Who’s in Charge — Obama, the Pentagon or Israel?

William Pfaff / Truthdig Jan 16, 2009 The military is far too accustomed to getting its way, so it was refreshing to see Barack Obama reject the Pentagon's sluggish withdrawal plan. But will he stand up to Israel, whose Prime Minister Olmert recently bragged about pulling the American president's puppet strings? Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Love Is a Battlefield

Staff / Truthdig Dec 10, 2008 The British Defense Ministry has leaked news that it will begin a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq. The drawdown will bring to an end a torrid, near-six-year love affair with the U.S. that began with coordinated intelligence failures and eventually led to jointly invading a sovereign country under cover of a "war on terror." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush’s Follies Will Destroy Obama If He Lets Them

William Pfaff / Truthdig Nov 26, 2008 Barack Obama has no choice but to accept responsibility for America's foreign policy crises. But why should he accept them on the distorted and even hysterical terms by which the Bush administration has defined world affairs since 2001? Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Immunity Issue Snags U.S.-Iraq Agreement

Staff / Truthdig Sep 19, 2008 We tearfully regret to inform you that an agreement that would legally extend the US imperial occupation of Iraq is at risk of falling apart, as Iraqi officials continue to make the audacious demand that U soldiers and mercenaries be subject to Iraqi law for crimes committed outside the scope of military operations. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Timetable

Mike Luckovich / Truthdig Aug 27, 2008 Dig deeper

Bush’s Semantic Withdrawal

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Jul 22, 2008 It's not a "timetable" for extricating U.S troops from Iraq that George W. Bush is suddenly talking about, and heaven help anyone who accuses him of proposing a "timeline." No, the Decider says he is now amenable to a "time horizon," which apparently is a whole different kind of time thing. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bush Considering ‘General’ Withdrawal Timetable

Staff / Truthdig Jul 19, 2008 In what The New York Times is calling a "significant concession," President Bush allowed the topic of U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq to enter a discussion about America's long-term strategy in the region. This occurred Thursday during a video conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Centrists’ Running the Asylum

David Sirota / Truthdig Jul 18, 2008 In the asylum that is American politics, beware a candidate like Barack Obama when he is lauded for moving to "the center" -- because usually that means he is drifting away from it. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Occupation Negotiations Hit Snags

Staff / Truthdig Jul 14, 2008 President Bush had hoped to shape America's military presence in Iraq for years after his departure from the White House by negotiating a long-term status-of-forces agreement, but a number of sticking points indicate there will be a much shorter time frame. U.S. negotiators have agreed to a kind of timetable for withdrawal, as demanded by the Iraqis, but are holding out over legal immunity for American forces. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Bush Backs Petraeus’ Pause Plan

Staff / Truthdig Apr 11, 2008 Despite some congressional resistance, it seems Gen. David Petraeus' recommended "pause" in U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq will take effect after July. On Thursday, President Bush (whose approval ratings have plummeted to a new low) essentially deferred the withdrawal issue to his successor. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Republicans Spar Over the War

Staff / Truthdig Jan 31, 2008 There were some heated exchanges in Wednesday's debate between the Republican candidates. John McCain and Mitt Romney argued about who wanted to stay in Iraq longer and Ron Paul won a round of applause when he said the front-runners were bickering over "technicalities" while their war bankrupts the country. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Pulls Back on Criticism of Iraqi PM

Staff / Truthdig Aug 22, 2007 President Bush attempted to exercise spin control to smooth over his relationship with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday, emphasizing the Iraqi people's claim on their own government after his comments a day before seemed to signal his displeasure with Maliki's leadership. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )