A 2012 Look-Back at Consortiumnews

The year 2012 was an important one for the United States as it faced a presidential election, issues of war or peace, and the choice of extreme right-wing economic theories or greater political pragmatism. Here is a selection of stories from Consortiumnews.com.

Turning America Into Pottersville” by Robert Parry, projecting how the Right’s policies would work out for the average person, Jan. 14, 2012

Getting Rid of ‘Anti-Israel’ Presidents” by Robert Parry, recalling the trouble U.S. presidents can encounter when they cross Israel, Jan. 21, 2012

US/Israel: Iran NOT Building Nukes” by Ray McGovern, revealing that U.S. and Israeli intelligence agree that Iran has not decided to build a bomb, Jan. 24, 2012

Selling the Supply-Side Myth” by Robert Parry, exploring how Ronald Reagan’s “supply-side” economics hurt the American middle class, Jan. 27, 2012

Reagan’s Road to Climate Perdition” by Sam Parry, tracing America’s lost way on alternative energy to Ronald Reagan’s mistakes, Jan. 29, 2012

The Almost Vanunu” by Marshall Wilson, tracing Israel’s global pursuit of a rogue intelligence officer, Feb. 1, 2012

Theocracy Comes to Virginia” by Sam Parry, exposing the extremism of the state’s anti-abortion legislation, Feb. 18, 2012

Americans Abandon International Law” by Nat Parry, observing a continuing drift away from universal principles of behavior, Feb.  22, 2012

Madison: Father of the Commerce Clause” by Robert Parry, disputing the Right’s odd reinvention of James Madison, Feb. 24, 2012

The ‘Winners’ Take Everything” by James DiEugenio, explaining why the American middle class keeps shrinking, Feb. 29, 2012

LBJ’s ‘X-File’ on Nixon’s ‘Treason” by Robert Parry, a look-back on what Lyndon Johnson knew about Richard Nixon’s sabotage of the Vietnam peace talks, March 3, 2012.

Romney’s Made-Up History on Iran” by Robert Parry, piercing the mythology around Ronald Reagan and Iran, March 6, 2012.

How the Right’s Smear Machine Started” by Robert Parry, tracing the pattern back to Nixon, March 8, 2012.

Israel’s Tragedy of ‘Victories,’” by Morgan Strong, observing how Israeli attacks on its neighbors have left it more insecure, March 10, 2012.

The Surge Myths Deadly Results” by Robert Parry, examining how Iraq’s “successful” surge lead to a similar approach toward Afghanistan. March 17, 2012.

The 1%’s Doctrine for the 99%” by Mark Ames, exploring the history of the rich treating average Americans as chattel, March 21, 2012.

GOP Justices Clown Over Health Care” by Robert Parry, pointing out the constitutional absurdity of questions from Republican justices, March 27, 2012.

Bin Laden’s Personal Debt to Bush” by Robert Parry, reflecting on how the terrorist leader enjoyed his final decade., April 4, 2012

Render to Caesar, Extraordinarily” by Ray McGovern, objecting to the hypocrisy of Christians celebrating Easter and tolerating torture, April 6, 2012

America’s Founding Pragmatism” by Robert Parry, looking back at the true founding principles of the United States, April 15, 2012

The 1%’s Hand in the Afghan Murders” by Mark Ames, tracing Sgt. Bales’s rampage to his family’s struggles at the hand of unscrupulous banks, April 16, 2012

How Obama Recycled a Lie About Iran” by Elizabeth Murray, tracing how a big lie ended up in a key presidential speech., April 25, 2012

The US Press Sell-Out on Iraq War” by Coleen Rowley, recalling the American media’s failure to stand by whistleblowers, April 26, 2012

Not Explaining the Why of Terrorism” by Ray McGovern, noting how the Obama administration still ducks this tough question. May 2, 2012.

How US Hubris Baited Afghan Trap” by Robert Parry, explaining the real mistake of U.S. policy toward Afghanistan. May 3, 2012.

Hiding the True Jesus” by Rev. Howard Bess, peeling back the layers of deception around this historical figure. May 8, 2012.

The Enduring Secrets of Watergate” by Robert Parry, shedding light on some of the continuing mysteries of the 40-year-old burglary. May 22, 2012.

The Moral Challenge of ‘Kill Lists’” by Ray McGovern, reflecting on morals and the war on “terrorists.” May 30, 2012.

Showing that Hostage-Taking Works” by Robert Parry, reflecting on the GOP success in making the U.S. economy “scream,” June 1, 2012. 

Jesus, the Radical Economist” by Rev. Howard Bess, learning from the economic teachings of Jesus, June 11, 2012.

The Dark Continuum of Watergate” by Robert Parry, defining the lasting footprint of Richard Nixon’s politics, June 12, 2012.

Sorting Out the Facts About Iran” by Ray McGovern, puzzling over the neocon persistence in exaggerating the Iranian threat, June 5, 2012.

The Almost Scoop on Nixon’s ‘Treason’” by Robert Parry, recalling how an investigative story in 1968 nearly changed history, June 7,  2012.

Madness of Late-Stage Capitalism” by Phil Rockstroh, comparing today’s economy with an aged Howard Hughes, June 11, 2012.

