Archives for 2012

In the American mind, if Apple made weapons, they would undoubtedly be drones, those remotely piloted planes getting such great press here.  They have generally been greeted as if they were the sleekest of iPhones armed with missile…

Most Americans never see Iran on television, don’t know an Iranian, and speak of “striking Iran” entirely in the abstract. No one talks about the release of radioactivity and toxins on Iran as a result of a “strike.” Iran is depicted as a dreary, ugly theocratic dictatorship as though high politics were the only marker […]

The candidates to be the Republican standard bearer in this year’s presidential campaign addressed Iran and Syria in the course of their debate. Except for Ron Paul, they resorted to propaganda and logical fallacies. This use of erroneous arguments by canny men who have been in positions of high responsibility can only be explained if […]

Transcript of the Middle East-related portions of the Republican debate in Arizona hosted by John King of CNN: “QUESTION: Hi, my name is Ken Taylor (ph) from Wickenberg, Arizona and my question to all the candidates is, how do you plan on dealing with the growing nuclear threat in Iran? KING: It’s a pressing question […]

My column is out at truthdig “How the FCC can take the Money out of Politics” Excerpt: “Big money has always been a problem in American politics, but now humongous money threatens to capsize the ship of state. Billionaires are very, very good at getting rich, mostly through stealth monopolies, relatively sure things (e.g., casinos) […]

A CNN/ Gallup poll shows that nearly three quarters of Americans believe that Iran already has a nuclear weapon. (About 80% believe that it either has one or will get one in short order). This belief is completely irrational. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has repeatedly said that the US believes that Iran has not […]