Delusionary, Dancing Bush
Chaos in Iraq is again undercutting George W. Bush's pronouncements about his military successes. Yet, as Bush dances through his final 10 months in office, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern notes how scary Bush's delusions can be for the world. March 31, 2008

PBS on Iraq: A Compilation of Deceit
A PBS documentary on the Iraq War broke little new ground, but compiled the extraordinary record of the Bush administration's deceit. In this guest essay, Middle East expert Morgan Strong noted one new motive for the war: the desire to have Iraq recognize Israel. March 30, 2008

When a Great Power Goes Mad
The collective unreality that dominated Washington during the rush to war in Iraq has retreated but not disappeared. Indeed, it seems to be reemerging in a new form, which attributes the catastrophe in Iraq to some honest mistakes by well-meaning people. March 28, 2008

Readers' Comments
With all the news about Iraq and the presidential campaign, readers had a lot to say. Here is a selection. March 29, 2008

US Document Confirms Iraq Dungeon
The top U.S. commander in western Iraq says detainees at a jail in Fallujah are living in sub-human conditions, according to a classified memo leaked to a whistleblower Web site. March 27, 2008

A Few Big Lies: Not Handling Iraq Truth
Mainstream American journalists and politicians have a new excuse for why they were so oblivious to the Iraq War risks five years ago -- that no one could have foreseen the likely disaster. But that simply isn't true: many brave people spoke up but were ignored. March 26, 2008

Frontline's Timid Iraq Retrospective
Over two nights, PBS Frontline served up a four-hour retrospective on "Bush's War" in Iraq, focusing on bureaucratic rivalries and incompetence. But, as former CIA analyst Ray McGovern observes, Frontline averted its eyes from many of the tougher questions. March 26, 2008

4,000 Dead, Zero Accountability
George W. Bush observed the grim landmark of 4,000 dead U.S. soldiers in Iraq with a promise to continue the war through to "victory," a scenario as unlikely as the opposite, that Bush will be held accountable for his actions. Bush might even get to hand over power to a Republican successor who foresees 100 more years in Iraq. March 25, 2008

White House Balks at E-Mail Search
The White House told a federal court that searching individual computers for allegedly lost e-mails about the Iraq invasion and the outing of a covert CIA officer would be too costly and too time-consuming. The hard drives of many older computers have already been destroyed, said a senior aide to President Bush. March 24, 2008

Five Years On, How to Leave Iraq
Though other factors may have contributed more to the drop in Iraq's violence, George W. Bush is hailing the success of his "surge." What is clear is that the "surge" bought Bush more time to run out the clock, as Ivan Eland notes in this guest essay. March 22, 2008

The Road to 'Operation Iraqi Freedom'
As the war in Iraq enters its sixth year, a common refrain from politicians is "don't dwell on the past, think about the future," an argument that distracts Americans from lessons that this history can teach. In this guest article, Jason Leopold recalls that troubling history. March 20, 2008

Iraq War as War Crime (Part One)
The Iraq War -- now ending its fifth bloody year -- represents a terrible human tragedy and a stunning strategic blunder. But it also was a systemic failure of American political and journalistic institutions, which failed to check George W. Bush's imperial impulse and enabled a grotesque war crime. Part One of a two-part series. March 18, 2008

Iraq War as War Crime (Part Two)
From the start of George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq -- five years ago -- the toll on Iraqi civilians and on out-gunned Iraqi soldiers was staggering. Indeed, that appears to have been part of the message Bush's neocon advisers wanted to send to other countries that might think of resisting Washington's imperial ambitions. March 19, 2008

Viewing Iraq 'Winter Soldier' Testimony
Nearing the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War, U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan gave painful testimony about the routine brutality inflicted on citizens of those countries. But -- unlike similar "Winter Soldier" hearings during the Vietnam War -- mainstream U.S. media couldn't entirely black these out. March 17, 2008

Ex-US Attorney Cites GOP Voter Abuse
In an upcoming book, fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias writes that George W. Bush's Justice Department pressed federal prosecutors around the country to prosecute "voter fraud" cases even when the evidence was slim. March 17, 2008

Happy Fifth Birthday, DHS!
The U.S. government's post-9/11 "reforms" have often proved inept or ineffectual, but none has compiled a more dubious record than the Department of Homeland Security, which just turned five. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland offers a report card. March 15, 2008

Suddenly, a Dangerous Turn
Two events have depressed hopes for a U.S. military disengagement from the Middle East. One was the sudden resignation of Admiral William Fallon, a key opponent of air strikes against Iran. The other is the harsh Clinton assault on Barack Obama, the most dovish of the three remaining presidential candidates. March 14, 2008

Spitzer & America's Perverse Ethics
The U.S. news media can't get enough of the prostitution scandal that brought down New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, but the same media won't give a minute to a serious debate over the impeachable war crimes of George W. Bush. In this guest essay, Rabbi Michael Lerner looks at the perverse state of America's ethics. March 12, 2008

Nadler Disses Voters on Impeachment
New Yorkers from Rep. Jerrold Nadler's district held a town hall meeting to urge the chairman of the House Judiciary panel on the Constitution to move on Dick Cheney's impeachment. But -- as Ray McGovern writes -- Nadler was a no-show, in line with other key Democrats. March 11, 2008

Bush, Colombia & Narco-Politics
The Bush administration defended Colombia's government for its attack against leftist guerrillas inside Ecuador - a position echoed by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But there is another dark side to the story, a reality that Official Washington wants to ignore. March 9, 2008

Losing Iraq and Afghanistan
The Bush administration has gotten the U.S. press corps and much of the public to focus on minor security gains in Iraq and on finger-pointing at allied troop levels in Afghanistan. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland looks at the troubling bigger picture. March 6, 2008

Twisting Health Language for Torture
Besides the arrogance behind George W. Bush's arrogation of power, there is the incompetence of his legal thinking, including the bizarre reasoning for such pivotal rulings as the one authorizing torture. In this guest article, journalist Jason Leopold looks at how administration lawyer John Yoo concocted the "torture memo." February 16, 2008

Bush Turns US Soldiers into Murderers
George W. Bush's vision of an endless war against Islamic militants is not only degrading the quality of the U.S. military but is devastating its image as well. Exhausted American soldiers are exploiting loose rules of engagement to kill unarmed Iraqis and Afghanis. February 13, 2008

Readers' Comments
Readers express their views on Campaign 2008, the GOP attack machine, the fifth anniversary of Colin Powell's lies and more. February 9, 2008

Waterboarders for God
As George W. Bush reminded the National Prayer Breakfast to treat all God's creatures as "precious," his subordinates around Washington defended the use of waterboarding on terror suspects. The juxtaposition stunned former CIA analyst Ray McGovern. February 8, 2008

Injecting 'Terror' into Campaign 2008
The Bush administration is warning about an impending al-Qaeda terror attack, this one using Americans and other Westerners to blend in with U.S. society. The new alarm -- at a key moment in Campaign 2008 -- puts Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the spot. February 6, 2008

Five Years for Powell -- and VIPS
Colin Powell's deceptive speech to the United Nations five years ago marked the start of an extraordinary effort by former U.S. intelligence analysts -- in the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity -- to warn the nation of the dangers of politicized intel. VIPS founder Ray McGovern has mixed feelings about this fifth anniversary. February 5, 2008

Colin Powell's Fateful Lies
Five years ago, the final path to war in Iraq was paved with lies from then-Secretary of State Colin Powell. This excerpt from Neck Deep examines the oratorical techniques that Powell used to sell his false United Nations testimony as truth. February 5, 2008

G.W. Bush Is a Criminal, Like His Dad
Attorney General Michael Mukasey danced around the obvious, that George W. Bush sanctioned torture of terror suspects and thus should face impeachment and/or prosecution. But the Democrats were happy to join in Mukasey's minuet, much like they did during the Clinton years in ignoring evidence of George H.W. Bush's crimes. January 31, 2008

Iniquities of War, Inequities of Life
George W. Bush's "war on terror" and the Iraq War have led the United States to debase its highest ideals, at home and abroad. For former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, a personal diagnosis on the health front brought into focus these iniquities of war and inequities of life. January 31, 2008

The Fight for Bush's Legacy
National Democrats seem content to let the clock run out on George W. Bush's presidency with no serious effort to hold him accountable. The same approach was followed by Bill Clinton regarding George H.W. Bush in the 1990s with disastrous results. January 29, 2008

CBS Falsifies Iraq War History
In the real world, Saddam Hussein's Iraq announced in 2002 that it didn't have WMD, sent the U.N. a 12,000-page declaration to that effect, and let U.N. inspectors in to check. In George W. Bush's world -- and according to "60 Minutes" -- none of that happened. January 28, 2008

