January 11, 2010 Issue

Cover art by: Cover design by Gene Case & Stephen Kling/Avenging Angels

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Feature

The Judge Gets Real, But Why?

The federal judge’s order means that LA’s top gang reduction officials will be subpoenaed to state what they know of Alex Sanchez.
Tom Hayden
Blackwater and the Khost Bombing: Is the CIA Deceiving Congress?

Two Blackwater contractors died in a December 30 suicide bombing at a CIA station in Afghanistan, suggesting that the company is more enmeshed in CIA business than the agency admits.
Jeremy Scahill
Looting Social Security, Part 2

The Washington Post has run a "news" article about deficit reduction penned by The Fiscal Times, an outlet backed by Pete Peterson, the Wall Street millionaire who wants to loot Social Security.
William Greider
Federal Judge Dismisses All Charges in Iraq Massacre

A federal judge has dismissed all charges against the five Blackwater operatives accused of gunning down 14 innocent Iraqis in Baghdad’s Nisour Square in September 2007.
Jeremy Scahill
How to Solve the Climate Problem

Climate scientist James Hansen’s new book, Storms of My Grandchildren, looks at what’s necessary to stop global warming.
James Hansen
What’s Next for Healthcare Reform?

Despite the Senate compromises, there’s still a lot to like in the healthcare reform bill. But will it survive reconciliation?
Lindsay Beyerstein
Victory for Alex Sanchez Appeal, But…

The court decision gives the Alex Sanchez case a “new credibility as a blatant injustice.”
Tom Hayden
Laughter Without a Moral Compass Is Lame

In Paul Krassner’s new book, what’s obscene is not sex but anything greedy, dishonest or cruel.
Danny Goldberg
Why War Will Take No Holidays in 2010

From the point of view of peace or de-escalation, 2010 will be a year of no significance.
Tom Engelhardt
The Files’ Tale: Redbaited by the FBI

How The Nation‘s special issue on the bureau brought down the wrath of J. Edgar Hoover.
Richard Lingeman
Stacked Deck Against Homeowners

Legal remedies are not strong enough to save defrauded citizens from losing their homes.
Alex Ulam
MVPs of 2009

The author’s list of the most valuable political and cultural activists and activist groups of the year.
John Nichols
The Great Leap

In the midst of a global financial crash and the climate crisis, New China enters its third act.
Chris Hayes

Editorial

Looking Back on 2010

How well do you remember the events that shook up–and let down–America in 2010?
Jamie Malanowski
Lester ‘Red’ Rodney: 1911-2009

The “Press Box Red” was a top sports writer who led the first sustained campaign to integrate Major League Baseball.
Dave Zirin
Healthcare Passes, But the Fight Goes On

Before the healthcare reform bill reaches President Obama’s desk, here are the issues that are still worth fighting on to ensure reform helps as many Americans as possible.
J. Lester Feder
Afghan Lobby Scam

Has a major military contractor in Afghanistan created an Astroturf organization to promote long-term US engagement?
Aram Roston
How to Exit Afghanistan

A timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan should set the stage for the military neutralization of the country.
Selig S. Harrison
Healthcare Pressure Points

How do the House and Senate bills compare on affordability and enforceability?
J. Lester Feder
Noted.

Sasha Chavkin on more Shell games in Nigeria; David L. Kirpon how healthcare reform will affect coverage for kids
The Editors
Reality Bites

The problem with the Copenhagen Accord: nature does not award points for trying.
The Editors
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Column

McCain Gets It, Obama Doesn’t

Although Obama has blasted “fat cat bankers on Wall Street,” it is time for those who elected him to ask for more than rhetoric.
Robert Scheer
Faculty Protest Texas Football Coach’s Raise

University of Texas football coach Mack Brown is getting a $2 million bonus while the rest of campus is tightening its belt.
Dave Zirin and Snehal Shingavi
The Global War on Stealth Underwear

There is no “war” against terrorism. Not if by war one means doing the obvious and checking a highly suspicious air traveler’s underwear to see if explosives have been sewn in.
Robert Scheer
Focus on Israel

A spate of new films address the human toll the Israeli-Palestinian conflict takes on both sides.
Eric Alterman
The Public Option, Which a Majority of Americans Favor, Is Dropped From the Healthcare Bill

And senators have no remorse.
Calvin Trillin

Books & the Arts

How Soon Was Now?

