Published by Tom Hayden, The Peace Exchange Bulletin is a reader-supported journal, critically following the Pentagon's Long War in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, as well as the failed U.S. wars on drugs and gangs, and U.S. military responses to nationalism and poverty around the world.
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:49AM President Obama is accelerating the withdrawal of American troops from combat roles in Afghanistan, emphasizing during the presidential campaign that he will put an end to the quagmire. The decision was predicted in a PJRC analysis last month.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:23PM Israel now estimates that Iran’s nuclear program is nine months away from “being able to withstand an Israeli attack,” which happens to be the same timeline as the US national election. A well-connected US hawk believes that Israel might give the White House only an hour or two warning before attacking Iran, “just enough to maintain good relations between the countries but not quite enough to allow Washington to prevent the attack.” These troubling assertions are contained in this week’s authoritative article about the Israel-Iran confrontation by an Israeli correspondent for New York Times Magazine, Ronen Bergman.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 5:50PM Congress should update and amend the existing War Powers Act (WPA), passed in 1973 over Richard Nixon’s veto, to cover future American military operations relying on drones instead of ground forces. Republican and Democratic House leaders seriously questioned President Obama’s executive order for the war in Libya, but have not followed up with amendments to protect the crucial constitutional role of Congress – and American voters – in future decisions to go to war.
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 7:05PM John Yoo, author of the memos defending torture for the Bush Administration, has published a lengthy article at the American Enterprise Institute calling for the Republican presidential candidates to push for war with Iran. This is the clearest evidence that the neo-con faction, which pushed America into the Iraq catastrophe, is brazenly scheming to start another one.
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 11:00PM During the past decade, this writer has remained skeptical about prospects of a US-supported war against Iran. The potential costs outweighed the benefits. Now, as the 2012 election year unfolds, I am not certain. The political and geo-political dynamics underscore the growing threat of war.
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 3:51PM Interviewed on Democracy Now!, Bill McKibben hailed as “brave” yesterday’s decision by President Obama to reject the Keystone pipeline proposal. It was unusual praise from an inspirational leader of the environmental movement who was arrested outside Obama’s White House less than two months ago, coming at a time of progressive disillusionment with the president on many fronts.
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 12:40PM In response to a PJRC request, Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense is suggesting the following platform for addressing the needs of veterans from the era of the Gulf war, and Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 11:59AM This work is not about “feeling good” or even “speaking truth to power.” It is about building a stronger popular base of anti-war opinion, and a stronger organizational capacity for your local networks. Congress will act only when voices for peace are strong enough in enough of their districts.
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 7:35PM With this week’s issuance of the Pentagon’s new defense strategy, President Obama is ending the “Long War” envisioned by many neo-conservatives, counterinsurgency advocates and Pentagon hawks.
Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 11:27PM The Obama administration is withdrawing the first 10,000 American troops from Afghanistan, with another 23,000 scheduled to withdraw by September 2012 during the height of the national political campaigns. It is understood by many that the Obama administration would like to accelerate the pullout, and transfer the lead combat role to Afghan troops, before the coming election.
