Manne and The Oz: revisiting a time when Iraq had WMDOne of the most salient yet overlooked aspects of Robert Manne’s Quarterly Essay Bad News is its assessment of The Australian’s coverage of the Iraq war and its aftermath. NAJ Taylor fills this gap, discussing the debate’s many factors in this essay for This Blog Harms.
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Political snippets: Gina and tonic of strange bedfellows
And the end result of that invasion of Iraq? Christians are trying to quit the country to avoid being murdered and those that remain are too scared to celebrate Christmas.
Synchronized insurgents strike Iraq
Yesterday insurgents in Iraq launched a devastating string of coordinated attacks in 13 separate locations across the country. This new wave of violence arrives in the midst of America’s resolve to scale back its involvement and, by next year, end combat operations.
Hitchens on Iraq: once more, with feeling
There is something pitiable about the end of General Stanley McChrystal’s career in the wake of his controversial Rolling Stone interview. McChrystal ought to be sent back to Baghdad for one final mission before he retires, writes Christopher Hitchens.
Petraeus to replace McChrystal, but policy remains bung
Obama’s decision to replace Gen Stanley McChrystal with Gen David Petraeus to lead the war in Afghanistan may be a clever political move, but the war remains a corrosive policy that should be ditched, according to Politics in Color.
Blackwater is still working for the US
The Pentagon and CIA are still employing controversial military contractor Blackwater in Afghanistan (albeit under a new name), despite allegations of involvement in murder, gun-running, child prostitution and more, ABC News reveals.
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The top secret British mission that failed
A rescue attempt by British troops to save five British hostages in Iraq in May 2007 has been revealed. Troops attempted to intercept the hostages being taken across the border from Iran, but failed. Only one hostage survived.
Terrorists, nukes and war: the tumultuous 12 months ahead
How will the US battle terrorist forces in Yemen? Will Iran’s nuclear program be halted? Can the war in Iraq end in a peaceful democracy? David Ignatius puts in his predictions for the biggest global political issues of the year ahead.
Nuclear weapons, war and China: the biggest problems of the year ahead
2010 is already shaping up to be a troublesome year in world politics, writes Daniel Flitton. Think the threat of nuclear weapons in Iran, the US military messes of Iraq and Afghanistan and the burgeoning power of China.
Blair: I would have invaded Iraq anyway
An unrepentant Tony Blair says it was right to invade Iraq and dispose of Saddam Hussein even without evidence of weapons of mass destruction. So the cynics were right all along? asks Paul Reynolds.
Five ways Obama can earn his Nobel Prize
Barack Obama has been given an “encouragement award” for peace, says Salon, but here’s five ways he can actually earn it. Start by getting the hell out of Iraq…
Bombings rock an already shaky Iraq
As the day for the Iraq election date is announced, coordinated car bombings exploded around Baghdad at various government institutions. Is there any public faith left in Iraq’s government or its security forces?
At least someone is mentioning the war
The continuing British inquiry into the country’s involvement in the Iraq war has already provided some fascinating testimony, despite only scratching the surface of the inquiry’s task.
Dowd: Rush Limbaugh is immature and narcissistic
Shock jock Rush Limbaugh is one of the key media mouths of the Republican Party and he loves to insult at Obama. Too bad he forgets the actions of his good mate Dubya, because it wasn’t Obama who stuffed the economy or brought about the war in Iraq, notes Maureen Dowd.
VIDEO: Remote control warfare: the destructive double-life of drone pilots
By day, these US Airforce pilots fly combat planes over Iraq and Afghanistan; at night, they return home to their kids in Las Vegas. They’re the remote control navigators of unmanned “drone” planes whose lives are in America while their heads are in a warzone.
Obama’s done good but not that good…
Barack Obama’s Nobel win acknowledges that he’s changed how Americans deal with the world, particularly the Muslim world and has helped reform the world’s view of the US. But, let’s not forget Afghanistan. Or Iraq.
Nelson: high on rhetoric, low on policy
Brendan Nelson’s speech failed to explain his justification for the war on Iraq and highlights how the Opposition just wants to stand for something, writes Gary Sauer-Thompson.
What happens when war gets photographed
A photo of a dying US marine in Afghanistan was plastered across newspapers this week. With support for the war dwindling, will it provoke the same outrage that the flag draped coffins of US marines killed in Iraq did?
Howard hits the headlines again
Former PM John Howard is back in the media again, thanks to Paul Kelly’s new book. So what have we learnt? Crikey takes a look at the revelations from Children Overboard to Hating Peter Costello.
Gays under attack in Iraq
Gays are being targeted in Iraq, with increased attacks and killings on suspected gay or even effeminate men. Human Rights Watch say Iraqi police and security forces are doing little to stop the violence.
Let’s leave Iraq NOW
With civil violence down to a manageable level and US forces ceasing to be the dominant player in Iraq, is there actually any reason for them to stay another two years, costing taxpayers $12 billion a month? Let’s leave now, says Tim McGirk.
Chilling photos from a war on terror
Peter van Agtmael worked as an embedded photojournalist in Iraq and Afghanistan. His book, 2nd Tour, Hope I Don’t Die, tells of a complex war.
‘Coalition of the Willing’ now a coalition of one
With both Britain and Australia ending their military presence in Iraq, the US is now effectively on its own for the next two years until their planned withdrawal of troops in 2011.
