The Temple of Self-gratification

The Temple of Self-gratification

By Jason Hirthler April 21, 2020 Author David Foster Wallace once said that America is, “One enormous engine and temple of self-gratification and self-advancement.” The spectacle of American consumerism comes galloping to mind. But the pageant of gluttony with which we sate ourselves on a weekly basis is a pale reflection, at least in its […]

The End of American Exceptionalism

The End of American Exceptionalism

January 19, 2019 “The naive and dangerous idea that the U.S. is exceptional has made us a danger to ourselves.” Jeffrey Sachs sits down with Rob Johnson to discuss his new book, A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism, Columbia University Press, 2018.

Part 7 • Iraq: Invasion, occupation and regime change

Part 7 • Iraq: Invasion, occupation and regime change

    By Farhang Jahanpour September 18, 2018   1. Some omitted facts and perspectives Prior to the Iraq war, the only thing that one heard on most Western channels about that country was Saddam Hussein and his alleged chemical and nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein became synonymous with Iraq. Nothing was said of Iraq’s long […]

Part 6 • US policies of invasion and regime change: Afghanistan

Part 6 • US policies of invasion and regime change: Afghanistan

    By Farhang Jahanpour September 18, 2018   1. The Carter Doctrine, Brzezinski and the Stinger missiles

 After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan on Christmas Day 1979, President Jimmy Carter issued his Carter Declaration, stating that the Persian Gulf was part of America’s vital interest and America would defend it by all means possible. […]

Part 6 • US policies of invasion and regime change: Afghanistan

Part 6 • US policies of invasion and regime change: Afghanistan

    By Farhang Jahanpour September 18, 2018   1. The Carter Doctrine, Brzezinski and the Stinger missiles

 After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan on Christmas Day 1979, President Jimmy Carter issued his Carter Declaration, stating that the Persian Gulf was part of America’s vital interest and America would defend it by all means possible. […]

Part 5 • The Fragmentation of the Middle East

Part 5 • The Fragmentation of the Middle East

    By Farhang Jahanpour September 18, 2018   1. Israel: The policy’s background As a small country with a tiny population surrounded by large and hostile countries, Israel’s policy ever since its establishment has been to rely on some external forces, the British Empire at the beginning of its creation and later on the […]

Part 4 • Western Demonization of the Middle East

Part 4 • Western Demonization of the Middle East

    By Farhang Jahanpour September 17, 2018   1. The western demonization of Islam We have often heard about Osama bin-Laden’s outrageous remarks about the West (if not Christianity), but we often seem to ignore the remarks made by some influential writers, thinkers and politicians in the West about Islam, which are as harsh […]

“Why, This Isn’t Cuba” – On America’s Exceptionalism

“Why, This Isn’t Cuba” – On America’s Exceptionalism

    By David Swanson April 9, 2018 Back in the 1890s those who believed conquering a continent was killing enough (without taking over Hawaii, the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc.) included Speaker of the House Thomas Reed. He clipped an article out of a newspaper about a lynching in South Carolina. He clipped a […]