{"id":11089,"date":"2011-08-19T16:47:58","date_gmt":"2011-08-20T00:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/?p=11089"},"modified":"2011-08-19T16:47:58","modified_gmt":"2011-08-20T00:47:58","slug":"weekinreview08191","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/19\/weekinreview08191\/","title":{"rendered":"Antiwar.com&#8217;s Week in Review | August 19, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><i>Antiwar.com&#8217;s Week in Review <\/i> | August 19, 2011<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Help us meet our fund-raising goal! Help keep the War Party at bay by <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/antiwar.com\/donate\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">making a tax-deductible donation today<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">!<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Don&#8217;t forget to sign the open letter to Obama and Congress to end the wars: <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.comehomeamerica.us\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">ComeHomeAmerica.us<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>IN THIS ISSUE<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<ul type=\"DISC\">\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Obama tells Assad to step down<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Unrest in Israel-Palestine<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Violence spreads in Iraq as U.S. considers staying<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Libya unstable as intervention goes on<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Is Afghanistan impervious to the surge?<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Drone wars in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Miscellaneous news from the empire<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">What&#8217;s new at the blog?<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Columns<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Antiwar Radio<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Events<\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>Syrian Regime On Its Way Out?<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">After months of violent suppression, <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/obama-calls-for-regime-change-in-syria\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">President Barack Obama on Thursday called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. In the months since pro-reform Syrians rose up against the regime, Assad has committed acts that United Nations investigators say &#8220;may amount to crimes against humanity,&#8221; but <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/us-calls-for-assad-to-step-down-aggressive-sanctions-to-oust-him\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">it&#8217;s clear from the Obama administration&#8217;s record throughout the Middle East&#8217;s Arab Spring that this was not a motivating factor in calling for his resignation<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Heavy U.S. sanctions followed by European sanctions aimed at the Syrian oil and financial sectors are expected to place added pressure and isolation on the Assad regime, but so far Western powers have not threatened military intervention. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Reports indicate that Syrian forces have killed almost 2,000 people, and tens of thousands have fled, mostly to neighboring Turkey. After weeks of attacks on Hama, Homs, and other cities, the latest round of attacks focused on the port city of Latakia, where <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/14\/syrian-navy-attacks-latakia-at-least-24-killed\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Syrian forces opened fire on residential neighborhoods<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> and <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/violence-continues-at-syrian-port-in-latakia\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">a Palestinian refugee camp<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. As tanks continued to pour into the city, people <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/17\/syria-regime-holds-hundreds-prisoner-in-latakia-soccer-stadium\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">were rounded up and put in a soccer stadium while homes were bulldozed<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>Bus Attacks, Airstrikes, and a Looming U.N. Vote<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Fighting has mounted this week in Israel-Palestine. In response to a rocket attack from Gaza that hit no actual target and killed no one, Israel on Tuesday <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/two-killed-as-israeli-warplanes-bomb-gaza-strip\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">conducted at least five airstrikes over Gaza, killing at least two and wounding several others<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Later in the week, in a series of apparently coordinated <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/six-killed-in-series-of-attacks-on-israeli-soldiers\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Palestinian attacks in southern Israel<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, men opened fire on a passenger bus containing both civilians and soldiers. Following that, when more Israeli troops rushed to the scene, they drove over a roadside bomb. Eight were killed and dozens wounded. That night, <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/israeli-warplanes-attack-gaza-strip-killing-six\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes over Gaza, killing six and wounding a number of others<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Four others, members of Egypt&#8217;s security forces, were <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/14-killed-as-violence-rises-in-southern-israel-gaza\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">killed in the airstrikes that flowed over the Egyptian border<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said this week that <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/abbas-ready-to-accept-us-statehood-veto\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">he was ready to accept a U.S. veto<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> in his bid for Palestinian statehood at the U.N. In preparation for the September vote, <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/17\/israel-prepares-for-mass-protests-after-palestinian-un-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Israeli authorities are bracing for mass street protests<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, stockpiling anti-riot equipment, and arranging for an increased military presence in the West Bank. