Lost E-Mails Obscure 'Plame-gate'
The White House now admits it can't recover lost e-mails from emergency backup tapes for key dates in 2003, meaning some early Iraq War history may be lost. Two gaps also could obscure what senior Bush advisers were saying about early stages of the "Plame-gate" scandal. May 9, 2008

The Night the Old Politics Died
Often it's hard to spot true turning points. What looks important one day can fade into obscurity the next, and other times we overlook the event that really changes history. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky argues that May 6 marked the end of the old negative politics. May 7, 2008

Executive or Imperial Branch?
Lost amid the news media's obsession over Rev. Jeremiah Wright has been any attention toward how George W. Bush has trampled on the U.S. Constitution. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland takes a stab at getting the public to pay some attention to the future of the Republic. May 7, 2008

US Media Trivializes Campaign 2008
Every four years, the U.S. press corps vows not to get lost in campaign trivia or obsessed with negative "oppo," but soon falls off the wagon. On NBC's "Meet the Press," Tim Russert became the latest big-name journalist to trivialize the selection of the President. May 6, 2008

Thanks for Helping Us Reach Our Goal It took a bit longer than we had expected, but we've finally reach our spring fundraising goal of $25,000 -- thanks to you. Of course, we're still happy to accept contributions. And we have some investigative projects that need special funding. You can make a tax-deductible donation by credit card online or by mailing a check. (For readers wanting to use PayPal, you can address contributions to our account, which is named "consortnew@aol.com."). Or, you can buy one of our books directly through the publisher's Web site. With each purchase, $5 is rebated to help us pay our bills. (For each purchase of Lost History, Secrecy & Privilege or Neck Deep through Amazon.com, $1 goes to our coffers.) As always, thank you for your support!

Reflections on Israel's 60th
The enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reshaped attitudes across the Middle East and even transformed U.S. politics. In this guest essay -- marking Israel's 60th anniversary -- Rabbi Michael Lerner reflects on the complex past and the dangerous future. May 5, 2008

The Clintons and the 'War on Obama'
Even before the first votes were cast, Hillary Clinton's campaign had prepared guilt-by-association attack themes that would raise doubts about Barack Obama's patriotism. After a halting beginning, this "War on Obama" has finally begun to click. May 4, 2008

'Beware the Terrible Simplifiers'
Why have Jeremiah Wright's outbursts gotten so much more attention than objectionable comments by other politicaly connected preachers? In this guest essay, Bill Moyers considers some answers. May 3, 2008

Hillary's 'Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy'
As the "War on Obama" grinds on, Hillary Clinton has struck a tactical alliance with what she once called the "vast right-wing conspiracy." In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky ponders this strange turn. May 3, 2008

The Right's America-Hating Preacher
America's Right is having a field day blasting Barack Obama's ex-pastor Jeremiah Wright as anti-American. But many of the same conservatives look the other way when their benefactor, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, denounces the United States. A Special Report. May 2, 2008

Sending Felons Off to War
Bogged down in two quagmire wars, George W. Bush is scrounging for Americans willing to fight and is turning more and more to convicted felons, a risky move, says Ivan Eland in this guest essay. May 2, 2008

Reagan's Bargain/Charlie Wilson's War
With "Charlie Wilson's War" now out on DVD, we are republishing the commentary on the movie from former CIA analyst Peter W. Dickson, who focused on the key facts that the Tom Hanks film ignored. May 1, 2008

Abu Ghraib Film Obscures Truth
Errol Morris's documentary "Standard Operating Procedure" promised to tell the whole truth about the Abu Ghraib scandal. Instead, it followed the path of previous cover-ups, blaming low-level MPs and even relying on the word of one private interrogator linked to the abuses. April 30, 2008

Halliburton Bribe Case Haunts Cheney
Halliburton has disclosed that federal investigators are expanding their probe into alleged bribes paid by a company subsidiary to get contracts in Nigeria in the 1990s when Dick Cheney was CEO. Investigators also have complained about Halliburton's degree of cooperation. April 29, 2008

Truth or Neo-Consequences
Neoconservatives, who helped push the United States into war in Iraq, have found a new target -- law-abiding Muslims and Arab-Americans who are trying to build careers in academia. A case in point was the tenure battle over a Barnard anthropology professor. April 29, 2008

