Witnesses
1. “The Peace Corps left today and my heart sank low. The danger is extreme and they were right to leave… Now I must assess my own position, because I am not up for suicide….
Author: Mark J. Chmiel
Dear Shannon (On Ralph Nader)
Dear Shannon, I enjoyed our long conversation on Saturday afternoon at 6 North Coffee. I appreciate you taking the time to visit on such a busy weekend. After our chats, the strong impression I am left with…
The War Within: The Voice of Camilo Mejía
On Camilo Mejía, Road from Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejía Road from Ar Ramadi is the story of man who goes from being a privileged son of the Nicaraguan…
The Demise of the Double Standard in the Middle East?
Double standard, noun. Any code or set of principles containing different provisions for one group of people than for another. Hopes are being raised for President Obama’s approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict. To many, the…
By the Blue Light of a Cell Phone
Dr Chmiel, I just flipped on CNN after getting home from rehearsal and immediately thought of our encounter on New Year’s Eve as I watched a saddening report on Gaza. My immediate reaction was desolation…
Fragile Hope Embedded in a Single Question
Who might emerge as the equivalent to Judge Baltasar Garzón for the Palestinians?
Gaza: Toward Understanding and Action
Because of the extensive, though sanitized, U.S. news coverage of Israel’s bombing and invasion of Gaza, many Americans are paying closer attention to the Israel-Palestine conflict (those with access to Arabic news programming and Youtube…
The Mere Gook and Haji Rule
Under reviewDeborah Nelson, The War Behind Me: Vietnam Veterans Confront the Truth about U.S. War Crimes—Inside the Army’s Secret Archive of Investigations (New York: Basic Books, 2008) and Chris Hedges and Laila al-Arian, Collateral Damage:…
To Olmert and Company
How many nanoseconds did it take your hasbara specialists to transform the “Gaza Massacre” into a heroic tale of self-defense against the Hamas terrorists? How many percentage points will this operation in Gaza gain your…
On Reciprocity and Responsibility
My friend Laura Weis (who is currently working in Indonesia) sent me the following excerpts from a piece by Glenn Greenwald. A while back, an Israeli friend of mine asked me, “Why should you care…