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">While on a trip to Israel with dozens of other congressmen, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Wednesday that economic and budgetary challenges in the U.S. <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/us-congressman-us-economic-woes-wont-affect-israel-aid\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">would not have any effect on aid to Israel<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, despite <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/israel-announces-yet-more-settlement-expansions\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">more illegal settlements being approved this week<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. However, one bill from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) would <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/sen-leahy-seeks-to-pull-military-aid-from-israeli-special-forces\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">halt aid to Israel in light of human rights violations throughout the occupied territories<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>Violent Ramadan in Iraq<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">After months of pressuring the Iraqi leadership to accept an extended U.S. troops presence, <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/after-months-of-pushing-for-request-white-house-will-consider-staying-in-iraq\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">the White House this week said it would &#8220;certainly consider&#8221; any &#8220;requests&#8221; to keep troops in Iraq past the deadline<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Days later, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/17\/panetta-vows-long-term-iraq-relationship\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">insisted the U.S. would have a &#8220;long-term&#8221; relationship with Iraq no matter what<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Meanwhile, Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni, said publicly that <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/14\/iraqi-vp-us-pullout-would-improve-security\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">a total U.S. pullout would improve the country&#8217;s security dramatically<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">For the second year in a row, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has been particularly violent, with <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/for-second-year-dozens-killed-in-ramadan-attacks-across-iraq\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">dozens of attacks that killed scores and wounded hundreds across the country.<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> In addition, Turkish airstrikes aimed at the Kurdistan&#8217;s Workers Party (PKK) hit<\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/17\/kurdish-rebels-claim-eight-troops-killed-as-turkey-bombs-northern-iraq\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> Kurdish Iraq<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> on <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/turkey-bombs-kurdish-rebels-just-over-iraq-border\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">multiple occasions<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. At the blog, John Glaser lamented recent news that <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/15\/iraqis-pay-americans-for-the-cost-of-committing-war-crimes-against-them\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Iraqis are being asked to pay the U.S. part of the costs of the war and occupation for the past several years<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>Libya Smart Power Is More War<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Anonymous U.S. officials told news outlets this week that Libyan dictator Moammar <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/us-officials-gadhafi-may-flee-libya-in-next-few-days\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Gadhafi is preparing to flee the country<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> and that he and his family could flee to Tunisia within the &#8220;next few days.&#8221; This news, the reliability of which has been doubted, came after <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/casualties-mount-in-west-libya-as-regime-urges-ceasefire\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">casualties<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> and <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/17\/fighting-continues-in-libyan-town-of-zawiya\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">fighting in Zawiya rose sharply<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> after <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/capturing-southern-town-libya-rebels-declare-tripoli-encircled\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">rebel factions nearly captured it<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> and <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/libyan-rebel-leader-predicts-bloodbath-as-troops-near-tripoli\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">declared Tripoli<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> surrounded. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/clinton-touts-libya-war-as-smart-power\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Hillary Clinton touted the lengthy Libyan war as &#8220;smart power.<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">&#8221; She insisted that the U.S. was &#8220;wisely building coalitions&#8221; in the war and had managed to &#8220;get other people on the field.&#8221; So far it doesn&#8217;t seem to be making much difference in the war, which was stalemated when the bombing campaign started in mid-March and remains stalemated to this day.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>The Enduring Insurgency<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">A chaotic spate of killings and violence this week <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/spate-of-afghan-killings-signal-enduring-insurgency\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">signaled an enduring insurgency in Afghanistan that Obama&#8217;s surge has failed to pacify<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Over 24 people were killed in a <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/21-killed-as-afghan-bus-rolls-over-ied\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">series of suicide attacks and roadside bombs in western Herat province on Thursday<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/5-killed-as-afghan-violence-drones-on\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Four guards were killed when militants blew up a minivan packed with explosives, and a roadside bomb in Helmand killed one British soldier<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Early in the week, 25 people were killed and 37 were wounded after <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/14\/afghan-taliban-claim-attack-on-governors-compound\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">a militant assault on an Afghan governor&#8217;s compound<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">More evidence of corruption arose this week when the <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/us-military-360m-ends-up-with-taliban-criminals\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">U.S. military estimated $360 million in U.S. tax dollars has ended up in the hands of the Taliban, criminals, and power brokers with ties to both<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Such news is not unprecedented, but it is difficult to swallow for Americans who object to their tax dollars funding the same groups the U.S. military has been trying to defeat for the past decade. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>The Drone Wars Develop<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Pakistan: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/17\/panetta-drone-attacks-protect-america\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">responded to criticism of the drone war in Pakistan this week<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, claiming that the strikes &#8220;defend our country&#8221; and &#8220;protect our national security.