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If the past is not to be ignored, we have every reason to be skeptical of the justifications coming out of Washington for military action in Syria. Is it really about chemical weapons? Two words: Highly. Unlikely.
What possible connection could there have been between George H.W. Bush and the assassination of John F. Kennedy? Or between the C.I.A. and the assassination? Or between Bush and the C.I.A.? For some people, apparently, making such connections was as dangerous as letting one live wire touch another. Here, in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination in November, is the second part of a ten-part series of excerpts from WhoWhatWhy editor Russ Baker’s bestseller, Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, America’s Invisible Government and the Hidden History of the Last Fifty Years. The story is a real-life thriller.
The United States and its allies have been so eager to remove the Assad regime in Syria that they’ve enabled some extreme elements to move into the void. Could the Western strategy in Syria result in the displacement of a secular regime with elements of Al Qaeda?
What possible connection could there have been between George H.W. Bush and the assassination of John F. Kennedy? Or between the C.I.A. and the assassination? Or between Bush and the C.I.A.? For some people, apparently, making such connections was as dangerous as letting one live wire touch another.
Here, in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination in November, is the first part of a ten-part series of excerpts from WhoWhatWhy editor Russ Baker’s bestseller, Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, America’s Invisible Government and the Hidden History of the Last Fifty Years. The story is a real-life thriller.
The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks seems the right moment to remind people how even very solid, careful reporting of apparent “deep politics” links in the attacks has never entered the larger American conversation. The story of the Saudi connection to a house in Sarasota, Florida, is must reading. It also is useful to consider given the established role of Saudi intelligence in the Syrian uprising.
As the US and world debate whether expanded foreign intervention in Syria is justified—and why, we thought this primer on the unspoken issues in another war theater might provide food for thought. Here, then, we repost a September, 2012 WhoWhatWhy article looking at less noble reasons for the Afghan conflict. While you read this, you may feel like taking a hard look at Syria and asking: Is this situation truly different, or are strategic and financial concerns again the justification the political and media establishment will not openly discuss?
Here’s another fine mess: The American people overwhelmingly don’t want war with Syria. The US is in bed with terrorists—plus blithely ignores international law and protocol. And when a congressman points out apparent disinformation from on high, the Secretary of Defense pleads ignorance.
America and its allies appear about to launch a war against Syria. The justification is that the regime of Bashar al-Assad is using chemical weapons against the Syrian people. But a closer look raises doubts about whether Assad is using the weapons, whether the US-backed opposition is using them—or some combination. This is a timely must-read.
A riveting autopsy report on the remains of journalist Michael Hastings says he used marijuana and methamphetamines before the fiery crash in Los Angeles that killed him. The narcotics did not play a role in the wreck, the medical examiner said, but the report reveals for the first time that Hastings had relapsed into drug use. His kin had arrived in L.A. hours before the wreck to encourage him to go into rehab, police say. Meanwhile, a Hastings family member has a surprising reaction in an exclusive comment to WhoWhatWhy.
As Cairo burns and the American president tries to say anything but “coup”, the Washington chatterati are agreed that Egypt is just too precious a commodity to give up in the name of human rights. They’re right, but geopolitics has less to do with it than profits.
Picking up on WhoWhatWhy’s scoop, Mother Jones takes a closer look at Kimberly Dvorak, the San Diego reporter who has enjoyed a media star turn while covering the car-crash death of muckraker Michael Hastings. Her reporting has been “questionable,” Mojo says. Inadvertently, she raises an interesting point: What’s more important for the media–relevance or accuracy?
How can the administration promise transparency in the public interest while actually releasing very little information? Meet the “mosaic effect.”