James Ridgeway

In 1965, James Ridgeway helped launch the modern muckraking era by revealing that General Motors had hired private eyes to spy on an obscure consumer advocate named Ralph Nader. He worked for many years at the Village Voice, has written 16 books, and has codirected Blood in the Face, a film about the far right. In 2012, he was named a Soros Justice Media Fellow.

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Iraq Study Group: U.S. Out (Sort Of) By 2008!

Report also departs from Bush Administration line on Iraqi oil, partition, and Iran negotiations.

—By James Ridgeway

| Wed Dec. 6, 2006 1:00 AM PST

The bottom line in this morning's release of the much anticipated Iraq Study Group report is a new emphasis on embedded special operations and combat teams within the Iraqi military, allowing a drawdown of troops in the region. Under this model, intelligence and logistical support would likely continue to come from the United States; since Iraq has no air force, the U.S. would probably fill that gap as well.

The report, which notes that "the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating," says that U.S. military operations in Iraq "should evolve" so that "by the first quarter of 2008... all combat brigades not necessary for force protection should be out of Iraq. At that time, U.S. combat forces in Iraq could be deployed only in units embedded with Iraqi forces, in rapid-reaction and special operations teams, and in training, equipping, advising, force protection and search and rescue." Such irregulars played a key role in Afghanistan; Robert Gates, who seems likely to be headed for confirmation as Secretary of Defense, has an extensive background with irregular warfare and covert actions, almost ensuring the elevation of special operations within the overall military structure.

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Gates on Iran and Syria

—By James Ridgeway

| Tue Dec. 5, 2006 10:02 AM PST

Amid the predictable softball questions directed at Robert Gates at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee this morning, it was only Robert Byrd, the elder statesman of the Senate, who cut to the chase.

When Byrd asked Gates if he supported an attack on Iran, Gates replied, "I think military action against Iran would be a last resort…. Military consequences [could be] quite traumatic."

What about the likely consequences of a US attack on Iran, Byrd asked Gates. "While Iran cannot attack us directly militarily, their capacity to close off the Persian Gulf to exports of oil and to unleash a significant wave of terror in the Middle East, in Europe, and even here is very real."

An attack on Syria? "Syrian capacity to do harm to us is far more limited…."

Gates, prompted by Byrd, added that an attack on either Syria or Iran would lead to greater American casualties in Iraq. "I think that it would give rise to significantly greater anti-Americanism than we have seen to date. I think that it would immensely complicate our relationship with virtually every country in the region."

Byrd, possibly testing Gates to make sure he'll not simply be a shill for the administration, then asked the nominee who he believed was responsible for the 9/11 attacks, Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden. "Osama bin Laden," Gates responded quickly.

A Socialist in the Millionaires' Club: An Interview with Bernie Sanders

Vermont's junior senator-elect has a modest proposal for Ted Kennedy's committee: Investigate "power and wealth in America."

—By James Ridgeway

| Mon Nov. 20, 2006 1:00 AM PST

Money in America — who owns and controls wealth — has been a dead issue in Congress since the New Deal petered out in the 1960s. But the growing gap between rich and poor has put the topic back on the agenda for the new Democratic majority, and Vermont Senator-elect Bernie Sanders says he will propose an investigation of money and power when he joins Ted Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in January.

Though technically an independent, Sanders will caucus with the Democrats in the Senate, as he has in the House since he was first elected as Vermont's single representative in 1990. The Dems' one-vote margin should give him considerable leverage: Nobody seriously thinks he would routinely vote with the GOP, as fellow independent Joe Lieberman might well do on some issues, but Sanders is also not a party-line man and in the past has joined Republicans on votes against NAFTA, trade with China, and other issues.

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Bush to Lott: Help Is On Its Way

—By James Ridgeway

| Thu Nov. 16, 2006 12:17 PM PST

Just a reminder from Mother Jones: "We've got a lot of rebuilding to do. First, we're going to save lives and stabilize the situation. And then we're going to help these communities rebuild. The good news is -- and it's hard for some to see it now -- that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." (Laughter) -- President Bush, touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Alabama, Sept. 2, 2005.

Woof! Who Really Won the Hoyer/Murtha Showdown

Remember the Blue Dog Democrats? In the new Congress, you?ll be hearing from them a lot.

—By James Ridgeway

| Thu Nov. 16, 2006 1:00 AM PST

WASHINGTON — Steny Hoyer's victory as House Majority leader not only signals an embarrassing defeat for Nancy Pelosi, but underscores the importance of the conservative Blue Dog bloc in the Democratic party. The Blue Dogs supported Hoyer over John Murtha, and Pelosi had gone out of her way to shut these party conservatives out of leadership posts, most prominently turning down the claim by the ranking Intelligence committee member, Blue Dog Jane Harman of California, for the chairmanship of that committee. The House Agriculture Committee may end up in the hands of a Blue Dog, Minnesota’s Collin Peterson, but that's about it.

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