Say What? Bush Pushing International Engagement?

According to the N.Y. Times, Bush is beginning to look for international help on issues of national security and global economics.
Hmmm ... maybe he shouldn’t have set the stage for such a request by pissing off the entire world. On the “you gotta be kidding me” scale, this ranks right up there with his recent declaration that the nation must break its “oil addiction.”

Posted on Mar 12, 2006 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT

Bush Lacked Iraq Rebuilding Plan

The Washington Times (of all publications) says that a new government report claims the White House “never drew up a comprehensive plan for rebuilding Iraq” after the 2003 invasion.
In the last week, Bush has lost:

Now even the staunchly conservative Washington Times is giving the White House a hard time.
All of a sudden the ranks of Bush supporters seem about as robust as our “coalition of the willing.”

Posted on Mar 1, 2006 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS

Iran Ascendant After Iraq War

The L.A. Times charts how America’s war in Iraq has made Iran the dominant power in the region, with a stronger nuclear program, strengthened ties to Hamas and a burgeoning core of anti-U.S. Shiites.

Posted on Feb 21, 2006 READ MORE

U.S. Plans $7-Billion Royalty Windfall to Oil Companies

On the heels of Exxon Mobil’s record-setting $10-billion quarterly profit, the “federal government is on the verge of one of the biggest giveaways of oil and gas in American history, worth an estimated $7 billion over five years.”
It’s nice being an oil baron when two oilmen head the government.

Posted on Feb 18, 2006 READ MORE

‘Syriana 2’

China is set to plumb Iranian oil fields in a $100-billion deal, complicating U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran and providing Iran more money to pursue its nuclear ambitions.
Can someone please call Stephen Gaghan to figure this one out for us? Or maybe this is a case for Truthdig’s Orville Schell, who knows a thing or two about China?

Posted on Feb 17, 2006 READ MORE  |  3 COMMENTS

Sweden Plans to Be World’s First Oil-Free Economy

The progressive European enclave has set a 15-year limit on its switch to renewable energy. | story
Hey, they won’t even have to get on a plane to collect their Nobel Prize!

Posted on Feb 8, 2006 READ MORE

Pentagon Requests Billions More for War

Remember when that genius Paul Wolfowitz told Congress that Iraqi oil would more than cover the cost of the occupation? Oops, we need $120 billion more just to get through this year. And Bush made this guy the head of the World Bank? | story

Posted on Feb 3, 2006 READ MORE

Bush’s Hypocrisy on Oil

We agree with Arianna and the Washington Post on their incredulity about Bush’s plan to wean the U.S. off oil.

Posted on Feb 3, 2006 READ MORE  |  5 COMMENTS

Bush Advisors: Don’t Take the President Literally on his Vow to Reduce Mideast Oil Imports

One day after Bush pledged to reduce Middle East oil imports 75% by 2025, his energy secretary and national economic advisor tell reporters that the president misspoke. Their clarification is a bit confusing. | Read on to figure it out.
Regardless, Reuters is reporting that Bush’s energy “plan” (skepticism ours) will not meaningfully reduce our dependence on foreign crude. | story

Posted on Feb 2, 2006 READ MORE

Iran Has Us Over a Barrel—Of Oil

This New York Times piece spells out how fiendishly hard it’s going to be to threaten Iran over its nukes while simultaneously guzzling its oil. | story
It’s sort of like admonishing a drug dealer for selling heroin to kids, and then scoring a dime bag of blow for yourself.

Posted on Jan 20, 2006 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT

Senate Dems Block Arctic Refuge Drilling

The threat of a filibuster holds up as Republicans fail to get enough votes to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) tried to force the measure through Congress as part of a must-have defense spending bill. See our coverage to find out what was at stake: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) filed a report after the House passed the measure earlier this week. See the related story by Robert Collier and the photo essay by Deddeda Stemler to learn more.

Posted on Dec 21, 2005 READ MORE  |  26 COMMENTS