Iran & Bush's Crisis of Truth
As the time on his presidency ticks down, George W. Bush is still trying to stoke the fires of confrontation with Iran, relying on his signature mix of bellicosity and self-righteousness. In this guest essay, Peter Dyer looks at Bush's new push in the context of his old lies. January 26, 2008

The Global Economy's 'Lame Duck'
The American sub-prime financial scandal continues to reverberate through U.S. equity markets, sending after-shocks across Europe and Asia. In this guest essay, Pablo Ouziel examines the chances that abuses in the U.S. economy could spark a worldwide recession. January 24, 2008

Iraq War: 1,760 Days and Counting
Sen. John McCain may have stunned some Americans with his projection that the U.S. occupation of Iraq may last 100 years or more. But the political pressures in Washington can make ending a war harder than starting one. In this guest essay, Robert Higgs discusses what it might take to bring the troops home. January 17, 2008

A Surge of More Lies
The "success" of George W. Bush's Iraq War "surge" has become an article of faith in Official Washington, with the Washington Post's editorial board and the New York Times' new columnist William Kristol baiting Democrats to get on board. Given this consensus, we are publishing a dissenting view from Congressman Robert Wexler. January 16, 2008

Will Anyone Pay for the Iraq War?
With John McCain and Hillary Clinton as the presidential front-runners -- and with major U.S. newspapers giving high-profile jobs to neocon writers -- it looks increasingly like no one will be held seriously accountable for the disastrous Iraq War. President Bush is even on what looks like a self-proclaimed victory tour for his "surge" strategy. January 15, 2008

CIA, Iran & the Gulf of Tonkin
George W. Bush's warning to Iran after a confusing incident involving U.S. ships and Iranian speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz is reviving memories of a fateful 1964 confrontation in North Vietnam's Gulf of Tonkin. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern writes that U.S. intelligence should have spoken truth to power then -- as it must now. January 12, 2008

Bush, Georgia & Authoritarianism
Today's election in the former Soviet republic of Georgia is shaping up as a test for the durability of democratic reforms in central Asia -- and whether George W. Bush's double standards on democratic principles at home will undercut his "democracy promotion" abroad. January 5, 2008

Readers' Comments
A selection of recent reader comments about articles. January 1, 2008

Hillary Signals Free Pass for Bush
Former President Bill Clinton's comment that his wife's "first thing" as President would be to send him and former President George H.W. Bush on a worldwide fence-mending tour has a political subtext. It signals that a second Clinton administration would give a free pass to the second Bush administration on its abuses. December 31, 2007

Pakistan Is 'Central Front,' Not Iraq
Benazir Bhutto is the latest victim of the deadly mix of George W. Bush's wishful thinking and his obsession with Iraq. U.S. officials encouraged the former Pakistani prime minister to return to her homeland to help counter Islamic extremists when there was no way the over-stretched U.S. intelligence agencies could give her much protection. December 28, 2007

Where Are U.S. Democracy's Heroes?
Benazir Bhutto's assassination underscores the dangers that democracy advocates face around the world -- and the relative cowardice of Washington politicians who sign off on disastrous policies rather than risk a few points in the polls. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky laments the lack of pro-democracy heroes in the U.S. December 29, 2007

Creeping Fascism: History's Lessons
In the 1930s, young German lawyer/writer Sebastian Haffner chronicled the acquiescence of his country's liberal politicians to Adolf Hitler's rise, including new laws that allowed spying on Germans in the name of security. On the 100th anniversary of Haffner's birth, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern sees troubling parallels to today. December 27, 2007

A Society on Steroids
Americans like to think of themselves as people who believe in fair play -- in sports or other endeavors -- but the reality often is that respect goes to the guy who wins, regardless of method. In this guest essay, Bill Moyers reflects on baseball's steroid scandal. December 21, 2007

Jim Bouton Responds to Moyers
Jim Bouton, a former New York Yankees pitcher and author of Ball Four, responds to Bill Moyers's guest essay on steroids. December 22, 2007

Media Is the Key to Democracy
A new Democratic reason for not holding George W. Bush and Dick Cheney accountable is that the Washington press corps would react to impeachment with hostility and ridicule. While no excuse for their timidity, the Democrats do have a point: the careerist U.S. news media has become a threat to the Republic. December 20, 2007

Bush's Torture Policy Is a Cancer
U.S. government officials must go through verbal gymnastics to avoid implicating George W. Bush in an obvious crime: the authorization of torture. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky warns that this cancerous situation is now endangering U.S. troops. December 18, 2007

Readers' Comments
Readers had some fascinating comments about articles we have posted over the past couple of weeks. December 16, 2007

Surprise! Mukasey Covers Up Torture
Congressional Democrats appear to have been snookered again. Last month, they tossed enough votes to Michael Mukasey to make him Attorney General -- and he is now paying them back by obstructing their oversight investigations of George W. Bush's torture policies. Their inquiries are "politics," Mukasey says. December 15, 2007

Special Prosecutor Needed on Torture
The evidence now is that President Bush authorized torture of al-Qaeda suspects and that senior members of Congress -- both Republicans and Democrats -- either supported or acquiesced to these criminal acts. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky says the troubling facts require a special prosecutor to ascertain the full truth. December 15, 2007

Mobile Labs to Target Iraqis for Death
Early in 2008, U.S. forces in Iraq will have mobile labs for instantaneously checking biometric data on any captured Iraqi suspect before deciding whether to "let him go, keep him or shoot him on the spot," a top Pentagon weapons designer says. Satellite hook-ups will access data stored in West Virginia on more than one million Iraqis. December 13, 2007

Are Americans 'Better Than That'?
Waterboarding is back on center stage in Washington as the CIA explains why it destroyed prisoner videotapes, President Bush keeps insisting he doesn't do torture, and Democrats mutter excuses about why they didn't object. With this troubling backdrop, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern asks whether Americans are "better than that"? December 12, 2007bbb

America as a Prisoner of Primacy
George W. Bush has embraced the notion of a permanent U.S. military dominance across the globe, a concept so ambitious and extravagant that it invites the opposite result, a precipitous American decline. Yet, Bush's dangerous vision is a taboo topic for political debate, as Carl Conetta notes in this guest essay. December 10, 2007

Bush Spins Iran's Centrifuges
Stunned by a U.S. intelligence assessment that Iran hasn't been pursuing nuclear weapons for years, the Bush administration and its media allies are trying to figure out new ways to spin public opinion toward an attack on Iran. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern looks at how this P.R. war-gaming is being played. December 8, 2007

Neocons Down, Not Out
The new National Intelligence Estimate, which says Iran scrapped its nuclear weapons program four years ago, was a body blow to neocons who hoped George W. Bush would bomb Iran before leaving office. But the neocons have faced disappointments before -- and they often get bailed out by friendly Democrats. December 6, 2007

A Miracle: Honest Intel on Iran Nukes
After a 10-month struggle, U.S. intelligence analysts pushed out an assessment of Iran's nuclear weapons program that contradicts the dire claims of Dick Cheney and George W. Bush. As former CIA analyst Ray McGovern reports, the new intelligence estimate found that Iran shut down its weapons program four years ago. December 3, 2007

Needed Now: Spirit of the Sixties
Official Washington's view of the Sixties is that it was a dreadful time whose rebelliousness has taken decades to squeeze from the population's psyche. Now, as the Bush administration readies Americans to accept their place in a grim Brave New World, guest essayist Vincent L. Guarisco argues that it's time for a Sixties revival. December 3, 2007

Thank You, John Nirenberg
Despite disdain from insiders in Washington, a citizens' movement to hold George W. Bush and Dick Cheney accountable through impeachment continues to reverberate across the country. In this guest essay, Emily West thanks one determined American who has started a walk for impeachment from Boston to the nation's capital. December 3, 2007

Readers' Comments
Some readers comment on recent articles. December 1, 2007

How to Get a Real Mideast Peace
If the key players were serious, there are strategies that might help bring about a meaningful peace deal between Israel and its Arab neighbors. But progress, after the Annapolis summit, would require different political dynamics in the Middle East -- and in Washington. November 29, 2007

Freeze Foreclosures, Fix Energy Mess
The United States is facing two inter-related challenges, spiraling home foreclosures and spiraling energy costs. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky urges emergency action on both fronts to save millions of Americans from a very cold winter. November 28, 2007

The 'Triumphant' Neocons
Citing signs of military progress in Iraq, U.S. neoconservatives are claiming vindication for their vision of violently remaking the Middle East. And with an eye to influencing Campaign 2008, the neocons are again baiting Democratic war critics as defeatists. November 27, 2007

Readers' Comments
A selection of reader comments on recent articles. November 27, 2007

