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U.S. Diplomacy: A Dangerous Proposal

Conn Hallinan Foreign Policy in Focus
While the mainstream media focuses on losers and winners in the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, a largely unreported debate is going on over the future course of U.S. diplomacy. Its outcome will have a profound effect on how Washington projects power—both diplomatic and military—in the coming decade.

Abu Zubaydah: Torture’s ‘Poster Child’

Marjorie Cohn Consortiumnews.com
The ugly legacy of George W. Bush’s torture program continues to haunt U.S. foreign policy as the “poster child” for waterboarding, Abu Zubaydah, makes an appeal for his release from Guantanamo, writes Marjorie Cohn.

US Targeted Killing Rules Conflate Legality and Politics

Marjorie Cohn Truthout
Under the guise of increased transparency, the administration has revealed partial information about its targeted killing program. But much remains classified. And what we do know does not comply with the law.

Preparing for the Next Memorial Day

Medea Benjamin Common Dreams
Instead of defending our nation as the Constitution stipulates, since the 9/11 attacks the U.S. military, CIA, and military contractors have been waging aggressive wars or interfering by proxy in other nations’ internal affairs. Looking at our national budget, you can see the overwhelming power of the military. The $600 billion price tag, way over $1 billion a day, eats up 54 percent of all federal discretionary funds.

The Media Are Misleading the Public on Syria

Stephen Kinzer The Boston Globe
Americans are being told that the virtuous course in Syria is to fight the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian partners. We are supposed to hope that a righteous coalition of Americans, Turks, Saudis, Kurds, and the “moderate opposition” will win.This is convoluted nonsense, but Americans cannot be blamed for believing it. We have almost no real information about the combatants, their goals, or their tactics. Much blame for this lies with our media.

What Are Foreign Military Bases For?

David Swanson Let's Try Democracy/Writing by David Swanson
If you're like most people in the United States, you have a vague awareness that the U.S. military keeps lots of troops permanently stationed on foreign bases around the world. Have you ever really investigated to find out how many, where exactly, at what cost, to what purpose, and in terms of what relationship with the host nations?A wonderfully researched new book, six years in the works, answers these questions in a manner you'll find engaging.

US Wages ''War on Terror'' in the Philippines

Adam Hudson Truthout
Although Islamic State regularly captures global headlines, the so-called fight against ''terrorism'' is not just confined to the Middle East. The United States quietly maintains other fronts in the War on Terror - including the Philippines.

Saudi Arabia's Airstrikes in Yemen Are Fuelling the Gulf's Fire

Patrick Cockburn The Independent
By leading a Sunni coalition Saudi Arabia will internationalise the Yemen conflict and emphasise its sectarian Sunni-Shia dimension. US policy across the Middle East looks contradictory. It is supporting Sunni powers and opposing Iranian allies in Yemen but doing the reverse in Iraq. Whatever happens in Iraq and Yemen, the political temperature of the region is getting hotter by the day.

Seven Questions for Benjamin Schwarz

Jeremy Beer The American Conservative
In an interview with Benjamin Schwarz, the editor of The American Conservative, and an ex Rand Corporation consultant, in which he is critical of the US hegemonic role in world affairs from a conservative, not a "right" point of view. So interesting that he uses Marx to describe the actions of US Foreign Policy to dominate the world for what we call neo-liberal economic domination.
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