eric margolis

The dawn of the 21st Century was supposed to have been a time of great and noble happenings.  But much ballyhooed 2000 turned out to be a year with few heroes or heroic acts.  On the bright side, at least the world didn't end.

The 21st Century went to war against the 11th Century in Afghanistan last week. The 11th Century won. US warplanes cluster-bombed the usual natives, but the intensive air attacks failed to dislodge Taliban tribal warriors from positions north of Kabul.

Did the United States go to war with Afghanistan for Central Asian oil and gas? That's what many readers keep asking me. They clearly distrust the White House's jingoistic bombast about defending freedom and western values from evil Islamists. The answer is no, and yes.