&#8221; Meanwhile, the <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/us-insists-military-aid-remains-cut-as-drones-pound-pakistan\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">State Department held firm on cutting aid to Pakistan<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> for as long as that country resists full cooperation with the U.S. drone program, among other issues. Terrorism <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/14\/bomb-blast-in-pakistani-hotel\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">in Pakistan<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> has also <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/18\/at-least-52-killed-in-karachi-political-violence\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">been rising<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Yemen: At least 14 tribesmen were killed in <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/14\/al-qaeda-blamed-as-north-yemen-suicide-car-bombing-kills-14\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">an explosion in North Yemen that was blamed on al-Qaeda<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, though it never claimed responsibility. <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/houthi-rebels-blame-us-for-car-bombing-attack-in-north-yemen\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Houthi rebels later blamed the attack on the U.S.<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> Meanwhile, violence between militant factions and government forces <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/14\/20-killed-as-fighting-continues-in-south-yemen\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">continued in the south<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/23-yemeni-tribesmen-killed-as-saleh-vows-return\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">with scores dead<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> and many wounded. The Yemeni opposition <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/17\/yemeni-opposition-forms-national-council\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">unified to form a National Council<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> to choose a new government. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Somalia: <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/14\/report-al-shabaabs-mogadishu-exit-part-of-growing-internal-rift\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Internal rifts in the militant group al-Shabab<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> were reportedly responsible for some setbacks in battles this week. Meanwhile, just over a month after declaring its formal independence from Sudan, the South Sudanese government <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/south-sudan-joins-au-offers-to-invade-somalia\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">joined the African Union and quickly offered its help to the AU in occupying Somalia<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>Miscellaneous News From the Empire<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Defense spending: The members of the so-called supercommittee &#8211; the group of six Republicans and six Democrats tasked with producing a deficit-cutting plan &#8211; <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/14\/debt-committee-represent-defense-industry-states\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">represent states where the biggest military contractors build missiles, aircraft, jet fighters, and tanks while employing tens of thousands of workers<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, a conflict of interest that makes serious cuts to defense budgets increasingly unlikely. In comments that started with &#8220;I&#8217;m not saying we should be exempt,&#8221; <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/panetta-clinton-unite-to-condemn-potential-spending-cuts\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta united to insist<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> that neither of their departments could bear any serious budget cuts, as cuts would &#8220;undermine national security.&#8221;<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Guantanamo&#8217;s indefinite detentions: A Kuwaiti who was tortured and has been imprisoned at Guantanamo for almost a decade <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/16\/kuwaiti-gitmo-detainee-fears-indefinite-detention\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">fears, as do many others, that he will never see a courtroom or the outside world ever again<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">The drug war: U.S.-trained Guatemalan forces <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/15\/us-trained-guatemalan-forces-tied-with-drug-gangs\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">are tied to drug gangs in Mexico and are increasingly responsible for violent crimes<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> throughout the region. At the blog, John Glaser <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/15\/interventionism-south-of-the-border-teaching-drug-cartels-how-to-kill\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">details how this is typical for the region<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, now and in the past, and also how <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/18\/pushing-the-military-in-latin-america\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">U.S. imperialism in Latin America leads to military-style central control<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Glaser also draws attention to <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/17\/corporatist-drug-war-foreign-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">a renewal of a privately contracted five-year global counternarcotics program<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> valued at upward of $15 billion. Meanwhile, <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/news.antiwar.com\/2011\/08\/17\/us-hires-blackwater-subsidiary-for-afghan-drug-war\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Blackwater has been hired to fight the drug war in Afghanistan<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>What&#8217;s New at the Blog?<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">John Glaser&#8217;s <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/15\/obama-crafts-new-anti-wikileaks-law\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">post on Obama&#8217;s forthcoming anti-WikiLeaks, pro-secrecy executive order<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/wlcentral.org\/node\/2153\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">was featured on the WikiLeaks website<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/wlcentral.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">WikiLeaks Central<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Matt Barganier wrote of the <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/14\/less-hawkish-in-the-hawkeye-state\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> noninterventionist tilt to the Ames Straw Poll results in Iowa last weekend<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, while Coleen Rowley <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/15\/come-home-america-message-was-clear-winner-at-iowa-straw-poll\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">documented the large and active Come Home America antiwar constituency that attended the straw poll events<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Jeremy Sapienza criticized <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/16\/coalition-tries-to-undermine-afghan-traditional-governance\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">NATO&#8217;s attempt undermine Afghan traditional governance<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> and discussed <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/17\/showing-enemy-crimes-ignoring-allied-crimes\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">the media bias that emphasizes enemy crimes while ignoring allied crimes<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. John