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The Afghan quagmire | Obama's non-exit strategy COMMENTARY George Wilson sees echoes of Vietnam in Obama’s decision to send more American troops to Afghanistan. Will that be followed by our commanders requesting more and more military power for an impossible mission? Will Afghanistan ruin Obama's presidency the way Vietnam ruined Lyndon Johnson's? 
First responders | The local level is seen as a weak link in food safety COMMENTARY A George Washington University study reports that fewer people would suffer during outbreaks of sickness from unsafe foods if state and local agencies did a better job in collecting and disseminating information. We interview one of the authors of the study.
Vietnam revisited? | Locked into an expanding war in Afghanistan COMMENTARY The appointment of a new Afghan commander with great press clippings but a deeply troubling record suggests the Obama administration is going for broke in the region. TomDispatch.com founder Tom Engelhardt warns, however, that the application of force has failed for years -- and when things don't go according to plan, Obama may find himself locked into an escalation without end.
Medicare for all | The case for a single payer health plan COMMENTARY Medicare advocate Judith Stein says only a public health plan would reduce costs, guarantee choice of doctors and assure quality care for everyone—the requirements for a national health care plan as spelled out by President Obama.
The overseas press | Torture stays in the news internationally COMMENTARY Some ridicule Cheney – and the media for promoting him – but others see him as at least somewhat successful in his jibes at Obama.
Looking backward | Establishing the connection between the Bush White House and Abu Ghraib COMMENTARY Denying that White House policy was directly responsible for the vile abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib has been the central goal of a five-year disinformation campaign by Bush officials. 'Torture Team' author Philippe Sands argues that newly-disclosed records show how blatantly Bush officials were willing to lie in order to lead reporters away from the truth. Eighth in a series of articles calling attention to the things we still need to know about torture and other abuses committed by the Bush administration after 9/11.
Looking backward | Would a better prepared U.S. have used torture? COMMENTARY Did a lack of trained interrogators with appropriate language proficiency lead Bush administration officials to embrace torture as a 'short cut'? A former dean at the Defense Language Institute writes that America was unprepared to wage a patient and savvy war of counterintelligence against Al Qaeda – which may have made less humane and less effective methods seem like an attractive option. Seventh in a series of articles calling attention to the things we still need to know about torture and other abuses committed by the Bush administration after 9/11.
George Wilson’s column | ‘One Marine’s desperate scream for medical help’ COMMENTARY A mother takes her anguish to Capitol Hill seeking to get intervention—help—for a decorated combat veteran who is suffering after three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Looking backward | Don't forget the cover-ups COMMENTARY As a lot of public officials in Washington have learned over the years, sometimes it's not the crime, it's the cover-up. Investigative reporter Murray Waas thinks any investigation of the Bush years should examine the efforts by top officials to shield their behavior from scrutiny.
The overseas press | The torture discussion is heating up internationally COMMENTARY A columnist in Germany’s IDN (In-Depth News) writes: “There is now no question that Bush and company are guilty before the world of enthusiastically embracing a policy of torture in defiance of US law and the Geneva Conventions.” And from the Arab Gulf News: “One of the casualties of international responses to Al Qaida and global terrorism has been human rights and international law.”
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