The death, and afterlife, of the Polaroid.
Barry Schwabsky
End of the Century

Can pop music survive without a mass market, mass acceptance or the drive for mass profits?
J. Gabriel Boylan
Back Talk: Frederick Wiseman

A conversation with the director of La Danse about the discipline of ballet–and documentary filmmaking.
Christine Smallwood
Misterioso

Thelonious Monk was a more nuanced figure than the flimsy characterization of a way-out jazz cat could ever convey.
David Yaffe
Focus on Israel

A spate of new films address the human toll the Israeli-Palestinian conflict takes on both sides.
Eric Alterman
Untitled

Tchicaya u Tam’si
The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

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Letters

Letters

Adieu, Swank Filer!–II
Washington, D.C.

David Cole and Our Readers

Crossword

Puzzle No. 259

ACROSS

1 Announcement of an evening celebration? (10)

6 Came to the top. (4)
Frank W. Lewis

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January 11, 2010 Issue

Feature

The federal judge’s order means that LA’s top gang reduction officials will be subpoenaed to state what they know of Alex Sanchez.

Two Blackwater contractors died in a December 30 suicide bombing at a CIA station in Afghanistan, suggesting that the company is more enmeshed in CIA business than the agency admits.

The Washington Post has run a "news" article about deficit reduction penned by The Fiscal Times, an outlet backed by Pete Peterson, the Wall Street millionaire who wants to loot Social Security.

A federal judge has dismissed all charges against the five Blackwater operatives accused of gunning down 14 innocent Iraqis in Baghdad’s Nisour Square in September 2007.

Climate scientist James Hansen’s new book, Storms of My Grandchildren, looks at what’s necessary to stop global warming.

Despite the Senate compromises, there’s still a lot to like in the healthcare reform bill. But will it survive reconciliation?

The court decision gives the Alex Sanchez case a “new credibility as a blatant injustice.”

In Paul Krassner’s new book, what’s obscene is not sex but anything greedy, dishonest or cruel.

From the point of view of peace or de-escalation, 2010 will be a year of no significance.

How The Nation‘s special issue on the bureau brought down the wrath of J. Edgar Hoover.

Legal remedies are not strong enough to save defrauded citizens from losing their homes.

The author’s list of the most valuable political and cultural activists and activist groups of the year.

In the midst of a global financial crash and the climate crisis, New China enters its third act.

Editorial

How well do you remember the events that shook up–and let down–America in 2010?

The “Press Box Red” was a top sports writer who led the first sustained campaign to integrate Major League Baseball.

Before the healthcare reform bill reaches President Obama’s desk, here are the issues that are still worth fighting on to ensure reform helps as many Americans as possible.

Has a major military contractor in Afghanistan created an Astroturf organization to promote long-term US engagement?

A timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan should set the stage for the military neutralization of the country.

How do the House and Senate bills compare on affordability and enforceability?

Sasha Chavkin on more Shell games in Nigeria; David L. Kirpon how healthcare reform will affect coverage for kids

The problem with the Copenhagen Accord: nature does not award points for trying.

GET UNLIMITED DIGITAL ACCESS FOR LESS THAN $3 A MONTH!

Column

Although Obama has blasted “fat cat bankers on Wall Street,” it is time for those who elected him to ask for more than rhetoric.

University of Texas football coach Mack Brown is getting a $2 million bonus while the rest of campus is tightening its belt.

There is no “war” against terrorism. Not if by war one means doing the obvious and checking a highly suspicious air traveler’s underwear to see if explosives have been sewn in.

A spate of new films address the human toll the Israeli-Palestinian conflict takes on both sides.

And senators have no remorse.

Books & the Arts

The death, and afterlife, of the Polaroid.

Can pop music survive without a mass market, mass acceptance or the drive for mass profits?

A conversation with the director of La Danse about the discipline of ballet–and documentary filmmaking.

Thelonious Monk was a more nuanced figure than the flimsy characterization of a way-out jazz cat could ever convey.

A spate of new films address the human toll the Israeli-Palestinian conflict takes on both sides.

The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

Letters

Adieu, Swank Filer!–II Washington, D.C.

Crossword

ACROSS 1 Announcement of an evening celebration? (10) 6 Came to the top. (4)

Adieu, Swank Filer!–II
Washington, D.C.

ACROSS

1 Announcement of an evening celebration? (10)

6 Came to the top. (4)