Iraq is the deadliest place on earth for journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists has confirmed that 2006 is the fourth year in a row that the country has “won” this tragic award. Far too few journalists seem to care, however (and the US government cares even less): When you step off the elevator at…
Showing all posts in June 2019
Palestinian speaks on Carter
Ali Abunimah, The Wall Street Journal, December 26: President Carter has done what few American politicians have dared to do: speak frankly about the Israel-Palestine conflict. He has done this nation, and the cause of peace, an enormous service by focusing attention on what he calls “the abominable oppression and persecution in the occupied Palestinian…
The clueless commentariat
Guess who? “Blowing up Iran. I say we nuke the bastards. In fact, it doesn’t have to be Iran, it can be everywhere, anyplace that disagrees with me.”… This and other “highlights” from 2006.
The refugee ‘problem’
Amira Hass, Haaretz, December 27: Until Enaya Samara, who has been living in forced exile for the past eight months returns to her village near Ramallah, and until Someida Abbas, who was banished from his home 10 months ago accompanies his children to kindergarten again, it will not be possible to believe the defense establishment’s…
Allergic to black water
More than one year after Hurricane Katrina, residents of New Orleans have been forgotten. That’s the conclusion of rampaging investigative journalist Greg Palast in his documentary, Big Easy to Big Empty: It’s unbelievably ugly. You will see in the film mile after mile of destroyed houses. The 9th Ward looks worse than Berlin after the…
Into the belly of self-promotion
Fox News comedian Bill O’Reilly recently travelled to Iraq – “the Bob Hope of his generation”, according to one serviceman – and signed some of his books. The purpose of his trip? Er, to sign some books and promote himself. Did he meet any Iraqis? Did he leave the Green Zone? Not that he cares:
The (nearly) silent revolution
Noam Chomsky, Japan Focus, December 26: There was a meeting on the weekend of December 9-10 in Cochabamba in Bolivia of major South American leaders. It was a very important meeting. One index of its importance is that it was unreported, virtually unreported apart from the wire services. So every editor knew about it. Since…
Myth upon myth
Top Ten Myths about Iraq in 2006 by Juan Cole. (Suffice to say, “victory” is thankfully never going to happen.)