The Bush Rules of Evidence
For decades, the Bush family has operated above the law, using powerful connections in the Eastern Establishment and the Republican Right to brush aside evidence that would land lesser Americans in jail. The latest example is how George W. Bush has skated away from proof that he broke the law in the Plame-gate affair. November 24, 2007

The Triumph of Crackpot Realism
Despite some setbacks in Iraq, the U.S. foreign policy establishment is still enamored of America's imperial mission around the globe, even unveiling new and ambitious plans. In this guest essay, Robert Higgs looks at the reality-defying triumph of "crackpot realism." November 23, 2007

Thanksgiving in the Two Americas
Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, when the chasm between America's haves and have-nots becomes most obvious. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky offers thanks for what's best in America and regret for the times the nation falls short of its ideals. November 22, 2007

Bush's Plame-gate Cover-up
With a new disclosure from an ex-White House press secretary, the evidence builds that George W. Bush participated in a criminal cover-up of the White House role in leaking Valerie Plame Wilson's covert CIA identity. Now, what can the Democrats do? November 21, 2007

Iraq's Laboratory of Repression
American neocons are hailing security gains in Iraq, crediting George W. Bush's "surge" and baiting Democrats again as defeatists. But in the latest upbeat stories, what gets short-shrift is how high-tech strategies are making Iraq a test tube for modern repression. November 20, 2007

U.S. Helps Push Pakistan to the Brink
The neoconservative vision of making the Middle East conform to U.S. strategic interests is turning into an unspeakable nightmare as nuclear-armed Pakistan teeters on the brink. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland looks at Washington's role in creating the mess. November 17, 2007

Bush's Clever Cognitive Dissonance
George W. Bush has proven to be the master of cognitive dissonance, unblushingly asserting principles at odds with his actions. The President showed off his skills before the right-wing Federalist Society, presenting himself as the grand defender of the Constitution. November 16, 2007

Bush's Favorite Lie
George W. Bush has told a stunning number of lies about the Iraq War and the "war on terror." But some seem to be his particular favorites, like the one about Saddam Hussein's WMD defiance that Bush retold while standing next to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. November 9, 2007

The Truth Behind 'Lions for Lambs'
The Washington Post is predictably panning Robert Redford's "Lions for Lambs" because it poses tough moral questions about the neocon agenda. In this guest review, historian Lisa Pease finds the movie compelling for those same reasons. November 9, 2007

Democrats Surrender on Torture
In a hasty Senate vote, Democrats caved in once again, approving Michael Mukasey for Attorney General despite his refusal to admit that waterboarding is torture. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky laments the latest sell-out. November 9, 2007

Democrats' Year of Living Fecklessly
One year ago, Democrats won control of Congress, stirring hopes across the country that the Iraq War might end and George W. Bush's arrogant governing style would be checked. But Democratic leaders have failed to stand up to Bush in a year of living fecklessly. November 7, 2007

Intel Vets Make 'Waterboarding' Appeal
Michael Mukasey refuses to acknowledge that "waterboarding" -- a simulated drowning technique that dates back to the Inquisition -- constitutes torture. Nevertheless, the Democratic-controlled Senate is on course to confirm him as Attorney General. In this memo, 24 U.S. intelligence veterans appeal to the Senate Judiciary Committee to insist on a straight answer from Mukasey. November 5, 2007

Iraq's Early Vietnam Moment
Four years ago -- on Nov. 2, 2003 -- a U.S. helicopter was shot down over Iraq, killing 16 U.S. troops, an early "Vietnam moment" in what was emerging as a powerful Iraqi insurgency. The incident helped convince a newly organized group of former U.S. ingelligence officers that the Iraq War was unwinnable. November 3, 2007

Time to Apologize to Plame/Wilson
Washington power centers -- from the White House to the Washington Post's editorial board -- have misrepresented key facts in the "Plame-gate" affair from the beginning. Now, with publication of former CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson's memoir, it's even clearer how wrong the powerful were and how much they have to apologize for. October 31, 2007

Attacking Iran for Israel?
The Bush administration and the Israeli government are on the same page about the urgent need to neutralize Iran's nuclear facilities. But former CIA analyst Ray McGovern wonders whose interests are at the forefront of this impending conflict. October 30, 2007

Bush's Free-Fire Zones
Frustrated by the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, George W. Bush has unleashed U.S. forces to strike at suspected enemy positions with fierce firepower, even in populated areas. Two recent cases in Iraq reveal how civilians often end up as the victims -- and how brutal lessons of Vietnam are being applied to these new wars. October 25, 2007

U.S. Double Standards for Friend/Foe
Is it fair and balanced for the Bush administration to help Turkey deny responsibility for the Armenian genocide, while whipping up war fever against Iran because its president questions the historical accuracy of the Nazi genocide against the Jews? In this guest essay, Ivan Eland calls for equal standards on all human rights violations. October 24, 2007

Bush's Heated 'World War III' Rhetoric
War clouds are building over Iran, with hard-liners pressing for air attacks. George W. Bush added his own ominous thunder with a public warning about "World War III." In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky says matters soon may get out of hand. October 23, 2007

Bush's Spying Hits Americans Abroad
The Bush administration's angry reaction to a seemingly innocuous amendment to a surveillance bill suggests that a little-noticed goal of last August's "Protect America Act" was to authorize spying on Americans who venture abroad. Key Republicans denounced the amendment to restrict George W. Bush's authority as unacceptable. October 19, 2007

How Best to Partition Iraq
Far from the pre-war wishful thinking about easy regime change in Iraq, George W. Bush's invasion released dangerous forces, including vengeful ethnic and sectarian rivalries that have ripped the country even further apart. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland looks at the logic behind the Senate resolution calling for a de facto partitioning. October 22, 2007

MSM Buries Military Dissent on Iraq
The mainstream media (or MSM) continues with its double standard for opinions about the Iraq War. Just like five years ago, when Congress granted George W. Bush authority to invade Iraq, pro-war articles are preferred; anti-war articles -- even when written by people with military experience -- get shunted to the side. This week, the Washington Post accepted one critical article by 12 former captains who served in Iraq but only published it on the newspaper's Web site. October 17, 2007

NSA Spying: What Did Pelosi Know?
According to new revelations from telecommunications company Qwest, the origins of the Bush administration's warrantless wiretap program predated the 9/11 attacks by seven months. That would mean the terror attacks became a convenient post-facto rationalization for what the White House already wanted to do. But -- former CIA analyst Ray McGovern asks -- what did Nancy Pelosi and other senior Democrats know then and what will they do about it now? October 15, 2007

Ex-Commander Blasts Iraq 'Nightmare'
The U.S. commander in Iraq for the first year of the occupation lambasted George W. Bush's national security team for "incompetence" that created an endless "nightmare." Breaking almost a year of silence since leaving the Army, retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez lashed out at almost everyone associated with the debacle. He even acknowledged that the U.S. high command displayed "an absolute lack of moral courage" in acquiescing to the poorly planned war. October 12, 2007

Democrats Signal New Spying Cave-in
Despite promises to resist extending broad spying powers for President Bush, congressional Democrats appear to be crumbling under the same fear of being labeled "soft on terror" that prevailed during a cave-in just before the August recess. Indeed, Senate Democrats may be on the verge of another major concession, granting legal amnesty to telecommunications companies that assisted the Bush administration in its earlier warrantless wiretapping. October 9, 2007

Why Not Impeachment?
After the new disclosure that the Bush administration misled Congress and the public about its secret torture policies, one question that begs to be asked is: why not impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, finally? For the past year, Democratic leaders have ruled the question "off the table," but their strategy of seeking bipartisanship to end the Iraq War obviously has failed. So, the hard choice may be either to start impeachment proceedings or accept that the United States is no longer a Republic governed by the rule of law. October 5, 2007

The Clintons and the Bushes
After entering the White House in 1993, Bill Clinton helped sweep under the rug major geopolitical scandals implicating his predecessor, George H.W. Bush. Clinton apparently thought his gesture of bipartisanship would be reciprocated. Instead it only encouraged Republican attacks on him and led to the eventual restoration of the Bush family dynasty. Now, with Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton's tempted by the same misguided "pragmatism," we are posting the entire first chapter of Robert Parry's 2004 book, Secrecy & Privilege. October 3, 2007

The Who's Your Daddy Nation
The bullying con game that passes for Establishment power in the United States appears finally to be reaching a painful end point, even though few Americans have a clear idea how to start setting matters right. In this guest essay, poet Phil Rockstroh looks at the extraordinary challenge facing a people who have traded their birthright as citizens of a Republic for the faux security of a "who's your daddy" nation. October 2, 2007

