Decades-Old Bombs Still a Threat to Laos

Staff / Truthdig Sep 24, 2011 Last week, delegates from dozens of countries traveled to Beirut to talk about Laos, where decades after the Vietnam War there are still an estimated 80 million unexploded bombs scattered across fields and forests. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Where Has All the Fervor Gone?

Staff / Truthdig Aug 3, 2011 In case you haven't noticed, Americans between the ages of 15 and 30 are remarkably undisturbed by the extent to which corporations and their bought-and-paid-for politicians dominate nearly every aspect of their lives. (more) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Pentagon Papers Go Public

Staff / Truthdig Jun 13, 2011 It's been 40 years since Daniel Ellsberg took his place in history as the whistle-blower who blew the lid off the American government's shameful secrets about the Vietnam War by leaking the Pentagon Papers On Monday, Americans can read (more). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Rep. John Murtha Dies at 77

Staff / Truthdig Feb 9, 2010 After serving almost exactly 36 years in the United States Congress, Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania has died. He had been in intensive care following gall bladder surgery. He was the first Vietnam War veteran elected to Congress. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Where Have All the Ramparts Gone?

Staff / Truthdig Oct 23, 2009 Peter Richardson's new book about the groundbreaking Ramparts magazine says the rag changed America. Truthdig arts and culture editor Kasia Anderson asks the author and former Ramparts Editor Robert Scheer, Truthdig's editor-in-chief, why the magazine's impact isn't better remembered and what will take its place.Why was the unruly life of Ramparts magazine so short and what, if anything, will take its place? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Not All Vets Are Treated Equally Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Philip Chrystal Oct 8, 2009 The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 was hailed by various media outlets and veterans organizations as the GI Bill of the future. However, through my own experience in dealing with Veterans Affairs regarding the GI Bill, I have found that the help is far less than what we were led to believe. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

McNamara’s Vietnam in 1995

Staff / Truthdig Jul 15, 2009 As we remember the late Robert McNamara, we can look back to the publication of his 1995 memoir, "In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam," to see the conversations that surrounded McNamara's take on the Vietnam War. Truthdig's own Robert Scheer appears in a round-table discussion alongside former Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Remembering McNamara

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jul 6, 2009 Once again we were in a briefing on body counts, and he was in charge with the latest figures, and once again, any personal responsibility for the deaths seemed to elude him. Finally one understands the desperate shrillness of the anti-war movement, as an attempt to tug at the arm if not the inaccessible soul of this impervious man. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Robert McNamara Dies

Staff / Truthdig Jul 6, 2009 Former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara died Monday at the age of 93 McNamara was considered to be the leading architect of US involvement in the Vietnam War, sometimes referred to as "McNamara's War," which left more than 58,000 U troops and 3 million Vietnamese military and civilians dead . Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The End of an Institution

Bill Boyarsky / Truthdig Aug 29, 2008 I suppose I should be sad to watch the decline of the once mighty political media, an institution that trained and nurtured me. But that's not how I feel. For this was the institution that cheered when President Bush took us to war. This is also the institution that is getting this Democratic National Convention wrong, obsessed with a phony feud between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, wasting time interviewing that small but vengeful cult, the die-hard Hillaryites. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Blame Rising Oil Prices on Bush

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jun 11, 2008 Wow, a lot of people must have bought Hummers last week. How else to explain the spike in oil prices? No, I'm not being silly: They are, and by they I mean the gaggle of media pundits and other administration apologists -- abetted by some green zealots -- who want to explain our energy crisis by reference to profligate consumers. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

What Makes McCain Tick?

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jun 4, 2008 Will the real John McCain stand up? Actually, I don't expect him to, now that he is the Republican presidential candidate, pandering to the irrationalities that drive his party. Nor is it likely that the fawning mass media will pressure him to the point of clarity. But I remain genuinely confused as to what makes him tick. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )