Leaving Iraq (audio)

KQED Forum 15 December 2011
The U.S. military engagement in Iraq is almost over, following the orderly exit of tens of thousands of American troops from the country. Just a few thousand soldiers remain, and those are expected to be gone in two and a half weeks, leaving behind some U.S. advisers and contractors. In this hour, we discuss what’s next for Iraq, and the political, economic and social impact of the pull-out.
Guests:

  • John Arquilla, professor of defense analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School Michael Nacht, Thomas and Alison Schneider professor of public policy at UC Berkeley
  • Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and chair of middle eastern studies at the University of San Francisco
  • Stephen Farrell, foreign correspondent for The New York Times
  • Jane Wales, president and CEO of the World Affairs Council. Former director of the National Security Council.

Obama Ad Condemns Israel Aid Opponents

Foreign Policy In Focus/Institute for Policy Studies
December 14, 2011 and at Common Dreams.

An ad on my Facebook page from barackobama.com reads, “Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, and Newt Gingrich say they would start foreign aid to Israel at zero. Reject their extreme plan now!”
This struck me as odd for two reasons: First, it is disingenuous and misleading… Secondly, millions of Americans—particularly younger voters—support zeroing out aid to Israel on human rights grounds.