Forgetting Gandhi
For an America trapped in George W. Bush's endless "war on terror," the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, the great disciple of non-violence, might sound simultaneously jarring and alluring. In this guest essay on the anniversary of Gandhi's birth, writer Pablo Ouziel recalls Gandhi's enduring message about the evils of violence. October 2, 2007

Bush's Global 'Dirty War'
For years, there have been whispers in the U.S. intelligence community that George W. Bush has been transforming his "global war on terror" into an international "dirty war." But now two U.S. military investigations have revealed that the chain of command has approved rules of engagement that let elite American military units kill Iraqis and Afghanis on mere suspicion that they may be "enemy combatants." October 1, 2007

Bush, Ahmadinejad & Authoritarianism
In an objective world, U.S. President George W. Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could be finalists in a competition of stupid remarks by major international leaders. But in a measure of how far the United States has slipped into an authoritarian paradigm, the U.S. media heaped vitriol on Ahmadinejad during his UN visit but kept silent about Bush's hypocrisy when he presented himself as the champion for inalienable human rights. September 28, 2007

Hillary Prods Bush to Go After Iran
Hillary Clinton and 75 other senators apparently feel that George W. Bush hasn't been belligerent enough toward Iran. They want him to hurry up and label a large part of Iran's army an international "terrorist" entity for allegedly supplying Iraqi insurgents with bombs that have killed American troops. Despite a warning from Sen. Jim Webb that the Senate vote could be read as another war resolution, Democratic presidential hopeful Clinton jumped onboard the bandwagon, again. September 28, 2007

Bush, Oil -- and Moral Bankruptcy
Behind the bloody war in Iraq and the looming war with Iran is an amoral determination by the Bush administration to dominate the region's vast oil reserves. As much as George W. Bush's defenders deny this fact, the truth continues to seep out. In this guest essay, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern explores the policy's moral bankruptcy. September 27, 2007

Daniel Ellsberg: 'A Coup Has Occurred'
In a remarkable speech, Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg warns that the United States will complete its slide into a "police state" if President Bush goes ahead with a war on Iran. Referring to Bush's steady accumulation of power over the past six years, Ellsberg said, "a coup has occurred" and would be solidified by the crisis of an expanded war in the Middle East. To stop this, he urges government officials to live up to their oath of office and defend the Constitution. September 26, 2007

(To watch speeches by Daniel Ellsberg and Robert Parry, click here.)

Readers React to Ellsberg Speech
Readers had a variety of reactions to Daniel Ellsberg's speech, including whether the coup should be dated from 12/12/00 -- the date five Republicans on the U.S. Supreme Court gave the White House to George W. Bush -- or 9/11/01. September 27, 2007

Bush to World: Up Is Down
In his annual address to the United Nations, George W. Bush portrayed himself as the great defender of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, even as he asserts his unlimited power to kill, imprison, torture or spy on anyone he wants anywhere in the world without due process. The U.S. President seems to be looking at the world through a prism that turns everything upside down. And he acts as if those who don't see things his way are either evil or blind. September 25, 2007

The Left's Media Miscalculation (Redux)
MoveOn's "General Betray Us" debacle -- costing the anti-Iraq War movement $142,000 on the ad and lost political momentum in Congress -- underscores again the power and value of the Right's media machine. It can make small mistakes by opponents big and big mistakes by allies small. In recognition of this hard reality, we are reprising a special report, first published on April 29, 2005, explaining how this dangerous media asymmetry developed. September 25, 2007

MoveOn & Media Double Standards
The New York Times has joined in pummeling MoveOn.org, with a top editor faulting his newspaper for violating a ban on negative personal attack ads. The editor says, too, MoveOn should have paid more than double for the "General Betray Us" ad. In response, MoveOn is writing a check for another $77,000 to the Times in a perverse case of negative bang for the buck. Plus, in a show of double standards, the Times runs a right-wing ad entitled "Ahmadinejad Is a Terrorist." September 24, 2007

Hard Lessons from MoveOn Fiasco
Republicans scored political points and diverted the debate on the Iraq War by concentrating media fire on MoveOn.org's silly "General Betray Us" ad. But the underlying lesson is that the Right's powerful media apparatus -- built over the past three decades with many billions of dollars -- can transform any misstep by the Left into a major national issue. Meanwhile, the Left continues to shun the need for a media infrastructure that can restore some balance to the U.S. political process. September 22, 2007

George W. Bush's Thug Nation
At home and abroad, the United States is starting to look like a thug nation, reflecting George W. Bush's worst personality traits. His renowned intolerance of dissent shows up when protesters are "taken down" or a college students gets tasered for asking an impolite question. Bush's disdain for the rule of law pops up in the trigger-happy ways of Blackwater mercenaries in Iraq and in "rules of engagement" for murdering Muslims labeled "enemy combatants." September 21, 2007

The Right's Garden of False Narratives
At the core of the rot destroying the American Republic are the many false narratives that have replaced the nation's real history. The Right has proved adept at creating these alluring story lines and selling them through a sophisticated media apparatus, while the mainstream press goes silent or plays along. In this guest essay, poet Phil Rockstroh explores what false reality can do to a nation. September 20, 2007

Why Cheney Likes Mukasey for A.G.
Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey was not the top choice of "movement conservatives" who want their social agenda pushed. But he is favored by Vice President Dick Cheney because Mukasey, as a federal judge, endorsed the post-9/11 agenda of stripping suspect Muslims of constitutional rights. Or, as Cheney put it, Mukasey will defend "the freedom from fear of terrorist attacks." September 19, 2007

Halfway Measures on Bush's Tribunals
The Senate finally is moving to debate George W. Bush's military tribunal system, albeit only to reconsider one feature, its elimination of habeas corpus rights for foreigners. But neither Congress nor the major U.S. news media seems to understand that some little-noticed features near the end of the law could put U.S. citizens before the tribunals which abrogate other rights guaranteed by the Constitution. September 18, 2007

Readers' Comments
Because of the press of so much news, we've fallen behind in our regular featuring of readers' comments. Here is a selection of reactions to stories that have appeared over the past few weeks. September 18, 2007

Al-Qaeda's Goal: See for Yourself
Again and again, George W. Bush gets away with claiming that al-Qaeda's goal is to "drive us out" of Iraq -- despite the fact that U.S. intelligence intercepted a high-level al-Qaeda communique stating the opposite. According to the document, al-Qaeda's real goal is "prolonging" the U.S. military occupation. You can see the document yourself and forward it on to members of Congress. September 17, 2007

Greenspan Spills the Beans on Oil
A sure-fire way to get a backer of the Iraq War angry is to suggest that George W. Bush ordered the invasion to get control of Iraq's vast oil reserves, rather than for noble motivations -- eliminating WMD, fighting terrorism or spreading democracy. But former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan spilled the beans in his memoirs, writing: "the Iraq War is largely about oil." In this special report, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern looks at the evidence that Greenspan is right. September 16, 2007

Bush's War Without End
In a nationally televised speech, George W. Bush laid out his vision for an indefinite military occupation of Iraq, essentially a war without end. But the premier American newspapers followed the President's bidding and published headlines stressing his plan for modest troop cuts over the next year, albeit leaving more American soldiers in Iraq than there were at the start of 2007. Busy Americans just glancing at the headlines will likely miss this more important point. September 14, 2007

Petraeus & the 'Central Front' Myth
Gen. David Petraeus echoed many of George W. Bush's dubious arguments for fighting an open-ended war in Iraq, including the emotional appeal that al-Qaeda sees Iraq as the "central front" in its global jihad and wants to drive the Americans out in humiliation. But the intelligence data actually points to a near-opposite conclusion: that al-Qaeda sees Iraq as a diversion for the United States and wants to keep American forces bogged down there for the foreseeable future. September 12, 2007

Neck Deep: The Real 9/11 Scandal
As George W. Bush tries to squeeze 16 more months of political advantage from America's 9/11 memories, it is worth recalling how different history might have been had the Bush administration heeded intelligence warnings in the summer of 2001. That reality is reprised in this excerpt from the new book, Neck Deep. September 11, 2007

'Swear Him In' Provokes Expulsion
House Democrats were on edge over any possible affront to Gen. David Petraeus during his Iraq War testimony. So much so that when former CIA officer Ray McGovern made the vocal suggestion -- during a technical delay to fix a microphone -- that the witness be sworn in, McGovern was forced to leave the hearing room. In this first-person account, McGovern notes that Petraeus then gave his pro-escalation testimony without ever swearing to tell the whole truth. September 10, 2007

