Military

Syria Offers to Turn Over Chemical Weapons for Destruction

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Sep 10, 2013 Syria has publicly consented to a Russian plan that would see the destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile and avoid an attack by the United States. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Use a Dead Man’s Switch to Announce NSA Sabotage

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Sep 10, 2013 Security systems deliberately weakened by the NSA put their users at risk. Cory Doctorow, author and co-editor of the group blog Boing Boing, suggests building a service that puts a "dead man's switch" on every website subject to government interference that would alert users that security has been compromised. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

From the Rubble of the Syrian Civil War, Visceral Poetry Arises

Staff / Truthdig Sep 9, 2013 Turning away from the religious metaphors of the past, Syria’s new verse relies on realistic, raw descriptions inspired by war and expresses the hope for a united country to be formed. But the outspoken nature of this emerging literary tradition comes at a price. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Hill to the Rescue on Syria?

By Andrew J. Bacevich, TomDispatch Sep 9, 2013 John F. Kennedy once remarked that defeat is an orphan. Here was a war bereft of parents even before it had begun. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

What Are We Doing in Syria?

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Sep 9, 2013 Military historian Andrew Bacevich tells "Moyers & Company" guest host Phil Donahue, "The issue really is not Syria." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Polarization Is Distorting the Syria Debate

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Sep 9, 2013 It's a paradox: While hawks criticize Obama for not being willing to act boldly enough against Assad, doves criticize him for being too willing to risk a wider war. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Case Against Assad Based on ‘Common Sense,’ Not ‘Irrefutable’ Evidence

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Sep 9, 2013 The White House is certain of Bashar Assad's culpability, despite a lack of proof. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Woman Begs McCain Not to Attack Syria (Video)

Staff / Truthdig Sep 7, 2013 At a town hall meeting in Arizona on Thursday, one of Sen. John McCain’s constituents stood up to plead with him not to try to solve Syria's conflict with bombs, but rather with diplomacy. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Pivot to Africa

By Nick Turse, TomDispatch Sep 7, 2013 From the Middle East to South America, the Pentagon is increasingly engaged in shadowy operations whose details emerge piecemeal and are rarely examined in a comprehensive way. Nowhere is this truer than in Africa. Dig deeper ( 21 Min. Read )

‘Surveillance State’ Legislation Would Bar Some NSA Decryption

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Sep 7, 2013 Disclosures about the NSA's secret campaign to undermine online privacy protections have prompted Rep. Rush D. Holt Jr., D-N.J., to propose legislation that would prohibit the agency from installing "backdoors" into encryption intended to protect email, online transactions and other communications. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

‘Left, Right & Center’: The Syrian Debate Crescendo and More NSA

Staff / Truthdig Sep 7, 2013 Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer and the other "Left, Right & Center" panelists discuss Obama's failure to win broad support for military action against Syria during the G-20 Summit in Russia. The lack of enthusiasm is not helping him win over Congress. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hope in a Time of Permanent War

By Henry A Giroux, Truthout Sep 6, 2013 How might it be possible to imagine hope for a better world for humanity in a country that has sanctioned state torture, is about to bomb Syria and kill untold numbers of civilians, spies on its own citizens, extends the reach of the punishing state into all aspects of society, and inflicts violence on black and brown youths through racial profiling and the machinery of the mass incarceration state? Dig deeper ( 17 Min. Read )