July 20, 2009 Issue

Cover art by: Cover photo by Getty Images, design by Gene Case & Stephen Kling/Avenging Angels

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Feature

Will Iraq Be a Global Gas Pump?

Is Iraq finally fated to become what it was going to be anyway, even before the chaos and catastrophe set in: a giant gas pump for an energy-starved planet?
Michael T. Klare
Bill Clinton Backs Same-Sex Marriage

The former president’s reversal is the highest-profile one to date. It may also have political implications for the future of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Michael Tracey
The Balance Begins to Tip Against Cheney

With new revelations about the former veep ordering the CIA to lie to Congress, Democrats finally start talking about an investigation that could hold him to account.
John Nichols
Obama Visits Africa’s ‘Oil Gulf’

Ghanaians and other Africans are clamoring for a new direction in US Africa policy, one based in mutual interests and mutual respect.
Emira Woods
New Evidence Surfaces in Post-Katrina Crimes

Television news reports are casting new light on the violence that flourished in New Orleans in the anarchic days after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
A.C. Thompson
Iran: A Compromise Deal?

Supporters of the Green Wave increasingly see negotiations with the regime as the best way out of today’s crisis.
Babak Sarfaraz
Trumka Thinks Big

As he mounts his run for AFL-CIO president at a moment of opportunity and peril for American workers, Richard Trumka calls for no less than a new social compact.
David Moberg
How to Deal with America’s Empire of Bases

As Congress and Obama wrangle over the cost of much-needed domestic expenditures, no one suggests that closing some of these unpopular, expensive imperial enclaves might be a good way to save some money.
Chalmers Johnson
Mr. Sanford’s Wild Ride

The rise and precipitous fall of the adulterous, anti-stimulus governor of South Carolina.
Paul Wachter
The Trials of Benjamin Jealous

Can the NAACP’s new president reform the 100-year-old civil rights organization? Does he want to?
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Iran’s Green Wave

The clampdown on street protests can’t disguise huge fissures among the elite.
Bob Dreyfuss

Editorial

Obama in Africa: A Major Disappointment

Just because President Obama possesses African heritage doesn’t mean he couldn’t learn a thing or two about the continent’s history.
Gerald Caplan
Max Baucus’s Party?

The Republicans may now be “the party of no,” but it remains to be seen who exactly the Democrats are.
Greg Kaufmann
Remembering Robert McNamara

The former secretary of defense presided over the deaths of millions–and was one of the only officials to publicly express regret.
Jonathan Schell
Has Bratton’s LAPD Really Reformed?

The Alex Sanchez case raises troubling new questions about the war on gangs.
Tom Hayden
Are Afghan Lives Worth Anything?

The mainstream media would rather focus on the death of Michael Jackson than cover the barbaric slaughter of innocent Afghan civilians by American planes.
Tom Engelhardt
Triangles

The latest political sex scandal isn’t a scandal at all but a circumstance as old and common as time.
JoAnn Wypijewski
Noted.

The Nation and the NAACP; democracy derailed in Honduras; Sotomayor and Ricci
The Editors
Shades of Green

Washington and Beijing should launch an efficiency revolution, the quickest path to large emissions cuts.
Mark Hertsgaard
Public Option Now!

Getting a Medicare-style public plan as part of healthcare reform is a winnable fight.
The Editors
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Column

‘Government Sachs’ Strikes Gold… Again

Since most of the increase in the federal deficit is due to bailing out the banks and salvaging the greater economy they helped destroy, why is the top investment bank doing so well?
Robert Scheer
McNamara’s Evil Lives On

It was the stark evil Robert McNamara perpetrated as secretary of defense that must indelibly frame our memory of him.
Robert Scheer
Sexism on Centre Court

Sex doesn’t actually sell women’s sports, so why is Wimbledon still prioritizing pretty players?
Dave Zirin
How Bold Is Barack?

