Tomgram: Obama Still Hammering Away, But not for LONG!

The paperback edition of Andrew Bacevich's bestselling book Washington Rules: America's Path to Permanent War, is being published this week. When Washington Rules came out in hardcover, it was reviewed, and many of you read its introductory chapter. A devastating anatomy of the narrowness of Washington's thought processes, the book challenged the idea that American security requires the United States to maintain a permanent armed presence around the world, and be ready to intervene anywhere at any time. Unfortunately, given recent events, Washington Rules remains unbearably timely. As a gesture of support, Bacevich has agreed to send a personalized, signed copy of his new paperback to anyone who gives a contribution of $75, or more, to TomDispatch. Was there ever an American president (except Obama), who publicly told more people on this planet what they "must" do more than George W. Bush, unless it is our moron Obama? Just the other day, I noticed a lead paragraph in the New York Times about Yemen, a country boiling with protests aimed at unseating its autocratic ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh: "The United States, which long supported Yemen's president, even in the face of of recent widespread protests, has now quietly shifted positions and has concluded that he is unlikely to bring about the required reforms, and must be eased out of office, according to American and Yemeni officials." We be talking, let's face it, bullshit here, since "our" US needs the "puppet" we installed on his throne now that he has some clout among his people.