Bush 'Kicking Ass' in Congress
Congressional Democrats already are signaling the terms of their next surrender on Iraq War funding, with one strategist telling a Washington Post columnist that the Democrats should just say "yes" to an expected symbolic gesture on troop withdrawals. That, however, would leave about 37,000 more troops in Iraq than when the Democrats rode anti-war sentiment to their majorities last November. George W. Bush may say "we're kicking ass" in Iraq, but the pithy comment could apply more to what he's doing to the Democrats in Congress. September 10, 2007

Bush-Bin Laden Symbiosis Reborn
George W. Bush quickly pounced on Osama bin Laden's new videotape, claiming that it proves al-Qaeda wants to "drive us out" of Iraq. Bin Laden's criticism of Democrats for failing to act on troop withdrawal also plays to Bush's advantage. Which means that the Bush-bin Laden symbiosis is alive and well, since what bin Laden really wants is to keep America bogged down in Iraq indefinitely. September 8, 2007

Is Petraeus Today's Westmoreland?
Official Washington is awaiting the Iraq War assessment of Gen. David Petraeus, though it's clear he will tout progress in line with President George W. Bush's pro-surge rhetoric. The Petraeus team in Baghdad already is massaging the numbers, much like another ambitious commander did four decades ago. In this Vietnam flashback, veteran intelligence analyst Ray McGovern notes the parallels between Petraeus and Gen. William Westmoreland. September 7, 2007

Bowing Before an American Tyranny
In the six years since the 9/11 attacks, George W. Bush has transformed the United States from an imperfect Republic into a New Age authoritarian state. He has managed to eliminate many of the Constitution's inalienable rights even while proclaiming his love of liberty. A new book by former Assistant Attorney General Jack Goldsmith provides an inside look at how Bush and his team crushed the legal traditions of the Republic while no one with sufficient clout dared to intervene. September 6, 2007

Neck Deep: The Real Colin Powell
Instead of working to end the Iraq War, which he helped launch with a deceptive speech at the U.N., Colin Powell is cashing in again on his name and government service. The retired general and former Secretary of State is getting star billing at a full-day motivational seminar with a speech on "take-charge leadership." None of this crass careerism would surprise you if you had read the chapter in Neck Deep on Colin Powell's real history. September 6, 2007

Questions for General Petraeus
As part of his strategy of "playing for" time on the Iraq War, George W. Bush has demanded that Official Washington wait until his hand-picked field general, David Petraeus, gets to speak at hearings now set for next week. In this guest essay, former Democratic congressional staffer Brent Budowsky suggests some questions that go beyond the predictable queries about Bush's troop "surge." September 6, 2007

How VIPs Get 'Brainwashed' on Iraq
As Congress returns to session, George W. Bush is pressing his P.R. offensive on behalf of his troop "surge" in Iraq. Like many members of Congress and Washington pundits, President Bush even made a personal visit to Anbar province to tout his successes. But is there real progress occurring or is this just a modern version of what the late Gov. George Romney called "brainwashing" when he got a similar tour of Vietnam four decades ago? September 4, 2007

Warner for 'Caretaker' President?
Insider Washington is wondering who might be appointed as the "caretaker" senator to fill Larry Craig's Senate seat now that the Idaho Republican has resigned in a sex scandal. But still off the table is any talk of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney stepping down for replacement by a "caretaker" president who could bring the Iraq War to an end. Having declined to seek re-election, Virginia Republican Sen. John Warner might be a good choice for that job. September 2, 2007

Iraq's Endless 'False Hopes'
One constant in the Iraq War has been the steady supply of "false hopes," one replacing another, starting with the expected "cake walk" and continuing through to the supposed success of George W. Bush's "surge." However, this latest turning point is clashing with an earlier turning point, the January 2005 election. Some neoconservative pundits, who hailed the election two-and-a-half years ago, now say its results must be overturned so the surge can fulfill its potential. September 1, 2007

Bush Puts Iran in Crosshairs
In a speech this week, George W. Bush introduced what looks like the administration's new "product" for the fall season: war with Iran. Much like Vice President Dick Cheney did with a similar late-August address on Iraq in 2002, President Bush laid out the framework and rationale for going to war. In this special report, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern dissects Bush's latest bellicose rhetoric. August 30, 2007

Bush & the Carnage in Iraq
By pointing to every silver lining in the very dark cloud of Iraq -- and warning that even worse storms might be forming just over the horizon -- George W. Bush seems on his way to winning more money for his Iraq War. But, in this guest essay, Robert Higgs warns that reality on the ground can't be so easily spun. August 30, 2007

Neck Deep: Drowning Accountability
Two years ago this week, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the great American city of New Orleans and killed some 1,800 people along the Gulf Coast. With that tragedy, however, came a belated public awakening about how George W. Bush had put cronyism, ideology and partisanship ahead of competence, national unity and accountability. In this excerpt from our new book, Neck Deep, that turning point is recalled. August 29, 2007

Favorite Memory: Gonzo on Habeas
As Alberto Gonzales steps down as Attorney General, many Americans are reflecting on their favorite memories: his endless "do not recalls"; his carefully parsed definitions of torture; his knocks on the Geneva Conventions as "quaint" and "obsolete." But another revealing moment was when he observed that the Founders didn't explicitly put habeas corpus fair-trial rights into the Constitution. August 28, 2007

Army Adds Farce to Abu Ghraib Shame
The Army is conducting the first -- and presumably only -- court-martial of an officer implicated in the Abu Ghraib torture scandal. But the trial has been noteworthy more for dropping serious charges than for demanding accountability from a higher-up. In this first-person account, former Abu Ghraib intelligence analyst Sam Provance sees the proceedings as just the latest chapter in an ongoing cover-up. August 27, 2007

Neck Deep Secret: Gore Was Right
One of the surprising twists of our new book, Neck Deep, is how often Al Gore emerged from his semi-seclusion over the past six years to issue prescient warnings about George W. Bush's course of action. Again and again, his alarms were ignored or mocked by the major news media and the powers-that-be. He was less the "Goracle," as his admirers call him, than a modern-day Cassandra. August 27, 2007

Bob Gates on the Iraq War Hot Seat
The disclosure that the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff favor a sharp drawdown in U.S. forces in Iraq next year puts Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the hot seat. Either he must side with the top brass -- and Iraq War critics in Congress -- or he must stand with President George W. Bush and the "continue-the-surge" advocates. In this latest Vietnam War analogy, Gates must decide if he wants to play the role of Defense Secretary Clark Clifford, who persuaded President Lyndon Johnson to begin the painful withdrawal from Vietnam. August 24, 2007

Bush's Bogus Vietnam History Kills
To secure another Iraq War blank check, George W. Bush is conjuring up the specter of the Vietnam War, arguing that the U.S. withdrawal caused the human horrors, not the original intervention. Bush airbrushed out of this history the bloodbath caused by U.S. bombings and other massive firepower. One is left wondering what might have happened if Bush had been Commander in Chief three decades ago. But the danger today is what this selective history might mean for Iraq. August 23, 2007

If the Democrats Want to Lose...
Far from the high hopes of last November, congressional Democrats are in disarray and retreat. Their leaders have repeated many of the same mistakes of 2002, surrendering both on George W. Bush's demands for more "war on terror" powers and blank checks for the Iraq War. The hard truth for Democrats is that the political dynamics of Washington have changed little over the past five years -- and that reality could undermine their chances in Election 2008. August 22, 2007

Many Democrats Wrong on Iraq, Again
Before leaving for an August recess, the Democratic congressional leaders vowed to return with renewed determination to challenge George W. Bush on his Iraq War policy and his extraordinary claims of presidential power. Now, however, they are signaling another round of posturing and equivocation. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky challenges the party's Washington establishment to finally act on principle. August 22, 2007

Bush's New War Drums for Iran
From the White House to the Washington Post's editorial page, the war drums are beating again, this time for Iran. In this special report, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern writes that George W. Bush's plan to label Iran's Revolutionary Guard a "specially designated global terrorist" organization appears to be the new casus belli. The White House insists that Iran is helping Shiite militias in Iraq attack American troops. And the Post, which was gung-ho for invading Iraq over its WMD, now is calling for severe retaliation against Iran. August 21, 2007

NYPD's Homegrown Hysteria
In an influential new report, the New York Police Department advocates more surveillance and preemptive action against young American Muslims who might be radicalized by reading jihadist Web sites. The report also dovetails with the latest Bush administration policies for greater domestic spying. But civil libertarians complain that the report feeds a public hysteria against a specific group of Americans, not even for they've done but what they might do. August 20, 2007

Bush Fails Upward in 'War on Terror'
George W. Bush sees himself as a dedicated free-marketeer hailing the genius of the markets in eliminating incompetence and inefficiency, except when those tough standards are applied to him. Throughout his adult life, Bush has failed upwards -- and that trend is continuing through his presidency. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland examines how Bush's "war on terror" blunders have brought him only more power. August 19, 2007

