Author Archives: Tony

More Pro-Israel Than the Israelis

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Tony

The news that Israeli officials are alarmed that the Israel lobby in the U.S. is going overboard in its response to the Hamas victory should come as no surprise. Ever since I first arrived here, I’ve been struck by the … Continue reading →

Posted in A Wondering Jew | 14 Comments

A Self-Defeating Iran Strategy

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Tony

The boundaries between the U.S. and Israeli flags literally blur in the backdrop as Cheney threatens Iran from the podium of the America Israel Political Action Committe Last September, I noted that “the Bush administration appears not to have gamed … Continue reading →

Posted in Featured Analysis, Situation Report | 5 Comments

Avian Flu is Bad for You…

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Tony

Five reasons you should buy Karl Taro Greenfeld’s new book , “The China Syndrome” — besides the fact that it’s a gripping chronicle of China’s handling of the SARS outbreak in 2003 is a timely and frightening read as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Shameless Cronyism | 5 Comments

Will Arab-Baiting Get Dems Re-elected?

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Tony

“We now smell the scent of victory.” That was how Charles Schumer, the demagogic Senator from New York responded to the announcement that Dubai Ports World, the international shipping company that had bought the British firm P&O and thereby acquired … Continue reading →

Posted in Situation Report | 5 Comments

Bite-Size Prophecies on CNN

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Tony

Appropos recent developments on the Palestinian front, I dug up this transcript of June 2002 interview I did on CNN before a Sharon-Bush summit. Extract: LIN: But Tony, do you see agreement between President Bush and Yasser Arafat that both … Continue reading →

Posted in From Tony's Archive | 1 Comment

Game Over for Bush’s War of Ideas

Posted on February 16, 2006 by Tony

The media loves to wring its collective hands over each new droning video sermon released by Osama bin Laden or Ayman Zawahiri, but it is the release — to unprecedented box office success — of the Turkish movie “Valley of … Continue reading →

Posted in Annals of Globalization, Situation Report | 24 Comments

Brecht on Israel and Hamas

Posted on February 6, 2006 by Tony

Looking for standup comedy in the Middle East? Try Israel’s acting prime minister Ehud Olmert. His latest material is epitomized by a routine in which he makes a generous offer to talk to a Palestinian govenrment as long as that … Continue reading →

Posted in 99c Blogging | 5 Comments

Time for U.S. to Get Real on Hamas

Posted on February 2, 2006 by Tony

When it comes to cutting through the thicket of nonsense that’s been written and spoken about Hamas winning the Palestinian election, it’s hard to know where to begin. The Bush administration tosses out vacuous denials and equally vacuous threats that … Continue reading →

Posted in Featured Analysis, Situation Report | 21 Comments

Victor Jara is Smiling In Heaven

Posted on January 16, 2006 by Tony

Just a quick Sunday night note to salute my Chilean peeps, you know who you are, and share their joy at the election of President Michelle Bachelet, who the media likes to remind us is a “left wing single mother,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Situation Report | 11 Comments

The Resistable Rise of Ariel Sharon

Posted on January 9, 2006 by Tony

Sharon’s defeat of the Palestinians was sealed in Washington: Not only did he tear up Oslo; he tore up U.S. Middle East policy and got the administration to thank him for it 1. Arafat Gone, His Rival Patriarch Leaves the … Continue reading →

Posted in Featured Analysis, Situation Report | 5 Comments