Peter Van Buren

Peter Van Buren spent a year in Iraq as a State Department Foreign Service Officer serving as Team Leader for two Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). Now in Washington, he writes about Iraq and the Middle East at his blog, We Meant Well. His book, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People (The American Empire Project, Metropolitan Books), will be published September, 2011.

Articles

Why the Invasion of Iraq Was the Single Worst Foreign Policy Decision in American History (Foreign Policy, War on Terrorism, Politics)

Ignore the jingoism, from politicians and the press—the tenth anniversary marks a tenth year from hell.

Peter Van Buren

Our National Torture Policy (Film, US Intelligence, War on Terrorism)

As Zero Dark Thirty reminds us, Americans have yet to face the torture committed on our behalf.

Peter Van Buren

Six Critical Foreign Policy Questions That Won’t Be Raised in the Presidential Debates (Debates, Foreign Policy, Election 2012)

Don’t expect either Obama or Romney to ask any of these questions.

Peter Van Buren

Protecting Torturers, Prosecuting Whistleblowers (Foreign Policy, Dissent After 9-11, Secrecy in the Bush Administration)

While CIA agents that tortured and killed prisoners go unpunished, whistleblower John Kiriakou faces up to forty-five years in prison.

Peter Van Buren

How Not to Reconstruct Iraq, Afghanistan—or America (Foreign Policy, Iraqi Reconstruction and Occupation, US Military Presence Abroad)

A guide to disaster at home and abroad.

Peter Van Buren

Leaking War (Barack Obama, War and Peace, Executive Branch)

How Obama’s targeted killings, leaks and the Everything-Is-Classified State have fused.

Peter Van Buren

Joining the Whistleblowers' Club (Government, US Wars and Military Action)

What we lost in Iraq and Washington between 2009 and 2012.

Peter Van Buren

In Washington, Fear the Silence, Not the Noise (Government)

The fierce campaign against whistle-blowers in Washington.

Peter Van Buren

Free Speech for Government Employees (US Politics, Law, Politics)

A case being heard this month will likely define the free speech rights of federal employees and so determine the quality of people who will make up our government.

Peter Van Buren