Glaser blogged about <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/16\/addicted-to-militarism-despite-repeated-failures\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">our insistence on applying military solutions to every problem<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/16\/latin-america-beware-the-imperial-pretext-is-changing\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">the looming energy focus in the Americas<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> and what it means for imperial policy, the <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/16\/the-cherry-picking-fantasy-land-of-elliot-abrams\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">misleading arguments about Israeli settlements from Elliot Abrams<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/16\/how-the-war-is-spun-mass-killings-mean-progress\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">war propaganda<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, and unreported <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/18\/after-20-years-still-hiding-the-truth-about-us-collusion-in-salvadoran-atrocities\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">U.S. crimes in El Salvador<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>Columns<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Justin Raimondo <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/original.antiwar.com\/justin\/2011\/08\/18\/d-day-for-damascus\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">feared another U.S. war in the Middle East<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> after the announcement from Obama that Assad should step down. Nebojsa Malic <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/original.antiwar.com\/malic\/2011\/08\/18\/hostage-to-hubris\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">criticized the empire&#8217;s policies in the Balkans<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Philip Giraldi analyzed <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/original.antiwar.com\/giraldi\/2011\/08\/17\/rick-perry-and-the-neocons\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">presidential hopeful Rick Perry&#8217;s ties to neocons<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Kelley Vlahos drew attention to <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/original.antiwar.com\/vlahos\/2011\/08\/16\/muslims-smash-right-wing-stereotypes\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">the Muslim community&#8217;s peaceful reaction to the England riots<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">. Ivan Eland decried <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/original.antiwar.com\/eland\/2011\/08\/15\/ron-paul-deserves-more-respect\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">the media&#8217;s whitewashing and marginalization of Ron Paul<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>Antiwar Radio<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Scott Horton had <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/antiwar.com\/radio\/2011\/08\/15\/karen-kwiatkowski-10\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Karen Kwiatkowski<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> on to discuss her bid for Congress and how to convince Americans that the empire needs to be reined in. <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/antiwar.com\/radio\/2011\/08\/15\/pepe-escobar-9\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Pepe Escobar<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> discussed the Syrian protests and the potential for Assad to go down. <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/antiwar.com\/radio\/2011\/08\/16\/david-swanson-5\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">David Swanson<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> talked about the military-industrial complex and the pro-war establishment. <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/antiwar.com\/radio\/2011\/08\/16\/chris-hellman-2\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Chris Hellman<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> examined the massive wealth spent on national security budgets. <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/antiwar.com\/radio\/2011\/08\/18\/jason-ditz-49\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Jason Ditz<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> explained recent developments in America&#8217;s wars in Iraq and Libya. And <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/antiwar.com\/radio\/2011\/08\/18\/jeremy-sapienza-7\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Jeremy Sapienza<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> discussed the September U.N. vote on Palestinian statehood. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"><b>Events<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Antiwar.com Development Director Angela Keaton will have a booth at the <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lpac2011.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">2011 Liberty Political Action Conference<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> in Reno, Nev., Sept. 15-18 and will speak on a panel about the antiwar movement. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Keaton will also be speaking at <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/1716253169\/la-vs-war-art-for-peace-in-the-hope-era\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">L.A. vs. War: Art for Peace in the Hope Era<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">, Sept. 9-11. Other participating organizations include Code Pink and Iraq Veterans Against the War. <\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Antiwar Radio&#8217;s Scott Horton will speak at <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/october2011.org\/welcome\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">an October event<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> in <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/october2011.org\/freedomplaza\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Freedom Plaza<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> in Washington, D.C., which is expected to be the biggest antiwar protest demonstration since Obama&#8217;s election.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Keaton will also discuss ComeHomeAmerica.us and the new peace movement in a breakout event at this year&#8217;s <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/libertopia.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\">Libertopia<\/font><\/a><font size=\"3\" face=\"Times New Roman\"> in San Diego, Oct. 21-23. Libertopia is an annual festival of peace, freedom, music, community, and ideas that will change the world. Keaton will give a 30-minute speech and a 15-minute Q&amp;A at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21.<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Antiwar.com&#8217;s Week in Review | August 19, 2011 Help us meet our fund-raising goal! Help keep the War Party at bay by making a tax-deductible donation today! Don&#8217;t forget to sign the open letter to Obama and Congress to end the wars: ComeHomeAmerica.us<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-11089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"meta_box":{"disable_donate_message":"","custom_donate_message":"","subtitle":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11089"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11099,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11089\/revisions\/11099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11089"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=11089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}