Fracking is happening in Australia, using highly toxic chemicals to extract coal seam gas. Governments have been enthusiastic backers of the practice with little caution for environmental or health concerns. And now this: For the first time, a scientific study has linked natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing with a pattern of drinking water contamination…
Showing all posts tagged United States
Who knew I was a nihilist leftist who loathes Western civilisation?
So I wrote an article for the ABC last week on the murder of Osama Bin Laden. I asked questions about his death, the significance of his assassination, the role of Al-Qaeda in making the US an insanely paranoid security state post 9/11 and the terror leader’s relevance (or otherwise) during the Arab Spring. But…
US needs Pakistan like a fish needs a three-seater
After the recent US murder of Osama Bin Laden – was Pakistan warned about the attack? Some almost certainly were but denied it to give the impression that Pakistan wasn’t colluding with the super-power (which they are, in a massive way) – where’s the relationship likely to go now? Lawrence Wright in the New Yorker…
Middle East revolutions happened despite of us
The social and political significance of the ongoing Arab revolutions are powerful. Last Friday I spoke in Sydney alongside insightful American reporter Matthew Cassel – who recently was on the front line of the Egyptian revolution and is soon to work for Al-Jazeera English – and Australian journalist Kate Ausburn. It was a fascinating night…
Liberal hawks should hang heads in shame over Libya
The Western-assisted war in Libya isn’t going too well. So much for a quick victory against Gaddafi forces. The utterly confused strategy, even with US-led bombing runs, has not overwhelmed government troops. Gary Younge writes in the Guardian that such missions should force “liberal interventionists” who backed this war to question (yet again!) their belief…
Imagining an America that doesn’t invade and occupy
This is a moving piece. Written by US journalist Michael Hastings (a friend and colleague) about the real opportunity that should be taken with the death of Osama Bin Laden. An imperial nation that continues to believe it can rule by brute force and invade Muslim nations is delusional: Osama bin Laden’s actions, and our…
Arab democracy bad for Israel (says prominent US Zionist)
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has spent his life protecting poor little Israel and writing columns from his ivory tower. His latest piece proves what many people have been saying for a long time; Zionism cannot thrive, let alone survive, with real democracy in the Middle East. What does that say about supposed Jewish…
Obama expresses “satisfaction” with assassination of Bin Laden
America is a Cowboys and Indians culture: STEVE KROFT: Mr. President, was this the most satisfying week of your Presidency? PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Well, it was certainly one of the most satisfying weeks not only for my Presidency, but I think for the United States since I’ve been President.