Fastened to a Dying Animal
Campaign 2008 is taking on the distractive qualities of so many previous campaigns, like those that gave George W. Bush two terms. Someday, historians may shake their heads at this sad decline of the American Republic, but for now, poet Phil Rockstroh is shaking a fist. April 29, 2008

TV Networks Silenced Anti-War Voices
A New York Times investigation exposed how the Pentagon funneled its Iraq War propaganda through retired military officers turned TV analysts. However, as media critic Jeff Cohen notes, TV executives made the decision to silence anti-war voices. April 28, 2008

Redefining Iran as the Enemy in Iraq
The war drums in Washington and Tel Aviv are beating again for a possible confrontation with Iran before George W. Bush leaves office. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland looks at how the Bush administration is transforming Iran into the new enemy in Iraq. April 26, 2008

The Bush Team's Geneva Hypocrisy
In the first days of the Iraq invasion, Bush administration officials accused Iraq of violating the Geneva Convention by showing video of captured U.S. troops. But newly released documents reveal some of those same officials busily turning the Geneva rules into Swiss cheese. April 25, 2008

Campaign 1988 Lives!
Some Americans hoped the days of smear-and-slime politics were over, that the severity of the nation's crises would negate the kind of attack politics unveiled by George H.W. Bush in 1988. But Hillary Clinton's 10-point win in Pennsylvania has dashed those hopes. April 24, 2008

Making a 'Killing' on the 'War on Terror'
George W. Bush's "war on terror" has given birth to what Dwight Eisenhower might have called the "terror-industrial complex." In this guest essay, Ian S. Lustick looks at the institutionalized self-interest that has arisen from the shock over 9/11. April 25, 2008

VA Debated PR Plan on Vets' Suicides
Faced with new data this year showing a stunning number of suicide attempts by U.S. war veterans, senior Veterans Administration officials exchanged e-mails on how to craft a possible P.R. strategy to minimize the negative impact of the news. Updated April 23, 2008

A Counterproductive 'War on Terror'
George W. Bush boasts that his "forward-leaning" aggressive approach to the "war on terror" -- most notably, the occupation of Iraq -- is making America safe. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland finds a different lesson from the data on terrorism. April 23, 2008

What About the War, Benedict?
Pope Benedict XVI maneuvered his way through Washington without upsetting his American hosts by criticizing the Iraq War, torture, and the Supreme Court's enthusiasm for capital punishment. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern regrets an opportunity lost. April 21, 2008

US News Media's Latest Disgrace
It may come as little surprise that TV news shows served as conduits for the Bush administration's Iraq War propaganda by putting on "military analysts" who were puppets for the Pentagon. The truth is this was a scandal three decades in the making. April 21, 2008

Torture Question Hovers Over Chertoff
John Yoo and some other legal architects of George W. Bush's torture policies are now out of the U.S. government. But one still holds Cabinet-level rank, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, who promised CIA interrogators protection on prosecutions. April 20, 2008

Unhappy Republicans Weigh Switch
Even in some Red States, traditional Republicans are leery about signing on for another four years of George W. Bush's policies on the Iraq War and the economy. That attitude has created an opening for Democrats, if they don't splinter their own party. April 19, 2008

Are the Clintons Playing Joe McCarthy?
In the 1950s, Joe McCarthy used guilt by association to impugn the patriotism of decent Americans. Now, Hillary Clinton's campaign is employing similar tactics in a desperate bid to derail Barack Obama's drive for the Democratic nomination. April 18, 2008

The Weather Underground 'Theme'
Behind the scenes, Hillary Clinton's campaign has been pushing the Weather Underground "theme," a tenuous connection between Barack Obama and a Vietnam-era radical. The work paid off in Wednesday's debate with Sen. Clinton even adding a false link to 9/11. April 17, 2008

Would Obama Hold Bush Accountable?
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have shied away from grassroots demands for holding George W. Bush and his top aides accountable for torture, war crimes and other offenses. But Obama told one reporter that if elected, he would order a Justice Department probe. April 16, 2008

Bush's Torture Quote Undercuts Denial
George W. Bush's comment to ABC News about approving high-level White House meetings on harsh interrogation tactics casts a new light on a disputed 2004 FBI e-mail describing an Executive Order that detailed Bush-backed harsh treatment of Iraqi detainees. April 15, 2008

Clinton's Experience: Fact and Fancy
Hillary Clinton's claim of 35 years of experience has some truth to it, but also exaggerations and omissions. Investigative reporter Barbara Koeppel looks at the mixed picture. April 15, 2008

