AMERICA'S GREATEST EXPORT

The October 25th twin bombings of key Iraqi government buildings that killed over 150 and wounded over 500 are just two horrific examples of what goes on every day in our client state of Iraq: bombings. In the 2,400 days since we started dropping bombs on Iraq in our made up, senseless and therefore criminal war there, thousands of bombs, small and large, have exploded, killing and maiming untold thousands of hapless and innocent Iraqis. The number of foreign invader and terrorist bombs that went off before we launched our self destructive war eighty long months ago is a big fat goose egg, nada, zero, zilch.

Every time I hear of a new Iraqi bomb detonating, with its mass of blood flowing down the street and body parts flying in all directions, I can't help but think, "from those wonderful folks who brought you shock and awe".

Also published at www.antiwar.com, November 4, 2009

IT'S PRECISELY THE TIME FOR SYMPATHY

The October 24th Chicago Tribune headline 'It is too late for sympathy' is an example of irresponsible journalism unbefitting of the Tribune's great and long history.

Instead of exploiting the sad twenty-nine year Nicarico murder saga which will go on for another ten or fifteen years should death be decided, the Trib should use this case to lead the charge to abolish the death penalty in Illinois. Did the Trib forget that DuPage prosecutors nearly succeeded in killing two innocent men for this crime when they had sufficient information to drop he prosecution entirely, much less seek state sponsored homicide?

Nothing in the long, two page underlying article mentioned explicit calls by the Nicarico family member for Dugan's death, the implication of the headline notwithstanding. Why fan the flames of capital punishment bloodlust which emanates from county prosecutors who have no shame and no remorse for their predecessors' inexcusable brush with wrongful execution in the same case. Had it occurred it would merely have been one of many in the long, sorrowful history of capital punishment.

Either the Trib shares that bloodlust or is simply trying to garner circulation. If the former, at least the headline is in keeping with your values. If the latter, then the mainstream print media is in worse shape than imagined.

Also published in Chicago Tribune, October 29, 2009