World

Kerry, Kissinger and the Other Sept. 11

Amy Goodman / Truthdig Sep 12, 2013 As President Barack Obama's attack on Syria appears to have been delayed for the moment, it is remarkable that Secretary of State John Kerry was meeting, on Sept. 11, with one of his predecessors, Henry Kissinger, reportedly to discuss strategy on forthcoming negotiations on Syria with Russian officials. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

While Russia Offers Peace, U.S. Grasps at Credibility

William Pfaff / Truthdig Sep 12, 2013 President Obama's speech on Syria on Tuesday evening was a curious affair, a call to go to war that ended by saying: yes, but not now. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Chile’s 9/11: 40 Years Since Pinochet’s U.S-Backed Coup

Staff / Truthdig Sep 11, 2013 Sept. 11 is not just the anniversary of the fall of the twin towers in 2001. Decades before, despotic Gen. Augusto Pinochet led a coup against democratically elected Salvador Allende on the same date. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama Postpones Congressional Vote on Syria Strike (Video)

Staff / Truthdig Sep 11, 2013 Tuesday night, perhaps after realizing he had neither the support of politicians nor that of the American people, President Barack Obama put a hold on Congress’ decision on military intervention in Syria. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

U.S. Foreign Policy

Mr. Fish / Truthdig Sep 11, 2013 Dig deeper

A Leading Critic of American Hypocrisy Goes Quiet

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Sep 11, 2013 Saul Landau, a prolific filmmaker, writer and Truthdig contributor, died Monday from a fight with cancer. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Europe Considers the Effects of Criminalizing Sex Work

Staff / Truthdig Sep 11, 2013 Demonstrators gathered around Sweden’s embassies all over the world in July to object to what’s become known as the Nordic way to deal with prostitution—criminalize the purchase of sex, not the sale. The violence still surrounding sex work in European countries goes to show this isn't the best option. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Syria Agrees to Chemical Weapons Deal, but There’s a Catch or Two

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Sep 11, 2013 "We want to join the convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons," and with those words, attributed to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, an American entry into Syria's civil war may be averted -- but there remain serious obstacles to peace. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Obama Remembers He’s Not George W. Bush

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Sep 10, 2013 It may come to naught -- calls for peace so rarely still the drums of war -- but there was a moment Monday when the odds for sanity seemed to finally stand a chance of prevailing.It may come to naught, but there was a moment Monday when the odds for sanity seemed to finally stand a chance of prevailing. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

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 )

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 )