Notwithstanding comparisons to FDR, BHO has proffered far less audacious proposals than we were led to expect.
Eric Alterman
Mirror Man

Michael Jackson’s fame and fortune ensured he had few barriers to the pursuit of whatever Mad Hatter fancy seized him–including his made-to-order kids.
Patricia J. Williams
Ensign, Sanford and Multi-tasking

Zipper trouble.
Calvin Trillin

Books & the Arts

Hubbub and Stillness: The 2009 Venice Biennale

The funky chaos of the 2009 Venice Biennale.
Barry Schwabsky
Back Talk: Adam Phillips and Barbara Taylor

A conversation with the authors of On Kindness.
Christine Smallwood
Off Dead Center: William Appleman Williams

William Appleman Williams and the tragedy of American diplomacy.
Greg Grandin
The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

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Letters

Letters

I.F. Stone, Secret Agent? Spy? Mole?
Silver Spring, Md.
Eric Alterman , D.D. Guttenplan and Our Readers

Crossword

Puzzle No. 3178

ACROSS

1 See 5 down
Frank W. Lewis

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July 20, 2009 Issue

Feature

Is Iraq finally fated to become what it was going to be anyway, even before the chaos and catastrophe set in: a giant gas pump for an energy-starved planet?

The former president’s reversal is the highest-profile one to date. It may also have political implications for the future of the Defense of Marriage Act.

With new revelations about the former veep ordering the CIA to lie to Congress, Democrats finally start talking about an investigation that could hold him to account.

Ghanaians and other Africans are clamoring for a new direction in US Africa policy, one based in mutual interests and mutual respect.

Television news reports are casting new light on the violence that flourished in New Orleans in the anarchic days after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Supporters of the Green Wave increasingly see negotiations with the regime as the best way out of today’s crisis.

As he mounts his run for AFL-CIO president at a moment of opportunity and peril for American workers, Richard Trumka calls for no less than a new social compact.

As Congress and Obama wrangle over the cost of much-needed domestic expenditures, no one suggests that closing some of these unpopular, expensive imperial enclaves might be a good way to save some money.

The rise and precipitous fall of the adulterous, anti-stimulus governor of South Carolina.

Can the NAACP’s new president reform the 100-year-old civil rights organization? Does he want to?

The clampdown on street protests can’t disguise huge fissures among the elite.

Editorial

Just because President Obama possesses African heritage doesn’t mean he couldn’t learn a thing or two about the continent’s history.

The Republicans may now be “the party of no,” but it remains to be seen who exactly the Democrats are.

The former secretary of defense presided over the deaths of millions–and was one of the only officials to publicly express regret.

The Alex Sanchez case raises troubling new questions about the war on gangs.

The mainstream media would rather focus on the death of Michael Jackson than cover the barbaric slaughter of innocent Afghan civilians by American planes.

The latest political sex scandal isn’t a scandal at all but a circumstance as old and common as time.

The Nation and the NAACP; democracy derailed in Honduras; Sotomayor and Ricci

Washington and Beijing should launch an efficiency revolution, the quickest path to large emissions cuts.

Getting a Medicare-style public plan as part of healthcare reform is a winnable fight.

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

Column

Since most of the increase in the federal deficit is due to bailing out the banks and salvaging the greater economy they helped destroy, why is the top investment bank doing so well?

It was the stark evil Robert McNamara perpetrated as secretary of defense that must indelibly frame our memory of him.

Sex doesn’t actually sell women’s sports, so why is Wimbledon still prioritizing pretty players?

Notwithstanding comparisons to FDR, BHO has proffered far less audacious proposals than we were led to expect.

Michael Jackson’s fame and fortune ensured he had few barriers to the pursuit of whatever Mad Hatter fancy seized him–including his made-to-order kids.

Zipper trouble.

Books & the Arts

The funky chaos of the 2009 Venice Biennale.

A conversation with the authors of On Kindness.

William Appleman Williams and the tragedy of American diplomacy.

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

Letters

I.F. Stone, Secret Agent? Spy? Mole? Silver Spring, Md.

Crossword

ACROSS 1 See 5 down

I.F. Stone, Secret Agent? Spy? Mole?
Silver Spring, Md.

ACROSS

1 See 5 down