Tom Hayden's Blog, page 42

Quebec: Students Win Tuition Victory

After months of fierce student battles against university tuition hikes, the new Parti Quebecois (PQ) government in Montreal cancelled the hikes on its first day in office and nullified an anti-protest bill imposed by the previous administration. This may be the most significant battle won by students anywhere this year.

Afghanistan Today and Tomorrow

Tom Hayden, close observer of US foreign policy since the early 1960s, offers his wisdom on Afghanistan, seen here through the artistry of two young comics creators and editor Paul Buhle, founder of the New Left journal RADICAL AMERICA.

Covering Up Failure in Afghanistan

If Mitt Romney is unwilling to support the US war plan in Afghanistan, the policy must be truly tattered. Romney has complained about setting “premature deadlines”, argued that Barack Obama has given up on “victory”, but has failed to offer an alternative to the current 2014 deadline for the end of American and NATO combat.

American Public Opposes War with Iran

The American public overwhelmingly opposes a unilateral military strike against Iran and, according to the New York Times, 59% say, “If Israel bombs Iran and ignites a war, the United States should not come to its ally’s defense.” The US government should not come to Israel’s defense if Tel Aviv starts a war against Teheran.

The Unasked Question: Whom Do You Trust with Nuclear Weapons?

Following the media and political culture, one would think the only nuclear danger in the world is centered in Iran. But the most fateful and unasked campaign question for many Americans, equal to the state of the economy and presidential character, is this: Can a candidate be trusted to make decisions about nuclear war?

Latin America Supports Ecuador in Assange Case

Meeting in Washington last month, the Organization of American States (OAS) backed Ecuador in its struggle to provide asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange against the demands of the British government. The American and Canadian governments abstained on the unanimous resolution, which called for solidarity and support for the Quito government.

Obama’s Cuban 5 Dilemma

The ongoing case of the Cuban 5, convicted of conspiracy and espionage for monitoring and trying to prevent terrorist attacks on Cuba from official US sanctuaries in Miami, will be central to any diplomatic effort to bridge the widening gap between the Obama administration and Latin America, assuming the president wins a second term.

I'm Not Voting for Rocky Anderson

Rocky Anderson cites Glenn Ford of The Black Commentator as proof that some black people are standing up to Barack Obama. That seems like pointing to Herman Cain as proof that the Republican Party is integrated. Or that Utah, with a black population of 0.6 percent has tripled its African-American numbers in recent years (from 0.2 percent).

Bush the Christian Crusader

Anyone amazed by the current wave of spontaneous Islamic uprisings against the crazy anti-Mohammad movie trailer should realize America has a deeper problem than trying to explain the First Amendment to the Muslim street. Wait until millions of people read the 2003 statement by President George Bush, published earlier this month, calling for a Christian war against Iraq and the Middle East.

It’s Official: For Bush, Iraq was a Crusader War

In a stunning statement, President George Bush told the president of France that the Iraq “confrontation is willed by God, who wants to use this conflict to erase his people’s enemies before a new age begins,” according to a new book by Kurt Eichenwald, former New York Times reporter.