Vox Populi

A curated webspace for Poetry, Politics, and Nature with over 20,000 daily subscribers and over 8,000 archived posts.

W.J. Astore: Kicking the Vietnam Syndrome

Originally posted on The Contrary Perspective:
President George H.W. Bush, fist clenched, ready to smack down the Vietnam Syndrome W.J. Astore The Vietnam Syndrome refers to an alleged reluctance on…

November 26, 2014 · Leave a comment

Tom Engelhardt: The Cost of Endless War

The money should stagger you. Journalist James Risen, author of Pay Any Price: Greed, Power, and Endless War, a revelatory new book about the scammers, counterterrorism grifters, careerist bureaucrats, torture … Continue reading

November 25, 2014 · Leave a comment

New Study: Mainstream Media Silences Debate About War

New analysis finds little opposition in mainstream media to latest US military attacks on Middle East nations. When it comes to asking hard questions about war, don’t count on the corporate … Continue reading

November 17, 2014 · Leave a comment

Election Result: More Military Escalations Are Coming

Originally posted on The Contrary Perspective:
James Madison warned that perpetual war is the worst enemy of personal liberty W.J. Astore So, Republicans now control the Senate as well as…

November 5, 2014 · Leave a comment

Rory Fanning: Thank You for Your Valor, Thank You for Your Service, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You…

Still on the Thank-You Tour-of-Duty Circuit, 13 Years Later. Last week, in a quiet indie bookstore on the north side of Chicago, I saw the latest issue of Rolling Stone … Continue reading

October 29, 2014 · 1 Comment

Tom Engelhardt: On Being An Indispensable Nation

President Barack Obama delivers the commencement speech to the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2012 at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 23, 2012. It was May 23, … Continue reading

October 21, 2014 · 1 Comment

William J. Astore: Investing in Junk Armies 

Why American Efforts to Create Foreign Armies Fail ~ In June, tens of thousands of Iraqi Security Forces in Nineveh province north of Baghdad collapsed in the face of attacks … Continue reading

October 20, 2014 · 1 Comment

Peter Certo: Obama’s Dumb War

 The president is now poised to leave behind a Middle East quagmire much like the one he was elected to end. No Exit Strategy.  (OtherWords cartoon by Khalil Bendib) If … Continue reading

October 17, 2014 · 1 Comment

Hillary Clinton Embraces ‘Endless War Doctrine’

In Ottawa, former secretary of state says war against ISIS will be “long-term commitment.” Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the war being waged against militant fighters … Continue reading

October 11, 2014 · Leave a comment

Tim Holmes: 7 arguments against war in Iraq and Syria

Originally posted on Tim Holmes:
1. It won’t work – and is likely to backfire. “What’s the harm of bombing them at least for a few weeks and seeing what…

October 9, 2014 · Leave a comment

The Worst Cancer of All

Originally posted on The Contrary Perspective:
Deploy them only when needed, and in wars only when approved by a formal Congressional declaration W.J. Astore Also at Huffington Post. President Obama’s…

September 29, 2014 · 1 Comment

Phyllis Bennis: Six Steps Short of War to Beat ISIS

Weakening ISIS requires eroding the support it relies on from tribal leaders, military figures, and ordinary Iraqi Sunnis. Here’s how to do it without bombs. How is it possible that … Continue reading

September 13, 2014 · Leave a comment

Stephen Zunes: The US and ISIS

    At the start of classes one year ago, I was having to explain to my students why the United States appeared to be on the verge of going … Continue reading

September 7, 2014 · Leave a comment

Tom Engelhardt: How America Made ISIS

Whatever your politics, you’re not likely to feel great about America right now. After all, there’s Ferguson (the whole world was watching!), an increasingly unpopular president, a Congress whose approval ratings … Continue reading

September 3, 2014 · Leave a comment

Archives