Bill and Hillary's 'Stockholm Syndrome'
In their bid to return to the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton have taken on characteristics of their Republican tormentors from the 1990s, a slash-and-burn, win-at-all-costs approach. It has the look of a Stockholm Syndrome victim identifying with a tormentor. April 14, 2008

In Case You Missed These Stories
Once a month, we plan to look back at some of the previous month's special stories that might have flown by without getting the attention they deserved. Here's a selection from March. April 13, 2008

Bush's Iraq War Double-Speak
With the Iraq War now in its sixth bloody year, there are predictable patterns to the new ad campaigns for optimism, with fresh corners turned and more reasons to mock war critics. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland looks at George W. Bush's happy Iraq War double-speak. April 12, 2008

Iraq War 'Blank Check' Balloons
Not only does George W. Bush want Congress to give him more Iraq War money with no strings attached, but he is evading congressional oversight by packaging his requests as "emergency" spending. That spending also has doubled over the past four years. April 11, 2008

The Very Annoying Washington Post
The Washington Post's editorial page is at it again, mocking Americans who don't buy into the grand wisdom of George W. Bush's Iraq War. What makes this so annoying is that the Post never admits that it got virtually the entire Iraq War wrong. April 11, 2008

Yoo's on First?
The disclosure of a five-year-old torture memo by Justice Department official John Yoo focused press attention on this advocate of unlimited presidential wartime powers. But former CIA analyst Ray McGovern says the real blame should fall on Yoo's top boss. April 10, 2008

Dems Shy Away from Iraq Money Fight
Congressional Democrats may have asked tougher questions of Gen. David Petraeus, but the end result looks to be the same. Despite vowing not to give George W. Bush another Iraq War "blank check," Democratic leaders are signaling they will do just that. April 9, 2008

Taking the Incentive Out of War
The trillions of dollars poured into the military-industrial complex have spilled over into other parts of the U.S. political system -- financing think tanks, media outlets and politicians. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland argues that these financial incentives must be curtailed. April 9, 2008

Losing the War for Reality
To understand America's sharp decline in the early 21st Century, one must look at its lost ability to deal with reality. In a new book, former CIA analyst Melvin Goodman traces this problem back to the work of Robert Gates and others in the 1980s to "politicize" intelligence. April 8, 2008

Bush, Petraeus and an Endless War
Gen. David Petaeus returned to Capitol Hill with more talk of progress in Iraq but little hope that America's 140,000-troop-strong expeditionary force will be coming home any time soon. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky still sees a tragic war without end. April 8, 2008

Yoo's Memo Hints at Bush's Secrets
In a just-declassified 2003 memo, Justice Department lawyer John Yoo said George W. Bush could order abuse of captives to extract information. But one provocative footnote said Bush also could ignore constitutional rights while undertaking domestic military operations. April 6, 2008

Hillary Low-balled Bill's Pay in Forms
In public disclosure forms, Hillary Clinton listed Bill Clinton's income from companies run by two major political backers as "over $1,000" when the couple's tax records show the former President earning six- and seven-figures from the two sources. April 6, 2008 (Updated April 16, 2008)

Beijing's Reality Intrudes on Shangri-la
China's desire for international respect from the Olympic Games is colliding with Tibet's resistance to Chinese encroachment on its mystical Buddhist traditions. In this special report, veteran war correspondent Don North looks at the darkening clouds over Shangri-la. April 5, 2008

(The Late) M.L. King Still Silenced
In his last years of life, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out forcefully against the Vietnam War and American militarism, drawing cold contempt from major U.S. media outlets. Now, 40 years after his death, the news media still ignores one of King's last great battles. April 4, 2008

Building a Legal Framework for Torture
In 1988, after the United States signed the Convention Against Torture, President Ronald Reagan noted that it obligated nations to prosecute any torturer found within their borders. To escape that responsibility, George W. Bush's lawyers turned logic inside out. April 3, 2008

All Power to the President
The release of a five-year-old Justice Department memo underscores how far the advocates for George W. Bush's unfettered power were ready to go. But the enduring threat is that four U.S. Supreme Court justices -- one shy of a majority -- favor that imperial presidency. April 2, 2008

A Good Thing from the Bush Years
There have been a lot of negatives from George W. Bush's presidency, including a disastrous war and a damaged economy. But let's look at a positive: his disdain for reality has created a common cause for honest American journalists and patriotic CIA analysts. April 1, 2008

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.)