How Not to Spot a Terrorist How Not to Spot a Terrorist
The NSA's use of artificial intelligence for "data-mining" surveillance is not only constitutionally illegal, but a technological fantasy. Why aren't the Democrats challenging it?
Feb 9, 2006 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
Nick Kristof’s Brothel Problem Nick Kristof’s Brothel Problem
Nicholas Kristof produces a steady stream of titillating reports on child prostitution in the Third World. Better to focus on draconian economic reforms driven by the World Bank th...
Jan 26, 2006 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
The FBI and Edward Said The FBI and Edward Said
The FBI was probably tapping Edward Said's phone right up until the day he died. Details are emerging of a surveillance effort that extended for nearly thirty years.
Jan 12, 2006 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
The Year of Vanished Credibility The Year of Vanished Credibility
2005 added up to this: No credibility for the President, or for the Democrats, or for the New York Times, which took a year to figure out whether the Constitution is worth fighting...
Dec 21, 2005 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
All the News That’s Fit to Buy All the News That’s Fit to Buy
Bush brings a robust simplicity to the business of news management: Where possible, buy journalists to turn out favorable stories. And if you think you can get away with it, shoot ...
Dec 8, 2005 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
The Truth About the War The Truth About the War
The truth about the Iraq war may be clear to John Murtha and 60 percent of the American people, but not to the three Democratic senators interested in becoming President in 2008.
Nov 23, 2005 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
First the Lying, Then the Pardon First the Lying, Then the Pardon
Shades of Iran/contra: Since the indictment of I. Lewis Libby, Washington is abuzz about presidential pardons. If officials who violate the law and lie about it know with certainty...
Nov 10, 2005 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
Final Days: Only 39 Months to Go Final Days: Only 39 Months to Go
On Capitol Hill there's open warfare among various factions of the Republican Party. With midterm elections looming and Bush's approval ratings tumbling, the collapse of discipline...
Oct 27, 2005 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
The Virtues of Gas Guzzling The Virtues of Gas Guzzling
Gas-guzzling can be a revolutionary experience, like puffing Montecristo cigars, now that Citgo's 1,800 gas stations and eight oil refineries passed into the hands of Venezuela's n...
Oct 13, 2005 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
From Lynndie England to Shaquille O’Neal From Lynndie England to Shaquille O’Neal
Americans are becoming more hostile by the day to the war in Iraq, the nation is demoralized over official abandonment of the victims of the Gulf Coast storm, but the Democratic Pa...
Sep 29, 2005 / Column / Alexander Cockburn