Saddam Hussein Goes Home and Hides Under a Rug

Myths live and die by their own logic. One of the reasons that myths, especially living myths, become mythic in the first place is that they seem to live outside the rules that govern the rest of us. They are bigger than life, mightier than circumstance, and awesome (in the case of Saddam, terribly so) in their capacity to shape circumstance and the world to their liking, and often to do their bidding.

Challenging US War Myths

About the book: When many Americans hear that the US may go to war against another nation, they tend to believe there’s probably a good reason for it or that no viable alternatives exist—or they don’t think about it at all. They trust their leaders to represent them and defend their values. They accept their leaders’ claims that war is to ensure their safety when others wish to harm them.The parties of war play on Americans’ basic values to bring them online. The media reassures them that the reasons for war are altruistic— that Americans wish to spread democracy and allow others to adopt their way of life. But is this the case?

With 24 compelling illustrations, maps and graphs, this book is intended to serve as a tool for peace advocacy. Well known peace advocates respond to 19 of the most common illusions held by the American public which weaken their opposition to Washington’s wars.

Comments on

Comments on Author: Peng Ren Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 06/02/2008 Category: Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, After reading the article entitled China’s Death Grip on Tibet in last month’s Peace and Conflict Monitor, there are several points I would like to make regarding the accuracy of the author’s analysis. Firstly, […]

Depleted Uranium not a factor in Iraqi food insecurity

Depleted Uranium not a factor in Iraqi food insecurity Author: Roger Helbig Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 10/15/2008 Category: Letters to the Editor Ross, There is no munition “tipped with depleted uranium” — there are kinetic energy penetrator rounds that are solid small diameter rods of DU that are fired at tanks. […]

Malala and the Children of Syria

Jahan Zeb writes us about Malala and her father, Ziauddin Yousofzai, who recently visited the Syrian-Jordanian border to meet with people fleeing the conflict in Syria, and to draw international attention to the needs of refugees — especially refugee children.

Slumdog Millionaire: a means to an end

Elliot Waring reviews the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, drawing attention to the questions of development, poverty, human rights, globalization, and violence that it raises.

Taiwan, China & SARS

Dr Hahn, Executive Director at the Washington Think Tank, Association of Third World Affairs argues that the SARS epidemic should give China pause for thought in its attitude to Taiwan.

Peacekeping and the New World Order

The collapse and disintegration of the Soviet Union fundamentally altered the structure of international relations and the expression of violent conflict. Where war was once considered the business of nation states, non-state actors and intrastate wars have come to the forefront of global security concerns. Givi Amiranashvili analyses the legal and political aspects of UN peacekeeping operations in this new geopolitical landscape.