On the Road in the Karakoram

On the Road in the Karakoram

The snowed-over Khunjerab Pass, at 4,934 meters, stands eerily silent on a freezing late autumn morning. On the Pakistani side, a wooden house serves as a small customs office fronted by “the highest ATM in the world” – though you try a foreign credit card at your peril. The Chinese side boasts an intimidating, metal-plated…

First Fallout of Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Syria

First Fallout of Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Syria

President Trump’s strategic decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria creates some significant fallout. The U.S. and international borg is enraged that Trump ends an occupation that is illegal under international as well as U.S. domestic law. “That’s un-American!” Defense Secretary James “Mad Dog” Mattis resigned from his position effective February 28. He disagreed with the president’s decision. It…

Did Someone Slip Donald Trump Some Kind of Political Viagra?

Did Someone Slip Donald Trump Some Kind of Political Viagra?

This has been an extraordinary week. After two years of getting rolled by the Washington establishment, it seems that President Donald Trump woke up and suddenly realized, “Hey – I’m the president! I have the legal authority to do stuff!” He has announced his order to withdraw US troops from Syria. His Defense Secretary James Mattis has resigned. There are…

Trump Orders Syria Troop Pull-Out & Hollywood ‘Liberals’ Go Bananas

Trump Orders Syria Troop Pull-Out & Hollywood ‘Liberals’ Go Bananas

The announcement by President Trump that US troops would be leaving Syria has been met with anger not just by neocons, but by Hollywood ‘liberals’ too. Aren’t progressives supposed to oppose wars and illegal occupations? Of course, we have to be cautious. Trump’s announcement of a troop withdrawal from Syria, for now at least, is…

Time to Get Out of Syria

Time to Get Out of Syria

President Trump has done the right thing with regard to America’s troop deployment in Syria. Trump ordered the 2,000 US troops based in Syria to get out and come home. Neocons and the US war party are having apoplexy even though there are some 50,000 US troops spread across the rest of the Mideast. The…