My Fellow Texan
While working on his father's 1988 campaign, George W. Bush read an internal memo about how to manipulate Christian evangelicals for political gain. Then with the help of Karl Rove, Bush put the plan into practice. In this guest essay, Bill Moyers reflects on the legacy of his fellow Texan and Bush's political guru, Karl Rove. August 18, 2007

Rumsfeld's Mysterious Resignation
For nine months, the Bush administration went to great lengths to hide what would seem to be an innocuous secret, the fact that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was forced out of his job the day before the November election, not the day after. The significance of the secret appears to be that Rumsfeld got the ax the same day he wrote a secret memo suggesting a de-escalation of the Iraq War -- when George W. Bush already had decided to escalate. August 17, 2007

Saudi Arabia's Myth of Moderation
Though the Bush administration blames Iran for "terrorism" in Iraq and elsewhere, the evidence of violent meddling is actually stronger against U.S. ally, Saudi Arabia. Still, the administration and the U.S. press corps routinely describe the oil-rich kingdom as "moderate" and a friend of "reform." In reality, however, Saudi Arabia's mix of religious extremism and political repression has made it a breeding ground for the likes of Osama bin Laden and scores of suicide bombers. August 17, 2007

Democrats Need 'Conviction Politics'
Karl Rove's resignation may mark a significant personnel change in George W. Bush's inner circle, but it doesn't mean a reversal of the Bush-Rove strategy for amassing presidential power and seeking continued Republican domination of the U.S. government. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky writes that to counter that, the Democrats need their own "conviction politics" that is equally strong-willed. August 15, 2007

Congress's Orwellian Compromise
When congressional Democratic leaders permitted the hasty passage of a bill granting George W. Bush new spying authority, they dashed the hopes of many Americans that last November's Democratic victory would put a stop to Bush's assault on the Constitution. Now, it is clear that while the Democrats may conduct more oversight hearings than the Republicans did, they are not likely to face Bush down over his abuse of presidential powers or his war in Iraq. August 15, 2007

A Disneyland of Militant Ignorance
Perhaps the gravest threat to America's future is the nation's systemic failure to face reality, reaching from the political class to the news media to large segments of the public. In this guest essay, poet Phil Rockstroh examines some of the false narratives that have helped build America's dangerously militaristic society. August 14, 2007

New Spy Law Broader Than Thought
The U.S. press corps initially bought into White House spin that George W. Bush's new spying law was "narrowly" written to fix a legal glitch that let foreign terrorists escape monitoring. But the law actually covers pretty much anyone who may have foreign policy information that the U.S. government wants. Bush's lawyers also slipped in a clause giving legal immunity to service providers that collaborate. August 13, 2007

Spinning the Iraq War Death Toll
Some of George W. Bush's supporters are hailing the fact that in July, only 80 American troops were killed in Iraq, down from triple-digit numbers the preceding three months. They see it as a sign that Bush's "surge" is working. But military and intelligence sources say other factors explain the downturn, including a decision by U.S. commanders to cut back on aggressive ground operations to reduce the political backlash over rising casualties, not to mention the brutal heat. August 10, 2007

Bush, Colombia & Narco-Politics
A spreading political scandal in Colombia, linking narco-funded death squads to President Alvaro Uribe's inner circle, is complicating George W. Bush's strategy of using Uribe's rightist government to counter Venezuela's leftist president Hugo Chavez. As more and more Colombian death squad leaders and cocaine traffickers come forward as part of a peace process, the stain gets closer to Uribe. But President Bush seems to have few regional options, since Uribe was the only South American leader to endorse Bush's invasion of Iraq. August 8, 2007

'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death'
In the hours before its August recess, Congress succumbed to pressure from the Bush administration and passed a loosely written law that effectively legalizes George W. Bush's previously illegal program of warrantless wiretaps. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky takes Republican and Democratic leaders to task for their hasty action that impinges on the liberties of Americans. August 8, 2007

Bush Gets a Spying Blank Check
Before rushing off for its August recess, Congress gave George W. Bush another blank check for spying on Americans and foreigners alike. The "Protect America Act of 2007" lets Bush order spying on anyone who is "reasonably believed to be outside the United States" -- language so vague that it presumably would cover Americans who travel to Canada or Europe. Though most Democrats opposed the bill, their leadership let it fly through to avoid "soft on terror" charges. August 5, 2007

Collapsing Bridges vs. War in Iraq
The tragedy in Minnesota, as a collapsed bridge sent motorists to their deaths, is another reminder of the hidden costs of the $1 trillion Iraq War, reminiscent of how the federal government's neglect of the levees contributed to the inundation of New Orleans two years ago. In this guest essay, Stephen Crockett argues that the Bush administration's spending priorities are killing people in Iraq and at home. August 3, 2007

Bush's Secret Spying on Americans
By asserting broad claims of secrecy in his domestic spying operations, George W. Bush has prevented a meaningful public debate over the proper balance between security and liberty. He's even made it impossible to evaluate whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales willfully misled Congress. Yet the argument that the al-Qaeda threat justifies this secrecy doesn't hold water. The real targets of the secrecy -- and much of the spying -- appear to be the American people. August 2, 2007

Impeachment & the Constitution
Once considered a fringe idea, impeachment is moving quickly into the mainstream of American public opinion, as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney insist on flouting the rule of law and defying congressional oversight. In this guest essay, Stephen Crockett casts the impeachment of Bush, Cheney and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as not just an option but an imperative. July 31, 2007

The NYT's New Pro-War Propaganda
The Bush administration is gearing up its Iraq War propaganda again, with the New York Times back in its role as credulous straight man. On its op-ed page, the Times published a pro-surge article by Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack, allowing the pair to present themselves as harsh critics of the Iraq War grudgingly won over by the promising facts on the ground. Left out of this happy tale of conversion was that O'Hanlon and Pollack have long favored a beefed-up occupation of Iraq. July 30, 2007

Readers Comment on Bush's Psyche
The risks ahead because of George W. Bush’s aggressive personality disorders provoked a number of reader comments. July 28, 2007

More Comments from Readers
Readers had comments on several other stories: the logic of impeaching both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, John Conyers’s hesitation on impeachment, and Bush’s wooden-headedness. July 28, 2007

Dangers of a Cornered George Bush
As the nation and the world face 18 more months of George W. Bush's presidency, a chilling prospect is that Bush -- confronted with more defeats -- might just "lose it" and undertake even more reckless military adventures. In this special memorandum, the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity collaborated with psychiatrist Justin Frank, author of Bush on the Couch, to assess the potential dangers and suggest possible countermeasures to constrain Bush. July 27, 2007

Iraq & the Non-Withdrawal Withdrawal
Despite growing public calls for a U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq, the insiders of Washington are contemplating a long-term occupation, possibly by curtailing ground combat missions to minimize U.S. casualties. The thinking is that many Americans will accept an imperial U.S. role in the Middle East as long as the costs in U.S. dollars and U.S. dead are reduced. In this guest essay, media analyst Norman Solomon examines the subtle promotion of this goal by the American press. July 27, 2007

John Conyers Is No Martin Luther King
Before Election 2006, many Democrats saw Congressman John Conyers as the old lion who finally would hold George W. Bush and Dick Cheney accountable, through impeachment if necessary. Instead, Conyers has shied away from that challenge and even had pro-impeachment demonstrators arrested at his office. In this guest essay, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern describes how Conyers has failed to live up to the heroic standards of Martin Luther King Jr. July 24, 2007

Neck Deep's 'Flap' Language
Robert Parry writes, "Often, before buying a book, I like to read the 'flap' language, what's written on the dust jacket that folds inside the front and back covers." So, to read the "flap" language for Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush, just click on the headline above. July 23, 2007

The Logic of Impeachment
Even as George W. Bush thumbs his nose at constitutional checks and balances and the rule of law, Democratic leaders can't find the courage to utter the "I-word." But an unprecedented dual impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney may now be needed to protect America's legacy as a democratic Republic that upholds the twin principles that no man is above the law and everyone possesses inalienable rights. Millions of Americans are looking for some political leader who will dare step up and say, "Impeach the bastards." July 21, 2007

Bush Is al-Qaeda's Strategic Ally
The new National Intelligence Estimate on the resurgent terrorist threat underscores not only the failure of George W. Bush's "war on terror" but how his arrogance and incompetence have made him al-Qaeda's most important strategic ally. The NIE confirms that the Iraq War has radicalized young Muslims and given al-Qaeda new life. This symbiotic relationship helps Bush, too, because a stronger al-Qaeda frightens many Americans so much they don't dare question the President. July 19, 2007

