Rambos Go To Prison

Ken AshfordIraq, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

A little justice from Bush’s horrid war: A federal judge Monday sentenced a former Blackwater Worldwide security guard to life in prison and three others to 30-year terms for killing 14 unarmed civilians in a Baghdad traffic circle in 2007, an incident that fomented deep resentments about the accountability of American security forces during one of the bloodiest periods of the … Read More

Breaking: Tentative Iran Deal Reached

Ken AshfordBreaking News, IranLeave a Comment

Both Iranian and European Union officials are announcing that a deal has been reached regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The announcement comes as talks in Lausanne, Switzerland between Iran and the P5+1 passed the March 31 deadline to come to an understanding before a final comprehensive agreement is completed by June 30th. Iran President Hassan Rouhani tweeted: ”Solutions on key parameters of … Read More

Ted Cruz Started Liking Country Music On 9/11

Ken AshfordElection 2016, Popular Culture, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

HuffPo: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who announced Monday he’s running for president in 2016, said he started listening to country music because of 9/11. During an interview with CBS’ “This Morning,” Cruz revealed he didn’t like the way rock bands reacted to the terrorist attack. “Music is interesting. I grew up listening to classic rock, and I’ll tell you sort … Read More

“Isn’t This The Ultimate Degree of the Collapse of Political Ethics and the US System’s Internal Disintegration?”

Ken AshfordCongress, Iran, Obama Opposition, RepublicansLeave a Comment

That’s a direct quote from the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, in reference to letter written to Iran and signed by 47 Republican senators essentially trying to sabotage negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Thanks, GOP, for showing how divided and unreliable and unresolute America is.

47 Traitors Get Schooled By Iranian Foreign Minister, Who Understands The US Constitution

Ken AshfordCongress, Iran, Obama Opposition, RepublicansLeave a Comment

A GOP letter from Senate Republicans to Iran about the pending nuclear deal warns Iranian leaders that any agreement between Washington and Tehran could be voided by Congress and simply not upheld once Obama leaves the White House in 2017.  The letter was spearheaded by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). Naturally, it received some backlash.  White House press secretary Josh Earnest was unusually blunt … Read More

Senate Republicans Overstepping Their Authority

Ken AshfordCongress, Constitution, Iran, Republicans1 Comment

Can you imagine if this was 2006 and the Democrats did this to Bush? A group of 47 Republican senators has written an open letter to Iran’s leaders warning them that any nuclear deal they sign with President Barack Obama’s administration won’t last after Obama leaves office. Organized by freshman Senator Tom Cotton and signed by the chamber’s entire party … Read More

The Muslim Terrorist Victims?

Ken AshfordBreaking News, Crime, Godstuff, Gun Control, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

So here’s what happened: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Three people were shot to death at a quiet condominium complex near the University of North Carolina, and the suspect was scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday — though police had not yet released a motive or given details of the crime. Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was arrested and has been … Read More

At Least We’re Not Argentina

Ken AshfordForeign AffairsLeave a Comment

For all the political scandals this country deals with, it pales with what is happening in Argentina. I’ll give the Cliff Notes version. Back in 1994, there was a bombing of the 1994 bombing of the Argentina Israelite Mutual Association, a Jewish Community Center located in Buenos Aires.  85 people were killed and hundreds were wounded.  Following the 1994 AMIA bombing, … Read More

The American Sniper Controversy

Ken AshfordIraq, Popular Culture, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

I don’t expect “historical” movies to be documentaries.  I have no problem with some artistic license for dramatic purposes. I saw “American Sniper” recently, not knowing that it was based on the real life events of Chris Kyle, known as “The Legend” for his abilities during the Iraq War.  It was clear from the end of the film (which cut … Read More

Free Speech Or Picking Sides In An Ideological Battle?

Ken AshfordWar on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

The march in Paris on Sunday, attended (sort of) by world leaders, was about free speech. Ostensibly. But it seems that it is not only the terrorists who can’t take a joke: Anti-semitic French comedian Dieudonné was arrested after he seemingly compared himself to the terrorist who murdered four people at a kosher supermarket in Paris last week. Dieudonné M’Bala … Read More

US Military Gets Hacked By ISIS

Ken AshfordWar on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

That’s actually the headline here, but it is a little misleading. The twitter account of the CENTCOM got hacked.  It’s not like ISIS broke into CENTCOM’s computers.  And that’s a big difference.  Hacking a Twitter account is not some grand feat.  Same with Youtube accounts (which also got hacked by ISIS).

“Where’s The Moderate Muslim Outrage?”

Ken AshfordRight Wing and Inept Media, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Fox’s Monica Crowley: “I Haven’t Heard Any Condemnation” Of The Paris Attack From Muslim Groups.While discussing reactions to the Charlie Hebdo attack on the January 7 edition of Fox News’ The Real Story, contributor Monica Crowley argued that Muslims “should be condemning” the attack and that she hadn’t “heard any condemnation.” [Fox News, The Real Story, 1/7/15] Fox Guest: “You Don’t … Read More