in Afghanistan. October 18, 2009

Riding Obama's Peace Prize on a Rail
The U.S. political commentariat has ridden President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize out of town on a rail, notes Michael Winship. October 17, 2009

The Politics of the Public Option
Enacting a health-reform bill without the public option could have dire political consequences for Democrats, says Robert Parry. October 16, 2009

Obama's Battle with US Power Centers
UN General Assembly president Miguel d'Escoto says President Obama faces strong internal resistance, reports TheRealNews. October 16, 2009

Old Testament Brutalities
Today's violence in the Mideast and elsewhere echoes from ancient writings of religious extremists, Rev. Howard Bess notes. October 16, 2009

Unnecessary Death & US Health Care
The emergency room death of Edith Rodriguez explains why a single-payer health system makes sense, says Rosemarie Jackowski. October 15, 2009

Obama and the Left's Old Schism
The Obama presidency has reopened an old schism on the Left between the purists and the pragmatists, says Robert Parry. October 14, 2009

Saying 'No' to a Wider Afghan War
President Obama is under mounting pressure to send more troops to Afghanistan, but Ivan Eland urges a different course. October 13, 2009

Insurers Make Case for Public Option
By demanding harsher fines on Americans who don't buy health insurance, the industry revives a public option, says Robert Parry. October 12, 2009

Reasoning Behind Obama's Peace Prize
Barack Obama may have earned his Nobel Peace Prize by ousting a gang of White House warmongers, writes Robert Parry. October 12, 2009

Obama's Deserving Peace Prize
Despite all the ridicule of President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize, ex-CIA analyst Melvin A. Goodman thinks it was deserved. October 11, 2009

Regime Change v. Regime Modification
Facing a choice on Afghanistan, President Obama might reflect on U.S. experiences in other conflicts, says Bruce P. Cameron. October 11, 2009

Ronald Reagan's Bloody 'Apocalypto'
From the Archive: An irony of Columbus Day is that crimes of the early conquerors are better known than more recent atrocities. By Robert Parry

More Doubts on Iran Nuke Question
Ex-State Department intelligence chief Greg Thielmann points to gaps in the case for an Iranian nuclear bomb, via TheRealNews. October 11, 2009

Revolving Door Shuts on Public Option
The health insurance industry has an inside track because of its many insider-lobbyists, say Bill Moyers and Michael Winship. October 10, 2009

Health Insurers Threaten Rate Hikes
U.S. health insurers say they may hike rates on everyone if Congress doesn't make more concessions, reports Robert Parry. October 9, 2009

Can US Make Sound Decisions?
Lack of Bush-era accountability at the Washington Post and other elite outlets hampers today's decisions, writes Robert Parry. October 8, 2009

Ray McGovern on Iran Nuke Question
Ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern assesses the evidence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program, via TheRealNews. October 8, 2009

Why Global Capitalism Crashed
Repeal of banking regulations a decade ago opened the gates for financial disaster, reports TheRealNews. October 7, 2009

Pragmatic Empathy for One's Enemies
Arrogance has often been the hallmark of U.S. foreign policy, but Ivan Eland argues that empathy makes more sense. October 6, 2009

Afghanistan: Eight Years and Counting
The war in Afghanistan reaches its eighth anniversary with more Americans doubting its rationale, notes Dennis Loo. October 6, 2009

Obama's Mideast Peace Dilemma
In pursuit of Mideast peace, President Obama's finds himself with unlikely allies and surprising adversaries, says Robert Parry. October 6, 2009

Democrats Ponder Health-Care Suicide
If Democrats enact an industry-friendly health-care bill, they may touch off a voter rebellion, writes Robert Parry. October 4, 2009

WPost Pushes Confrontation with Iran
The Washington Post's neocon editorial pages are at it again, showing tough-guy swagger toward Iran, says Melvin A. Goodman. October 3, 2009

Why Was the Berlin Wall Built?
With the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's collapse looming, William Blum looks at little known reasons why it was built. October 3, 2009

Two Writers Depart a Stranger Land
The deaths of screenwriting greats, Larry Gelbart and Budd Schulberg, remind Michael Winship of the power of words. October 3, 2009

WTimes, Bushes Hail Rev. Moon
The Bush Family joined in a Washington Times celebration of South Korean theocrat Sun Myung Moon, reports Robert Parry. October 2, 2009

Honduran Coup Leaders Tighten Grip
As the Honduran coup cracks down on dissent, the U.S. State Department maintains its ambivalent stance, reports TheRealNews. October 1, 2009

Obama and the Afghan Quagmire
President Obama's skepticism about military solutions will be tested by pressure to escalate in Afghanistan, says Ivan Eland. October 1, 2009

Help Us Move These Books!
We're often asked, "Why doesn't your information get wider distribution?" There's an implied criticism, that we're not doing enough. But the truth is... (To read more, click here.)

PanAm 103 Verdict: Justice or Politics?
From the Archive: The Obama administration won't question the weak evidence in the PanAm 103 bombing conviction. By William Blum

CIA: Osama Helped Bush in '04
From the Archive: Osama bin Laden's pre-election video in 2004 was viewed at the CIA as a bid to boost George W. Bush. By Robert Parry

Bush's Conspiracy to Riot
From the Archive: Today's right-wing disruptions of health-care "town halls" harken back to George W. Bush's riot in 2000. By Robert Parry

The Left's Media Miscalculation
From the Archive: A lookback at that how the American Left squandered its media advantage and aided the Right's ascendancy. By Robert Parry

GOP & KAL007: 'The Key Is to Lie First'
From the Archive: A case study of how Ronald Reagan and the Republicans mastered the Big Lie a quarter century ago. By Robert Parry

The Wedding
From the Archive: An explanation of why Dick Cheney would be so audacious to hide a covert action from Congress. By Robert Parry

America's Matrix
From the Archive: A look-back at how we exposed George W. Bush's deceptions at the start of the Iraq War. By Robert Parry

Rev. Moon, North Korea & the Bushes
From the Archive: A look-back on the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's secret financial ties to North Korean and U.S. leaders. By Robert Parry

5 Things We Could Do with Your Help
If we had enough money, there are five special topics that we would concentrate on. To read them, click here.

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If genuine change in America under President Obama stands a chance, it requires vibrant, independent journalism. To read why, click here. To help us provide it, sign up for a modest monthly donation.

In Case You Missed These Stories (Sept. 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (Aug. 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (July 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (June 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (May 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (April 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (March 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (Feb. 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (Jan. 09)

In Case You Missed These Stories (Dec. 08)

In Case You Missed These Stories (Nov. 08)

In Case You Missed These Stories (Oct. 08)

In Case You Missed These Stories (Sept. 08)

In Case You Missed These Stories (Aug. 08)

In Case You Missed These Stories (July 08)

In Case You Missed These Stories (June 08)

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In Case You Missed These Stories (April 08)

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A Cold Rain: Excerpt from Neck Deep
With George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001, the United States was at an ominous turning point, handing the White House and its immense power to a popular-vote loser who disdained democracy. Official Washington was oblivious to the danger, but thousands of Americans braved an icy rain to protest this travesty of the nation's principles.

Lost History: How the Neocons Did It
If you want to know how the neoconservatives got control of the most powerful nation on earth, Robert Parry’s Lost History is a must-read. (To read more, click here.)