Bush's Wooden-headedness Kills
Historian Barbara Tuchman famously recounted how the wooden-headedness of a leader could take an otherwise powerful country down a dangerous "march of folly" toward its own demise. But nothing she described exceeded the self-destructiveness of George W. Bush's "war on terror" and its consequences for the United States. In this guest essay, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern explains how Bush and his coterie of sycophants continue to lead the world's "superpower" down a path toward catastrophe. July 18, 2007

July 14, 2003: A Day of Infamy
Four years ago on a single day, several events coincided that would mark a trail of deceit that the Bush administration and much of the Washington press corps have followed since. On that day, the Plame-gate scandal was born with Robert Novak's infamous column; warnings about politicized intelligence were spurned; and George W. Bush got away with rewriting the history of the Iraq War by stating that Saddam Hussein chose war when he refused to let U.N. inspectors in. July 14, 2007

Misreading Iraq, Again
George W. Bush and his neoconservative allies have misread the reality in Iraq again and again over the past four-plus years. Now, with some signs of cooperation between U.S. commanders and Sunni tribal leaders, Bush and the neocons say they've finally got it right and Congress should back off on withdrawal deadlines. But the new evidence can be read the opposite from the Bush-neocon interpretation. Indeed, their view could give another helping hand to al-Qaeda. July 13, 2007

Readers' Comments
Readers had comments on our articles about the New York Times and the Iraq War, the continuing press idiocy about Al Gore, the argument for impeachment, the Libby commutation and the judicial review of the Lockerbie verdict. July 9, 2007

Overstating Iraq Pullout Worries
The disastrous Iraq War has left policymakers weighing what's worse: the current havoc or what might follow a U.S. military withdrawal. George W. Bush is pinning his hopes for continuing the war on convincing Americans that things could get much worse. In this guest essay, however, Ivan Eland argues that the dire predictions are overstated. July 11, 2007

Why They Really 'Hate Us'
One of George W. Bush's key propaganda arguments for the Iraq War and other U.S. military interventions in the Middle East is that Islamists are on the offensive against the West -- and would "follow us home" if U.S. forces were withdrawn. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland contends that Bush and his neoconservative advisers have turned reality inside out, ignoring a key motive for Islamists: their perception that the United States has designs on Muslim lands. July 6, 2007

The Libby Cover-up Completed
What the world is witnessing with George W. Bush's commutation of the jail sentence for former White House aide I. Lewis Libby is the completion of a four-year-old crime and cover-up -- events that implicated both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. By sparing Libby any jail time and dangling the possibility of a future pardon, Bush is making sure that Libby stays mum and the full story behind the leaking of a covert CIA officer's identity will never be known. July 3, 2007

Unimpeachably Impeachable
The evidence has now grown beyond a reasonable doubt: George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have committed impeachable offenses. In this guest essay, former CIA officer Ray McGovern writes that any lingering doubts in his mind were dispelled by a series in The Washington Post detailing Vice President Cheney's disdain for the law and the Constitution, with the buck also stopping on President Bush's desk. July 2, 2007

The New Bush-Blair Vanity Play
The choice of ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a new envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has officials on all sides scratching their heads. A question being asked across the Middle East is whether there's a method to this apparent madness, or is it just a vanity play by President George W. Bush and his pal, Blair? June 30, 2007

Reader Commentaries
Readers commented on our Bush-Mafia story, the Barack Obama article, and an essay on Iraqi refugees. June 26, 2007

The Iraq-gate Cover-up Continues
The U.S. news media is hailing the death sentences meted out to three of Saddam Hussein's top aides for their roles in chemical attacks against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s. But the American press corps again is silent about long-standing evidence that the Reagan administration aided and abetted the Hussein regime as these crimes were committed. Hussein's hasty execution six months ago and the truncated Iraqi legal process also guaranteed that no new evidence emerged implicating George W. Bush's former and current defense secretaries or his father. June 25, 2007

Bush/Cheney or the Republic
As more truth comes out about the past six years, the choice for Americans is boiling down to whether they still want to live in a Republic with inalienable rights or if they are so scared about terrorism that they are ready to sacrifice their rights to an all-powerful Executive. In this guest essay, radio host Stephen Crockett suggests the only way to save the Republic is to reject the idea that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are above the law. June 25, 2007

Sen. Levin's False History & Logic
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin cites Congressman Abraham Lincoln's stance on the Mexican War 160 years ago to justify his own decision to keep funding the troops as long as the Iraq War goes on. But Levin's historical parallel to Lincoln is bogus as is his logic that the only way to end the Iraq War is to get Republicans to repudiate President George W. Bush on a withdrawal timetable. The Michigan Democrat's false reasoning only guarantees continued bloodshed. June 21, 2007

Readers React
Readers reacted to our stories on Carl Levin's misuse of Abraham Lincoln; George W. Bush's thuggish treatment of those who get in his way; and Richard Cohen's standing among clueless columnists. June 22, 2007

Bush's Mafia Whacks the Republic
Over the past half dozen years, George W. Bush has shifted the United States from its tradition as a Republic with inalienable rights into a new-age authoritarian state run more like the Mafia. Not only does Bush now assert his right to snatch people off the street and jail them without trial, but he reportedly has dispatched assassins around the world to eliminate perceived enemies. Bush also continues to purge honest officials who won't respect his omerta code of silence. June 20, 2007

Iraq War's Nuclear Boomerang
George W. Bush still insists that toppling Saddam Hussein made the world safer. But the invasion of Iraq -- after it had disarmed and was cooperating with U.N. weapons inspectors -- sent a dangerous message. It spurred other Bush targets, such as North Korea and Iran, to accelerate their nuclear programs. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland says it's time for Bush to replace belligerence with realism. June 20, 2007

Readers' Comments
Reactions to articles on the endangered American Republic and who's the most clueless columnist. June 20, 2007

How Not to Counter Terrorism
Former FBI Special Agent Coleen Rowley and other members of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity explain how the Bush administration has not only failed to make Americans safer from terrorism but has often made matters worse. In this memo on what still needs to be done -- and in some cases undone -- Rowley and her colleagues warn that running roughshod over civil liberties and collecting too much data on Americans have proved to be the wrong way to go. June 18, 2007

Begging for Libby's Pardon
Like fans at a sport stadium trying to start The Wave, influential neoconservatives are doing all they can to get the public excited about a presidential pardon that would keep former White House aide Lewis Libby out of jail. But so far, it looks like the jumping up and down is mostly confined to Inside-the-Beltway. In this guest essay, Bill Moyers explains why the Libby pardon Wave hasn't caught on. June 19, 2007

The Silence of the Bombs
Despite public revulsion over the Iraq War, the Bush administration appears determined to pursue the conflict indefinitely, possibly with a new phase repositioning U.S. troops to minimize their casualties but to let the occupation continue. In this guest essay, media critic Norman Solomon examines how the failure of the U.S. press to probe hidden aspects of the war contributes to the ongoing catastrophe. June 14, 2007

America's Fragile Republic
Civil libertarians are hailing a two-to-one federal appeals court ruling that rejects George W. Bush's right to snatch civilians off the streets of America and hold them indefinitely as "enemy combatants." But the ruling by a three-judge panel may have been a fluke since the two justices in the majority were Clinton appointees and the full appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, is dominated by Republicans. June 13, 2007

Leaving Iraqi Refugees in the Lurch
Among the many tragedies of the Iraq War has been the brutal ethnic cleansing that has driven millions of Iraqis from their homes. And like so many of these horrors, George W. Bush doesn't want to accept responsibility. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland laments this latest failure of the Bush administration to do the right thing. June 12, 2007

Powell Belies 'Commander Guy' Bush
On NBC's "Meet the Press," former Secretary of State Colin Powell undercut George W. Bush's insistence that he -- unlike the Democrats -- follows the advice of military commanders on the front lines. Powell said his own prediction of a troop drawdown by early 2007 proved wrong because Bush rejected his commanders' advice and instead ordered a troop "surge." Nevertheless, Bush escapes serious press criticism when he touts himself as "a commander guy." June 10, 2007

bIraq Parallels Vietnam, Not Korea
A new Bush administration talking point for the Iraq War is to tell the American people that the bloody conflict will morph into a Korean-style armistace, not a Vietnam-style catastrophe. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland says the reassuring Korean parallel is the latest Iraq War deception. June 7, 2007

Last Plamegate Worry for Bush/Cheney
So far, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have navigated their way past the biggest dangers from the Plamegate scandal. They succeeded at confusing the issue about a possible criminal offense in leaking the identity of a covert CIA officer. They also have left former White House aide I. Lewis Libby holding the bag on the cover-up. Their last worry is the possibility that Libby will start talking, instead of counting on a timely pardon from a thankful President. June 6, 2007

