The Impotent President

by Paul Craig Roberts

15 May 09 | Counterpunch

Who runs America?

What do you suppose it is like to be elected president of the United States only to find that your power is restricted to the service of powerful interest groups?

Obama’s Extra War Funding Wins House Approval

15 May 09 | LAT and PTV

Many Democrats are wary but put aside their concerns to issue a vote of confidence in the president’s plans for military escalation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Rights Groups Slam President ‘Torturer Supporter’; U.N. Tells Obama to Stop Abuse

13-14 May 09 | PTV, RT and LAT

Human rights groups have slammed President Barack Obama for opposing the release of photos showing the abuse of detainees by U.S. troops.

Pentagon Seeking More Weapons Spending: Afghanistan Costs Will Eclipse Iraq

8 May 09 | AWC News and Wired

Budget was originally presented as abandoning wasteful weapons spending, seeks increase.

Chinese Boats ‘Encounter’ U.S. Ship in China Sea

5 May 09 | PTV

Chinese fishing boats have had an encounter with a US Navy ship in the South China Sea.

The Pulitzer-Winning Investigation that Dare Not Be Uttered on TV

by Glenn Greenwald

21 Apr 09 | Salon

The New York Times‘ David Barstow won a richly deserved Pulitzer Prize yesterday for two articles that, despite being featured as major news stories on the front page of The Paper of Record, were completely suppressed by virtually every network and cable news show, which to this day have never informed their viewers about what Barstow uncovered. Here is how the Pulitzer Committee described Barstow’s exposés:

Why Obama and Gates Need Ike to Trim the Military

EDITORIAL

9 Apr 09 | CSM

Former president’s warning of a ‘military-industrial complex’ rings true as Congress pushes back on cuts.

Obama to Seek $83.4 Billion for Iraq, Afghan Wars

9 Apr 09 | AP

President Barack Obama is seeking $83.4 billion for U.S. military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, pressing for special troop funding that he opposed two years ago when he was senator and George W. Bush was president.

U.S. Approves Plan for New Spy Satellites

7 Apr 09 | AP

The Obama administration on Tuesday approved the purchase of pricey new spy satellites and will buy more commercial imagery from the private sector to plug immediate gaps in satellite coverage.

Lebanon War Failures a Driving Force Behind Pentagon’s Budget Changes

by Jason Ditz

6 Apr 09 | AWC News

US wargames focus on Hezbollah, irregular combat.

U.S. Seeks $3 Billion for Pakistani Military

3 Apr 09 | NYT

In a new effort to bolster Pakistan’s fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the Pentagon is proposing a plan to spend about $3 billion over the next five years to train and equip Pakistan’s military.

Gates Prefers Sanctions to Diplomacy for Iran

29 Mar 09 | AFP

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday that Iran was more likely to heed sanctions than diplomacy in US efforts to dismantle its nuclear drive.