To quote Alistair Crooke, "the US is not only not interested in dealing with Hamas, it is working to ensure its failure" - a policy promoted and openly acknowledged by the American deputy national security adviser Elliott Abrams.

In his meetings with a group of Palestinian businessmen last January, Abrams said the US had to support Fatah with guns, ammunition and training, so that they could fight Hamas for control of the Palestinian government.

And just over a week ago, a 16-page secret American document was leaked to a Jordanian newspaper outlining an action plan for undermining and replacing the Palestinian national-unity government.

The document outlines steps for building up Abbas and his security forces, leading to the dissolution of the parliament, a strengthening of US allies in Fatah in the lead-up to new elections.   more »

Crouch criticizes Obama's claim to be a member of the tribe based on his biracial background.

"When black Americans refer to Obama as "one of us," I do not know what they are talking about."

Crouch dismisses Obama as having to run for president as the product of a "white woman and African immigrant" who, if elected president, will have gotten into the White House through the "side door."

'Blacks' who rise in White Washington circles - people like Obama, Thomas, Rice, Paige and Powell - are nothing but an "Aunt Jemima," a "Brown Sugar," an "Uncle Tom" and a "house nigger." They've sold their souls for the white man   more »

Yesterday saw the start of the penultimate act of this extraordinary six-year collaboration, which has seen the Anglo-American alliance as close as any time in history.

Blair has paid a high price for his friendship with Bush, but he's back at the White House to say goodbye to his wartime ally.

It's likely to be a bittersweet parting for two leaders who will be forever linked by the Iraq war.

Their dream of remaking the Middle East has turned into a nightmare. Their popularity has evaporated. Their places in history hinge on the outcome of the war that forged their unlikely friendship.   more »

To illustrate the breathtaking, imperialist arrogance of both the US and the EU, it's always useful to imagine a bit of role reversal.

What would have been said if the Iranian navy, while patrolling the English Channel (after an Iranian invasion of France), had some of its sailors captured by British ships?

Would the British be hailed in Washington and Brussels as the aggressors? Would a tersely-worded statement calling for the "immediate release" of the Iranian hostages be released? I think not.

What would have happened if Yugoslavia had armed and financed the IRA in the early 1970s and then led a coalition of Eastern European countries in bombing Britain for 78 days and nights after it had refused to withdraw its troops from Northern Ireland? Would the US and EU blame the war on Britain?   more »

Fox News aired some kind of American Idol knock-off show last night, but instead of amateur singers and a former Laker Girl with substance abuse issues, it featured a dozen aging white men, most of whom require support bras for their bulbous prostates.

The show featured a backdrop from the opening titles of Love American Style; an inexplicably loud boxing bell (could've been Senator McCain's balls -- I'll ask around); and more riotous audience reaction than episodes of TRL and ECW combined.

The audience was so manic that I'm certain the producers feared the crowd would start to compulsively tweak the broadcast gear.

Okay, so I'm told it was the second Republican presidential debate.

Really?   more »