Author name: davidswanson

By David Swanson

Change is in the air. How about a change away from violence?

The state of Georgia is preparing to execute a man widely known to almost certainly be innocent. Here is an Amnesty International report on the case of Troy Davis. And here are things you can do to try to prevent this murder, this state killing, this official lynching in the twenty-first century.

And if you don’t live in Georgia, don’t get too self-satisfied. All of us are currently engaged in killing innocent read more

By David Swanson

People have started passing around and publicly posting English translations of the Arabic version of the treaty being negotiated between Bush and Maliki. (It’s also been published by an Iraqi newspaper. Who should teach whom about freedom of the press?) The U.S. Constitution requires that the Senate approve treaties, so Bush is calling this one a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

There is almost no chance that the Iraqi Parliament will approve it or follow the U.S. read more

By David Swanson

Barack Obama would like to bring Colin Powell into his new administration. But Americans consider Powell only marginally more credible than how the rest of the world views him, and the rest of the world thinks he lies like a rug. Powell either wholeheartedly backed the biggest crime thus far this century, or he secretly opposed it but worked to make it happen anyway. I’m not sure which is worse, but either disqualifies him for future office.

Can you imagine having an opportunity read more

By David Swanson

I spent the past couple of days hanging out with Vincent Bugliosi who wants Bush killed for his crimes, following a fair trial of course, and who openly pushes the supposed need for retribution while disclaiming much interest in deterrence or restoration. Then I watched Oliver Stone’s new movie, “W,” which depicts Bush as a poor, sad fool who’s just been trying his hardest to please his daddy all these years. If I have to choose, I’m on Stone’s read more

By David Swanson

The three participants in the third U.S. presidential debate last week pretended Iraq didn’t exist, but if you go to a rally of supporters for either candidate it’s the top issue talked about. Baghdad, a city in ruins, divided into ethnically cleansed fiefdoms of rubble, rats, and open sewage, a place where one risks death by walking outside, is managing major rallies of tens of thousands of people in opposition to the treaty to extend the occupation for three more read more