Writer
Melvin A. Goodman
Melvin A. Goodman is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and a professor of government at Johns Hopkins University. A former CIA analyst, Goodman is the author of Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA and National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism. and A Whistleblower at the CIA. His most recent book is “American Carnage: The Wars of Donald Trump” (Opus Publishing), and he is the author of the forthcoming “The Dangerous National Security State” (2020).” Goodman is the national security columnist for counterpunch.org.
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The mainstream media’s unwillingness to challenge U.S. militarisation
The Washington Post finally conceded in an editorial recently that the United States must “spend smarter” when it comes to defence. Instead of looking for ways to cut defence spending, however, the Post simply wants to spend differently. It favours more spending on conventional and nuclear-armed submarines, despite the huge U.S. advantage in both power Continue reading »
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Can the United States provide an off-ramp for Putin?
If you believe that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was unprovoked, then perhaps you should read no further. And, if you believe that Vladimir Putin will allow the United States and Europe to bring Ukraine into the Western security orbit, then once again you should read no further. Continue reading »
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United States and Russia: Dangerous export of democracy and dictatorship
Earlier this month, the Department of State circulated to our embassies around the world its report on Russian efforts to sway elections and exert political influence in more than two dozen countries over the past ten years. According to the study, Russia has covertly given at least $300 million to political parties and politicians in Continue reading »
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The dangerous civilian-military chasm in America
Several weeks ago, the mainstream media carried a statement from eight former secretaries of defence and five retired four-star generals that stated the obvious: military officers have a duty to support and defend the Constitution. The statement credited the “civil-military system” with the ability to “respond quickly to defend the nation in times of crisis.” Continue reading »
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American exceptionalism: Our gun culture at home and abroad
There is an insidious and unspoken connection between our gun culture at home and abroad. U.S. politicians and pundits believe that huge defence budgets provide international security for the United States, and many Americans believe that personal weapons provide safety at home. We don’t question the use of deadly weaponry in unnecessary wars overseas; Vietnam, Continue reading »
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A diplomatic end to Ukraine crisis would need US to admit its hypocrisy
There is a diplomatic path to cool the talk of war in Ukraine, but it will require the US admitting that it overplayed its hand. Continue reading »
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The United States can solve the Ukraine crisis
The US should be able to broker a compromise that recognises Ukraine’s sovereignty while limiting the Western military presence on Russia’s borders. Continue reading »
