The New York Times reported a couple of days ago that our glorious effort to change water into wine build a stable, functioning democracy in the territory we call "Afghanistan" may be winding down for keeps: Mr. Obama is committed to ending America’s military involvement in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, and Obama administration … Continue reading Sympathy for the devil

This is what life is like in America's Hottest New Media Empire: How's this for a listicle: 60 million unique visitors who didn't see your snarky buzzfeed thought piece. — Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) July 11, 2013 Because nothing says "journalism" like "LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE CLICKED ON OUR CONTENT TODAY." Also. Too: And finally, … Continue reading Buzz off

It's definitely not getting any better: At least 28 people have been killed in bomb and gun attacks across Iraq, police and medics have said. In Muqdadiya, north of the capital Baghdad, 11 people were killed when a car bomb exploded at a mourning ceremony. As survivors gathered to evacuate the wounded, a suicide bomber blew himself … Continue reading Iraq getting worse?

Iraq has been clearly shoved to the side in terms of media coverage of the Middle East, what with the Syrian Civil War, massive public unrest in Turkey, and the implosion of Egypt (also Iran elected a new president!) hogging the spotlight. Unfortunately, Iraq seems to be quietly spiraling out of control as well. Al … Continue reading Remember Iraq?

I mean, we say we're not torturing the inmates at Guantanamo anymore, but we are definitely force-feeding those who choose to go on hunger strikes. That's what the above video is about; rapper/actor Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) volunteered to have a force-feeding tube inserted into his stomach to demonstrate what our government is doing to … Continue reading Why are we still torturing people?

Things may be spiraling out of control in Egypt, where a clash between the army and Muslim Brotherhood supporters near the headquarters of Egypt's Republican Guard (where deposed former President Mohamed Morsi is believed to be held) became a bloodbath:Doctors at the morgue say 54 dead, mostly from bullets or asphyxiation.Forensic reports I saw were … Continue reading Egypt deteriorating

Since I didn't do one of these last week this will actually cover the past two weeks. Egypt: Obviously this is the big story of the last couple of weeks, with massive protests against the administration of President Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood allies finally reaching the point where the Egyptian armed forces stepped … Continue reading This Week in Oppressive Government Violence: July 7, 2013

I was thinking after I wrote this piece that there might be some ways that American Credibility could be strengthened that don't involve us exploding things on people in the Middle East. I know that this makes me a hippy and thus instantly Unserious, but I figured I could throw a few things out there … Continue reading American Leadibility, Part 2: Being Credible Without Killing People