Portside

Most pundits are careful about not advocating for direct U.S. military intervention in Syria (that is left to the Republican politicians who appear on the Sunday shows). But their message boils down to a concern over the credibility of the president's threats of violence more important than the credibility of his evidence. The White House has been saying their reticence is informed by the Iraq debacle; many pundits don't seem to have learned a similar lesson.

The war in Afghanistan wasn’t a failure. It was a massive success — for those who made a fortune off it. Instead of a nation, what we really built were more than 500 military bases — and the personal fortunes of the people who supplied them.

They weren’t kidding when they called Afghanistan the “graveyard of empires.” That cemetery has just taken another imperial body. And it wasn’t pretty, was it? Not that anyone should be surprised. Even after 20 years of preparation, a burial never is

At the dawn of the new millennium, we directed our national resources in the exact wrong direction. But it’s not too late to turn things around.

In just 20 years, the total cost of the US increasing homeland security and waging wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere since Sept. 11, 2001, have exceeded $8 trillion, according to new estimates by the Costs of War project at Brown University.

India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam — Reports on the left and working people across Asia

Solidarity with China? Division on the left... and the Syria debate continues too

Defining imperialism today - what’s changed, and what hasn’t?

"Our Constitution is clear that it is Congress, not the president, who has the authority to declare war," the senator asserted.

The China debate continues, Lebanon explodes, Bolivians rebel against coup regime, and more