Author Archives: RagBlog

Jim Simons’ Molly Chronicles: Serotonin Serenade (Plain View Press, Austin, 2006) may be the sweetest memoir yet to come out of the radical movements of the 1960s and beyond. Spanning Simons’ 40 years as a self-created Movement lawyer, and written … Continue reading →

Despite despising George Bush beyond any other president in Amerikan history, we can be vaguely grateful for one thing: he turned so many conservatives against the Republican party that it may never have the strength it once did. Rod Dreher: … Continue reading →

Iraq: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Noam Chomsky interviewed by Michael AlbertDecember 27, 2006 1. Why did the U.S. invade Iraq? (And why did important sectors of the political elite, like Scowcroft, oppose doing so?) What are the U.S.motives for staying? … Continue reading →

If you missed part one, it’s here. The Money Masters – Part II

From Missing Links Sunday editorial In reading about Iraq, you need to keep two things separate. One is to understand the writer’s preferred configuration for a resulting Iraqi government, and to make the necessary adjustments in what he has to … Continue reading →

A much more clear and detailed article (than ours) about the impending conflagration with Iran. Certainly, we found the overt mention of Patriot missile deployment the most telling sign of an impending action. Bush’s Iraq Plan – Goading Iran into … Continue reading →

From Xymphora Is the United States a military dictatorship? Is the United States a military dictatorship? Three stories all from January 14, 2007: The Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency are using ‘noncompulsory’ ‘national security letters’ to compel disclosure of … Continue reading →

The depth of cynicism of this man is overwhelming. Bush Says Iraqis Not Grateful Enough That’s what he just said on 60 Minutes. SCOTT PELLEY: Do you think you owe the Iraqi people an apology for not doing a better … Continue reading →

Although the Amerikan perception is that the Iraqis are duping them, the facts probably do not support such a conclusion. We would look for insurmountable cultural differences, Amerikan arrogance, unrealistic Amerikan expectations, and initial piss-poor Amerikan planning. But that doesn’t … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Juan Cole at Informed Comment for highlighting MLK’s remarks on war. “Sleeping through the Revolution”: Martin Luther King on the Evils of War Here are some excerpts on war from Martin Luther King, Jr., “Remaining Awake Through … Continue reading →

A Prince of a Man — How George Bush Protects US Troops in Iraq: Commentary by Paul Crassnerd01/15/07Baghdad I have always been puzzled as to what, exactly, was the force powerful enough to detain a warrior as magnificent as George … Continue reading →

Through a Glass, Darkly: How the Christian right is reimagining U.S. historyPosted on Wednesday, January 10, 2007. Originally from December 2006. By Jeff Sharlet. We keep trying to explain away American fundamentalism. Those of us not engaged personally or emotionally … Continue reading →