‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal Could Be Headed for Veto

Staff / Truthdig May 29, 2010 The good news, for those awaiting the repeal of the military's oppressive "don't ask, don't tell" policy, is that the House of Representatives on Friday voted in favor of lifting the policy However, it's far from a done deal (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Trims (Some) Fat with Weapons Bill

Staff / Truthdig Oct 29, 2009 In a move that some are praising as a major victory against the powerful weapons lobby, President Barack Obama was able to cut out several expensive programs, thus cutting down on defense spending, in the new $680 billion dollar military bill he signed Wednesday. However, before we get too excited, let's be clear here: That's still $680 billion, after all. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Deep-Sixing the F-22

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jul 22, 2009 I'll believe it when it finally happens. But the news that Congress might actually stop production of a high-tech, job-generating and, most of all, high-profit weapons system because it fills no legitimate national security function is a considerable victory for President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, as well as for logic.The end of the F-22 is a considerable victory for President Obama, Robert Gates and logic. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Mo’ Money, Mo’ War

Staff / Truthdig May 15, 2009 The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a $91.3 billion supplemental measure to finance the Iraqi and Afghan wars. An additional $80 million has been set aside to support the shutting down of Gitmo, $50 million of which is contingent on the Pentagon coming up with a plan on relocating prisoners. Another $900 million has been allocated to aid Pakistan in its battle against the Taliban. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Left, Right & Center’: A Glimmer of Hope for the Economy?

Staff / Truthdig Apr 11, 2009 The economy's not the only thing that "Left, Right & Center" co-conspirators Matt Miller, Tony Blankley and Robert Scheer are thinking about this week, but it's a biggie again, as are the Obama administration's announcement about defense spending and the changes under way in American foreign policy. Also: Somali pirates! Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mutually Assured Defense Spending

Staff / Truthdig Mar 18, 2009 A hawkish speech by President Dmitry Medvedev may signal a massive overhaul and escalation of the Russian military. Fears of a growing threat posed by NATO have pushed Russian officials to plan a modernization of the country's conventional and nuclear forces by 2011. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Time to Cut the Military Pork

Titus Levi / Truthdig Dec 14, 2008 The U.S. budget is bleeding red ink by the buckets. So even as we take on deficits and debts, we should look for places to trim the budget. The incoming administration should start by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000 a year and by putting the ax to the most sacred of sacred cows in the federal budget: the Department of Defense. Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

Empire or Republic?

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jun 14, 2008 War doesn't pay, nor does imperial ambition. This proposition should be evident to anyone who has paid attention to the fivefold increase in the price of oil since George W. Bush took office. The principle of nonintervention is neither liberal nor conservative in orientation, and at the inception of the Republic it was accepted as a commonsense. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Amy Goodman Talks to Robert Scheer About ‘The Pornography of Power’

BLANK May 31, 2008 "Democracy Now!" host Amy Goodman sat down with Truthdig Editor Robert Scheer on Friday to discuss his new book, "The Pornography of Power: How Defense Hawks Hijacked 9/11 and Weakened America." Watch as Scheer explains the metaphor behind the title, how the U.S. government spends more on defense than the rest of the world combined, and how some key players in Washington took 9/11 as a "license to steal." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

What the Times Didn’t Tell About McCain

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Feb 27, 2008 As Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain twisted briefly in the wind kicked up by that New York Times story suggesting he had swapped political favors for the personal favors of an attractive lobbyist for the telecommunications industry, I kept waiting for the public policy punch line. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )