The uncertain war against Iran
When Admiral William J "Fox" Fallon was chosen to replace General John Abizaid as chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in March 2007, many analysts reached a seemingly clear-cut conclusion: the Bush administration was preparing for war with Iran and had selected the most suitable man for this job. Almost exactly a year later, as...The torture of Sami al Arian
The storm of criticism that followed George Bush's weekend veto of Congressional limits on the CIA's use of torture might lead to the conclusion that, reprehensible as "torture" might be in remote, secret CIA locations, it could never happen here in the U.S. But the Bush administration's abuse of power in its treatment of Dr. Sami al...Five years into war, soldiers speak
Washington - This week marked the fifth anniversary of the day President Bush announced from the Oval Office the "opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign" to invade Iraq. On that day, he invested the military with a great and grave responsibility. "To all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces now...Not this time
Responding today to the media storm over his pastor's inflammatory words, Barack Obama turned a tempest into an eloquent teaching moment on race in America. Barack Obama could have responded to the controversy that has been ginned up with regard to comments made by his former pastor with a safe and predictable...Hillary’s nasty pastorate
When it comes to unsavory religious affiliations, Hillary Clinton is a lot more vulnerable than Obama — as are a surprising number of Washington's most powerful politicians. Who knew they were involved in a right wing extremist cult? There's a reason Hillary Clinton has remained relatively silent during the flap over...The Democrats’ problem with democracy
If the Democrats fail to elect their presidential candidate and allow the "super delegates" to select him/her in the smoke-filled back rooms at the convention in Denver, the Democrats could create a long-term problem with their base. This, along with the decision to disenfranchise the Democratic voters in Florida and Michigan, could...If the Dems don’t stop fighting, McCain will win
It was delightful, those early days when Republicans were in fractious disarray and the Democratic field bloomed with interesting candidates like a pasture full of daffodils — any of them! All of them! Bluebirds sang. We were rolling in good will. Now, however, John McCain has unified the right with a lizardy, smothering oil of...Stop the false religious slurs against Obama
The religious slurs against Sen. Barack Obama must stop. So, too, the insinuation that to be Muslim, which Obama is not, is somehow a disqualification for president. Voters chose John F. Kennedy to be the first-ever Catholic president. We accepted Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, as a viable Democratic Party vice...Dissenting views made Fallon’s fall inevitable
WASHINGTON (IPS) — Admiral William Fallon's request to quit his position as head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and to retire from the military was apparently the result of a George W. Bush administration decision to pressure him to resign. Announcing the resignation, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he believed it...MPAC honors Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus
Announces launch of MPAC-NYC chapter at 2nd annual awards dinner in NYC New York — In front of a packed New York City audience last week, the Muslim Public Affairs Council honored Dr. Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, with the MPAC Foundation's 2nd Annual Human Security Award....
Second Muslim elected to Congress from Indiana
March 14th, 20080 INDIANAPOLIS — The grandson of the late U.S. Rep. Julia Carson won a special election Tuesday to succeed her, keeping the seat in Democratic hands and becoming the second Muslim ever elected to Congress. Democrat Andre Carson had a 5,000-vote lead over Republican Jon Elrod out of nearly 59,000 votes counted. With 88 percent of 445...Behind the McCain lobbyist scandal
I don't know whether Senator John McCain had sex with lobbyist Vickie Iseman, but I do know, first hand, that he broke the rules while doing the bidding of media mogul Lowell "Bud" Paxson, a major contributor to McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. McCain's staff lied it about it then and they are inventing new lies even now. I...Gaza, Obama’s religion and Al-Arian’s nightmare continues
In this new regular feature, I will break down media reporting about issues of interest to Arab Americans. The U.S. media have a responsibility to tell our stories accurately and to include our perspectives. This is unfortunately not the case, though there has been some improvement over the years. This...A bid to enroll Arabs in U.S. colleges
MIT students help dispel their fears and doubts about applying to American schools, where they remain a relative minority after 9/11. Cambridge — Like any good high school student, Lana Awad dreamed of an Ivy League education. But when the Syrian teen started applying to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton...Asylum cases hinge more on luck than law
NEW YORK (IPS) - In January 2006, on the heels of reports of widespread incompetence, injustice, and political cronyism among the judges who decide the fate of thousands of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced a sweeping review of the entire asylum process. Six months later,......
BBC Arabic television news channel launches next week
LONDON — BBC Arabic television — the BBC's news and information channel in the Arabic language — launches on Tuesday 11 March 2008 at 10.00 GMT, it was announced this week. Initially broadcast for 12 hours a day, the television channel is part of the BBC's integrated multimedia news service for the Arab world. It will move to 24/7 in...
Michigan votes may count after all
March 7th, 20080 WASHINGTON — Bringing an abrupt end to Sen. Barack Obama's winning streak in the primary battles for the Democratic U.S. presidential nomination, rival Sen. Hillary Clinton reinvigorated her campaign this week by taking three of four primaries on Tuesday — including key delegate-rich states Ohio and Texas, as well as Rhode......
Islamic charities draw more scrutiny
Counterterrorism officials in the U.S. and the Middle East, who in recent years have shut down several Islamic charities accused of financing terrorist organizations, now are pursuing what they describe as a second constellation of such groups. Key figures who avoided the initial legal dragnet in 2001 and 2002 have continued to...Why Obama is good for Israel
Barack Obama has pledged that, if elected President of the United States, he will travel to a "major Islamic forum" in the first 100 days of his administration to deliver the clear message that "we are not at war with Islam." This is a strong signal that Obama believes George W. Bush's lethal confrontation with the world of Islam...Nader is in and Obama can handle it
Ralph Nader is running again for president. After four previous bids, mounted in varying forums and with varying goals, Nader is used to the slings and arrows that will be tossed his way. He is conscious and committed. He will not back off. He knows how to campaign in the face of a firestorm of criticism. Above all, he knows how...Obama for a new beginning in America
Very possibly the most important presidential elections of our lifetime will take place this November. America is in peril, and voters from all walks of life and all political orientations across all 50 states will go to the polls to show their preference for the next leader of the free world. What is of concern to me and a lot......
Iraq is still important in 2008 race
WASHINGTON — Despite polls showing that the economy has eclipsed the Iraq war as the number one issue for U.S. voters, the war itself, and as Barack Obama rightly terms it, "the mindset that got us into this war," will remain critical issues in the 2008 presidential contest. Here's why: While Iraq has largely fallen off the front...
Obama pulls ahead in national polling; defeats Clinton, McCain
February 23rd, 20080 NEW YORK — Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has opened up a gaping 14-point lead over Democratic rival Senator Hillary Clinton in a national presidential preference telephone survey conducted by Zogby International for Reuters news service. Obama And while Obama leads Republican Senator John McCain in a national general election......
FISA program allowed to expire by House Dems
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program. The program allowed the National Security Agency to monitor suspect telephone calls and e-mails between the United States and overseas...
Holding McCain to his own standard
February 23rd, 20080 John McCain treads dangerous ground as he defends himself against charges that he may have maintained an inappropriate relationship with a special-interest lobbyist, and that he may have done so with an individual who influenced his actions as a key player on the Senate Commerce Committee on matters involving communications policy.......