Antiwar.com’s Week in Review <\/i>| October 23, 2011<\/b><\/p>\n
IN THIS ISSUE<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gadhafi Killed in Libya<\/b><\/p>\n Muammar Gadhafi was captured by rebel fighters in the National Transitional Council in his hometown of Sirte then beaten and executed<\/a> with a shot to the head. The extrajudicial killing of the former Libyan dictator ousted with the help of an eight-month bombing campaign was crudely celebrated by U.S. leaders<\/a> and prompted a speech from President Obama in which he misleadingly put himself on the side of the people in the Arab Spring<\/a>. <\/p>\n NATO has "tentatively decided" to stop launching airstrikes<\/a> in Libya following the death of Gadhafi, as U.S. leaders pledge aid<\/a> and attempt to capitalize on the new NTC-led government.<\/a><\/p>\n When Leave Means Stay<\/b><\/p>\n President Barack Obama announced that all U.S. troops would leave Iraq by December<\/a>, in keeping with the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement. Billed as making good on his campaign promise to end the war, Obama actually had this decision forced on him after years of pressuring Iraq to allow thousands of troops past the deadline. An expanded diplomatic presence and thousands of mercenary soldiers will still remain, contradicting the notion<\/a> that there will actually be a "full withdrawal."<\/p>\n Obama referred to a new relationship with Iraq, presumably characterized by large packages of economic and military aid to abusive governments and armies in exchange for conformity to U.S. interests, as understood by Washington national security planners.<\/p>\n Obama\u2019s New War of Choice in Uganda<\/b><\/p>\n Obama\u2019s decision to send 100 combat troops to Uganda to fight the terrorist group the Lord\u2019s Resistance Army, while unexpected, follows a familiar foreign policy doctrine<\/a>. Here, Obama is countering a Ugandan group on behalf of the Ugandan regime, whose forces can now better focus on waging a proxy war in Somalia for the U.S. Officials claim<\/a> U.S. troops won\u2019t be engaged in combat, although that is unlikely, considering America\u2019s previous interventions in that region<\/a>. <\/p>\n John Glaser appeared on Russia Today to discuss the intervention in Uganda<\/a>, warning that "this has all the ingredients of a prolonged military quagmire."<\/p>\n Double the Death, Double the Fun<\/b><\/p>\n American and Afghan troops forced civilians to march ahead of them on roads believed to have been filled with bombs<\/a> and land mines planted by insurgents, according to allegations from villagers in southern Afghanistan. An investigation is under way, and the charge, if true, would be a war crime. Meanwhile, three people were killed and two detained<\/a> in a botched U.S. night raid on the home of a former Afghan senator, an incident Hamid Karzai is asking to be investigated. In a new milestone, the U.S. death toll in Afghanistan is now more than double<\/a> that during President Bush\u2019s tenure, with 1,153 in just 33 months of Obama\u2019s term. <\/p>\n The U.S. has dramatically<\/a> escalated its attacks on the Haqqani network<\/a> in eastern Afghanistan, as top U.S. officials threaten Pakistan<\/a> for not doing that work for them<\/a>. <\/p>\n Assorted News from the Empire<\/b><\/p>\n What\u2019s New at the Blog?<\/b><\/p>\n Jeremy Sapienza highlighted supposedly "progressive" U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren\u2019s hawkish views on Iran<\/a>. Similarly, Matt Barganier posted supposedly "progressive" blogger Kevin Drum\u2019s consistent subservience<\/a> to pro-war leaders, as well as his magazine\u2019s strange excitement about "secularizing" the military<\/a>. Justin Raimondo approvingly cited Ron Paul\u2019s plan cut $1 trillion<\/a> from the federal budget. Scott Horton pointed out the rabid racism and violence of Rachel Abrams<\/a>. <\/p>\n John Glaser documented the Afghan war\u2019s deadly effect on children<\/a>, Herman Cain\u2019s further display of foreign policy ignorance<\/a>, Paul Pillar\u2019s all too welcoming attitude<\/a> to Obama\u2019s Uganda intervention, the drone war\u2019s friendly fire<\/a>, and how Obama was for child soldiers before he was against them<\/a>. Glaser also railed against the free-speech-killing Stolen Valor Act<\/a>, the Obama administration\u2019s murder of Anwar al-Awlaki\u2019s 16-year-old son<\/a>, Michele Bachmann\u2019s disgraceful Iraq comments<\/a>, America\u2019s new lease on Libya<\/a>, drones\u2019 ability to fuel forever war<\/a>, and possible MeK involvement in the Iran plot.<\/a><\/p>\n Columns<\/b><\/p>\n Justin Raimondo wrote of the post-Gadhafi Libyan chaos<\/a> induced by NATO, Britain\u2019s defense minister Liam Fox\u2019s ties to Israeli intelligence<\/a>, and the return of populist wars<\/a>. Ivan Eland wrote<\/a> of the impending quagmire in Uganda. Philip Giraldi gave his expert, skeptical analysis<\/a> on the alleged Iranian plot to kill a Saudi ambassador in Washington. Kelley B. Vlahos wrote<\/a> about Winslow Wheeler\u2019s charge against the Goliaths of war. Nebojsa Malic explained<\/a> what the Occupy Wall Street movement has in common with NATO occupation in Kosovo and what it doesn\u2019t. <\/p>\n Antiwar Radio<\/b><\/p>\n Scott Horton had on Gareth Porter<\/a> this week to discuss the false intelligence being peddled about the alleged Iranian plot. John Glaser<\/a> was on to talk about Obama\u2019s new war of choice in Uganda. Jason Ditz<\/a> examined the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Uganda. Flynt Leverett<\/a> talked about recent overtures in U.S.-Iranian affairs. Philip Giraldi<\/a> gave his two cents on the intelligence in the alleged Iranian assassination plot. Andrew Cockburn<\/a> discussed the epidemic of improved explosive devices in Afghanistan. The Other Scott Horton<\/a> reviewed the Obama policy of assassinating citizens without due process. Pepe Escobar<\/a> analyzed America\u2019s neo-colonialism in Africa. Anthony Gregory<\/a> discussed the arguments bound to convince social conservatives to end the war on drugs. Grant F. Smith<\/a> argued that it\u2019s against U.S. interests to maintain Israel\u2019s nuclear secrets. And Patrick Cockburn<\/a> discussed Gadhafi\u2019s death in Libya and what to expect going forward. <\/p>\n Support Antiwar.com!<\/b><\/p>\n Apply for the Antiwar.com Visa card<\/a> and support us with every purchase you make.<\/p>\n Antiwar.com now earns between 6 and 15 percent of all Amazon.com purchases if you click on the Amazon button<\/a> on any Antiwar.com page before you go shopping.<\/p>\n Shop at Antiwar.com<\/a> and buy Liberty Stickers<\/a> and other merch<\/a>!<\/p>\n Antiwar.com<\/a> is a 15-year-old, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the cause of anti-interventionism. Accepting no government money, we rely solely on the generous support of readers just like you. How can you help us spread a policy of peace?<\/p>\n Lots of ways.<\/i> Forward this newsletter to your friends and encourage them to subscribe<\/a>. (We don\u2019t spam!) 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