AlterNet.org: World News

Whistleblower: Thereâ€™s a Lot Less Oil Than We Think and U.S. Has Been Trying to Cover It Up

Terry Macalister, The Guardian — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Warning of a deliberate underplay at the International Energy Agency of a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying.

The Ft. Hood Massacre Is George Bush's Fault

Thom Hartmann, The Smirking Chimp — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:01 PST

If Al Gore (or even Ralph Nader) had been President in 2001, the Ft. Hood massacre almost certainly wouldn't have happened. Because George W. Bush was president, it did.

Afghanistan Is Worse Off Than Ever, Thanks to the Sham Army We're Propping Up

Chris Hedges, Truthdig — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Cultural barriers and naked corruption have rendered the Afghan National Army completely inept.

Why Are We Locking Up Traumatized Veterans for Their Addictions Instead of Offering Them Treatment?

Penny Coleman, AlterNet — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

This Veterans Day, let's get past the bunting and ribbons and look at our returning troops' real needs.

Egyptian Marine: Soldiers Often 'Racialize' the Enemy to Cope With Stress

Aaron Glantz, New America Media — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:01 PST

NAM Editor Aaron Glantz spoke to former Marine Corps Cpl. Dave Hassan, who served in Iraq. Hassan said that while he was there, racist language was so pervasive he used it himself.

"Women Are Being Killed All Over the World": One Reporter's Fight Against So-Called "Honor Killings"

Robert S. Eshelman, The Brooklyn Rail — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:01 PST

A new book tells the story of so-called "honor killings" in Jordan. Author Rana Husseini discusses the growing movement against this deadly form of violence against women.

10 Suicides This Year at Ft. Hood -- War Stress Is Taking Soldiers to the Brink

Dahr Jamail, Asia Times — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

The shooting tragedy at Fort Hood on Friday points to a much larger problem of combat stress and overdeployment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nobel Laureate Slams the Bible, Calls It "A Catalogue of Cruelties"

Mario de Queiroz, IPS News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:01 PST

The holy book is a "manual of bad morals," according to JosÃ© Saramago.

As Foreclosure Nightmares Increase, Will More Homeowners Pay Off Their Bankers in Violence?

Scott Thill, AlterNet — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

The economic crisis revealed late-capitalism's central offense: Human beings are being transparently treated if they were mere transactions. And they're going postal over it.

With Unemployment at 40 Percent, Afghan Teens Enlist in Army, Police

Lal Aqa Sherin, IPS News — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:00:01 PST

In a matter of weeks, Afghanistan's boys can go from high school students, to uniformed soldiers.

The Victims At Fort Hood Are Casualties of War: Why Won't the Government Count Them Among the Dead?

Aaron Glantz, New America Media — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:01 PST

Perhaps the most depressing aspect of Thursday's shoot-out at Fort Hood is that none of the people who died will be counted as casualties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If You Say the Taliban = 9/11 Often Enough, Maybe Someone Will Believe It?

Greg Palast, GregPalast.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

It's the latest hit from the same crew that brought you Saddam = 9/11 and its twin chant, Saddam = WMD.

Claim: CIA Sent Prisoners Abroad to Be Boiled Alive and 'Raped with Broken Bottles'

Daniel Tencer, Raw Story — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Former British ambassador alleges CIA relied on intelligence based on torture in prisons in Uzbekistan.

Stop U.S. Meddling; Support Afghan Women at the Table

Jodie Evans, CODEPINK Women for Peace: Action Blog — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Meddling in Afghanistanâ€™s elections and U.S. failure at every turn to deliver security and justice is increasing the potency of the Taliban.

Republicans and Democrats Come Together to Launch Unprecedented Attack on International Law

Stephen Zunes, AlterNet — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:01 PST

This is George W. Bush's foreign policy legacy, which â€” through this resolution â€” the Democrats, no less than their Republican counterparts, have now eagerly embraced.

Gorbachev on His Legacy, and Obama's Chance to Lead an American Perestroika

Katrina vanden Heuvel, Stephen Cohen, The Nation — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:01 PST

The former Soviet leader on his push for a peaceful dissolution of the Russian empire, and his idea that the US should follow suit.

23 CIA Agents Convicted in Italy for Kidnapping Egyptian Cleric

Gina Doggett, Agence France Presse — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:01 PST

The CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Seldon Lady, was sentenced to eight years in prison and othersto five years, all in their absence in the landmark trial.

A Call for Clarity on the War in Afghanistan

Sonali Kolhatkar, Foreign Policy in Focus — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:01 PST

It will take time and complexity, as well as trial and error, to help rebuild Afghanistan for ordinary Afghans, and by extension make Americans safer.

Nothing But Bad Policy Options for Obama in Afghanistan

Tom Engelhardt, Tomdispatch.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:01 PST

Can we avoid an approach to Afghanistan where impending disaster is seen as an invitation to make things even worse?

"Pro-Israel" Group's Money Trail Veers Hard Right

Eli Clifton, IPS News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:00:01 PST

StandWithUs, a pro-Israel group known for challenging the credentials of more moderate Israel lobbyists, has accepted contributions from a slew of hard-right beneficiaries.