Bush's Global Warming Foot-Dragging
Facing increased international pressure, George W. Bush says he's finally ready to take the lead on global warming. But his plan appears to have no real teeth, relying on "aspirational goals" rather than enforceable standards. Despite these new talking points, Bush and his top aides don't seem to have moved very far from seven years ago when they were reading from coal-industry propaganda. June 1, 2007

How Bush Risks an Islamist Bomb
Among the many catastrophes surrounding George W. Bush's Middle East wars is possibly the bitterest irony of all -- that he is laying the groundwork for radical Islamists to get an atomic bomb via the collapse of Pakistan's pro-U.S. dictator Pervez Musharraf. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland looks at how Bush's bungled policies in Afghanistan and Iraq are leading inexorably to an even worse disaster. May 30, 2007

Reader Commentaries
Readers comment on the Iraqi view of the Iraq War. May 28, 2007

Bush's Killer Talking Points
George W. Bush cowed congressional Democrats into giving him another blank check for the Iraq War by brandishing talking points that accused war critics of abandoning the troops and aiding al-Qaeda. Though Bush's rhetoric was enough to intimidate Democratic leaders, the old and new talking points don't stand up to serious scrutiny. They remain a mix of non-sequiturs, half-truths and outright lies. May 30, 2007

No Celebration This Memorial Day
When congressional Democratic leaders surrendered to George W. Bush's game of chicken over funding the Iraq War, they hoped they could enjoy their Memorial Day recess without facing angry pro-Bush voters accusing them of betraying the troops. Now, they are facing angry anti-war voters accusing them of betraying the troops. In this guest essay, writer Mary MacElveen voices the anger that many Americans feel about a disastrous war brought on by a disastrous political system. May 28, 2007

Lost Whales & a Lost Presidency
Two humpback whales find themselves lost and in grave danger, having wandered as much as 90 miles up the Sacramento River in California and showing little indication they grasp the desperate need to reverse course. In this guest essay, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern sees parallels between the two whales and America's leadership in Iraq. May 26, 2007

Grieving Moms vs. Washington Pols
One mother sits on her son's grave at Arlington Cemetery and reads from "Corduroy," his favorite baby book. Another mom spent cold winter afternoons in a sleeping bag stretched across her son's grave. Meanwhile, George W. Bush reportedly plots a new combat escalation in Iraq and some members of Congress look to give the President another blank check so they can head home for the Memorial Day recess and say they're supporting the troops. May 22, 2007

Thinking Past Plan B in Iraq
Whether as a political maneuver or out of desperation, George W. Bush is signaling that he is giving the Iraq Study Group's recommendations a second look. But thanks to Bush's stubborness last December, the time for a post-surge Plan B may have run out, too. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland argues that the only hope now is for the U.S. to end the occupation and for Iraq to work out a partitioning. May 22, 2007

Rejecting Reality in Iraq
Chatham House, a well-respected British think tank, has thrown down a challenge to leaders in Washington and London to begin "accepting realities in Iraq." The new report paints a grim picture of an Iraqi society coming apart and warns that George W. Bush's military "surge" will fail to achieve any lasting security improvements. But the idea that Bush must accept reality goes against his longstanding confidence that he and his friends can shape how many Americans perceive reality. May 18, 2007

The Iraq War: Going, Going, ...
George W. Bush's claim that he's "a commander guy" who respects the Iraq War opinions of military experts was belied by his embarrassing failure to persuade any retired four-star generals to take the new job as "war czar." Bush finally had to settle on an active-duty three-star general who opposed Bush's troop "surge." Bush's claims about the success of his "surge" also have been undercut by statistics showing that the violence in Iraq continues unabated. May 17, 2007

Iran's Mission Accomplished
The Bush administration's tough-guy rhetoric aside, the winner from the clumsy American occupation of Iraq is almost certainly to be Iran, which has seen its blood enemy, Saddam Hussein, executed and its Shiite allies put in charge. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland suggests that Iran might want to invest in a "Mission Accomplished" banner. May 16, 2007

How George Tenet Lied
Former CIA Director George Tenet has made the rounds of the talk shows flacking his semi-tell-all book and insisting that he really did believe Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. However, as former CIA analyst Ray McGovern writes, the evidence actually shows that Tenet and his superiors in the Bush administration knew better. May 14, 2007

The New Emperor's New Clothes
One painful part of what's happened over the past several years is to watch so many people who admired the United States as a beacon for human rights come to conclude the opposite. Even as George W. Bush struts about boasting of his fine garments of "freedom" and "liberty," more and more people are daring to point out that this emperor has no clothes. In this guest essay, Professor Inez Hollander tells her personal story of disillusionment. May 11, 2007

The Right's Parallel Universe
Oklahoma's Republican Sen. Tom Coburn is a personification of how the American Right has created a parallel universe for its followers by popularizing anecdotes and talking points that diverge with reality. Famous for his bizarre statement about rampant lesbianism in state high schools, Coburn also utters more typical right-wing myths about the dangers of national health insurance. May 9, 2007

Blaming the Iraqis
The U.S. government and the American news media seem incapable of dealing responsibly -- or even rationally -- with the disaster that George W. Bush's invasion has unleashed in Iraq. So naturally all sides prefer to blame the Iraqis. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland suggests that U.S. leaders quickly come to grips with the narrowing options. May 9, 2007

Qaeda's Reverse-Reverse Psychology
If the American people were to heed George W. Bush, they would listen to the words of al-Qaeda and then do the opposite. The President has said that the terrorists want the U.S. to leave Iraq, so the U.S. must stay in Iraq. But that advice was thrown for a loop by a new al-Qaeda videotape that both mocks the Democrats' plan for a phased withdrawal and prays that the Americans remain caught in their "historic trap." May 8, 2007

Bush Sat on Evidence of Cuban Terror
George W. Bush has taken starkly different moral stands on terrorism, depending on whether the killings are done by enemies or friends. So, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that administration lawyers sat on evidence linking right-wing Cuban Luis Posada to a terror bombing campaign in Havana -- until after Posada was free on bail. May 7, 2007

Readers' Comments
Readers had comments about the shortcomings of the Iraq “surge”; the failure to give fuller counts of Iraqi casualties; and the ominous dispute between Russia and Estonia. May 7, 2007

Tenet-Bush Pre-9/11 'Small Talk'
George Tenet's memoir sheds new light on the Bush administration's failure to act aggressively on alarming intelligence in summer 2001 about an impending al-Qaeda attack. Tenet followed up on earlier warning by taking a special trip to Bush's Texas ranch in late August. But that meeting slid into small talk about the ranch's "flora and fauna." May 6, 2007

The Ongoing Iraq Intel Fraud
Washington's big-time media finally has accepted that George W. Bush's case for invading Iraq in 2003 was bogus. But the press corps still won't challenge more recent White House lies and distortions about Iraq. Though Bush's Iraq intelligence fraud is ongoing and the death toll continues to mount, the U.S. news media has yet to get serious about its watchdog duties. May 5, 2007

Missile Defense Seen as Dangerous
The Bush administration's desire to put anti-missile defenses in Europe -- supposedly to defend against some future Iranian threat -- has infuriated Russia, which sees the deployment as a provocative move against its interests. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland warns that the plan could increase the risk of nuclear confrontation. May 4, 2007

Tenet's Disgraceful Apologia
George Tenet's new book, explaining his acquiescence to the use of shoddy intelligence to justify invading Iraq, stands as another monument to the blame-shifting careerism that has become the hallmark of George W. Bush's administration. In this guest essay, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern cuts through Tenet's self-serving rhetoric. May 3, 2007

Setting the Table, with All the Options
"Tough-guyism" is arguably the dominant ideology of Washington, crossing other ideological fault lines. Republicans and Democrats alike play to the voters with tough-talking slogans like "all options are on the table," even though some nations might interpret that as a nuclear threat. In this guest essay, Peter Dyer argues that the tough talk harms U.S. national interests by cementing America's image as a lawless state. May 3, 2007

Dying for W
George W. Bush's key argument against a timetable for withdrawing from Iraq is that the "enemy" would lie low and "wait us out." But Bush now acknowledges he has no evidence for that claim, "just logic." But why not try a timetable if it might might tamp down the violence from Iraqis who resent the U.S. occupation? Right now, Bush's open-ended war means that American soldiers and Iraqis alike are dying for W. April 25, 2007

Washington's Bloody Make-Believe
It's taken years for Washington's insider crowd to grasp that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney launched the Iraq War based on lies and distortions. But the idea of demanding serious accountability still remains too hard to accept. In this guest essay, journalist Carla Binion says it's time to finally bridge the gap between Washington's land of political make-believe and the bloody reality that i