Afghanistan
US in Afghanistan beyond 2014: Gen. Dunford
The next commander of US forces in Afghanistan is prepared to testify that he wants to see a significant US military presence in Afghanistan after the end of 2014.
Author: Bill Weinberg
North Africa
Petraeus prostration: Benghazi blowback?
David Petraeus was scheduled to testify before Congress on the Benghazi attack when he was brought down by a sex scandal. Did the FBI instrument the revelation to silence him?
Palestine
Chomsky sloppy on Gaza —and timid on Palestine’s future
Noam Chomsky, writing on his visit to the Gaza Strip, gets numerous facts wrong. But worse is his acceptance of the "two-state solution," a betrayal of secular-democratic principles.
North America
Obama’s re-election: more historic than 2008?
Obama was re-elected with a shrinking minority of the white vote compared to 2008. This bodes poorly for the GOP's future, and also explains its radicalization.
Planet Watch
Sandy and climate change: media hot air
Media bloviators argue about whether superstorm Sandy was "caused by" climate change, oblivious to the obvious reality: such extreme weather events are climate change!
New York City
NYC: obligatory disaster rant
"Mandatory evacuation" set a dangerous precedent for executive power and displacement of the poor—but will the "Frankenstorm" at least be a climate-change wake-up call?
Central America
Criminal gangs threaten Maya Biosphere Reserve
Mexican drug cartels that use cattle ranching to launder narco-profits as well as Chinese-backed illegal timber gangs are eating into Guatemala's vast Maya Biosphere Reserve.
East Asia
Multiple flashpoints threaten to ignite East Asia
North Korea threatens military action against the South, South Korea's Coast Guard attacks a Chinese fishing fleet, and China sends a naval force into waters claimed by Japan…
Europe
France: Muslims under attack… and Jews
A right-wing "Identity Group" seized a mosque in Poitiers, issuing a "declaration of war" against the "Islamization" of France—weeks after a bomb attack on a kosher shop in Paris.
Iran
Romney betrays Iran protesters —really
Mitt Romney utterly betrayed the Iranian protesters by portraying them as looking to the US for sponsorship and protection—playing right into Ahmadinejad’s propaganda.
New York City
NYC: another bogus ‘terrorism’ bust
The latest supposed near-miss terrorist attack in New York City appears to be yet another specious case in which the "terrorist" plot turns out to be a creation of FBI infiltrators.
Planet Watch
Petro-oligarchs play presidential candidates —again
The oil and energy industry are funding both candidates—but not equally. Romney has received $6 million from individuals and PACs linked to the industry; Obama $1.6 million.