Why Jesus Died” by Rev. Howard Bess, describing recent historical findings that give context to Jesus’s execution, June 26, 2012.

Roberts Embraces Right’s Fake History” by Robert Parry, noting that Justice Roberts’s support for health reform came with a concession to the Right, June 29, 2012

How Scalia Distorts the Framers” by Robert Parry, challenging how a right-wing justice depicts the Commerce Clause, July 4, 2012

Did Reagan Know about Baby Thefts?” by Robert Parry, questioning how much President Reagan knew about his Argentine “death squad” allies, July 6, 2012

Bohemian Grove and Reagan’s ‘Treason’” by Robert Parry, recalling a strange Republican alibi involving the rich man’s retreat, July 13, 2012

Harassing the Whistleblowers” by Ray McGovern, explaining the importance of honest scientists at the Food and Drug Administration, July 17, 2012

America: A Nation of Wildebeest” by Robert Parry, commenting on how gun violence continues to cull the national herd, July 22, 2012

Caro’s Flawed Tale of LBJ’s Rise” by Jim DiEugenio, critiquing a much-touted account of President Johnson’s ascension to the White House, July 28, 2012

Why Romney Insulted the Palestinians” by Robert Parry, explaining the neocon meme about cultural inferiority. Aug. 1, 2012

Israel’s ‘Bomb Iran’ Timetable” by Ray McGovern, gauging Israeli thinking about Iran’s nuclear program and the U.S. election. Aug. 12, 2012

Romney-Ryan Bet on Greedy Geezers” by Robert Parry, dissecting the cynicism of the GOP delay in implementing Medicare changes. Aug. 13, 2012

Atomized America of Late Capitalism” by Phil Rockstroh, reflecting on the human vacuum at the heart of a decaying empire. Aug. 15, 2012

Forgetting the Why of the New Deal” by Lawrence Davidson, explaining the role of government in stopping abuses of capitalism. Aug. 20, 2012

Ryan’s Clash with Catholic Teachings” by Daniel C. Maguire, describing Paul Ryan’s disdain for the poor. Aug. 22, 2012

Still Praising Ryan as ‘Fiscal Hawk’” by Robert Parry, challenging media boilerplate that Paul Ryan is a deficit fighter. Aug. 22, 2012

The Human Cost of War on Iran” by Elizabeth Murray, assessing the death and destruction from bombing Iran’s nuclear reactors. Aug. 23, 2012

Is Mitt Romney a Racist?” by Robert Parry, questioning the GOP nominee’s troubling remarks that appeal to bigotry. Aug. 25, 2012

Selling War as ‘Smart Power’” by Coleen Rowley, exploring the new rationale for U.S. interventionism. Aug. 28, 2012

Romney World’s Freedom from Facts” by Robert Parry, marveling at what the GOP convention did with reality. Aug. 31, 2012

Romney’s New Global Warming Joke” by Robert Parry, noting how the GOP presidential nominee finds climate change amusing, Sept. 3, 2012

Mushroom Cloud Sales Pitch Is Back” by Peter Dyer, comparing the hysteria over Iran to past hysteria over Iraq, Sept. 8, 2012

The Neocons and 9/11” by Robert Parry, explaining how the neoconservatives contributed to the catastrophic intelligence failure and then profited, Sept. 11, 2012

Romney’s Jaw-Dropping Incoherence” by Robert Parry, cataloguing how the GOP nominee shifts positions and jumps the gun, Sept. 13, 2012

The Constitution’s Unhappy Birthday” by Beverly Bandler, worrying about growing threats to the founding principles, Sept. 17, 2012

Why the Mideast Exploded, Really” by Ray McGovern, looking at the whys of Muslim resentment rather than the whos and hows, Sept. 17, 2012

The Delusional Mr. Romney” by Robert Parry, observing how the GOP nominee sees himself as disadvantaged, Sept. 18, 2012

Dismantling FDR’s Legacy” by Beverly Bandler, warning what another extremist Republican victory might mean, Sept. 20, 2012

Netanyahu Backs Off on Iran” by Ray McGovern, interpreting the Israeli prime minister’s strange speech to the UN., Sept. 28, 2012

The Burden of Pentagon Spending” by Melvin A. Goodman, contesting the need for a giant military budget. Oct. 1, 2012

The Silence of the Drones” by Ray McGovern, questioning the practicality and morality of the U.S. drone attacks. Oct. 1, 2012

Ryan’s Distortion of America’s Founding” by Jada Thacker, disputing Paul Ryan’s reference to the Founders. Oct. 6, 2012

Mitt Romney Lies to the World” by Robert Parry, dissecting the deceptions in Mitt Romney’s foreign policy address. Oct. 9, 2012

How to Save the Middle Class” by Beverly Bandler, explaining what an economic turnaround really requires. Oct. 13, 2012

Warnings from the Cuban Missile Crisis” by Don North, a first-hand account of when the world faced extinction. Oct. 14, 2012

The Real Blame for Deaths in Libya” by Ray McGovern, pointing the finger at violent U.S. interventions. Oct. 15, 2012

The October Surprise Mysteries” by Robert Parry, recounting GOP treachery in the 1968 and 1980 elections. Oct. 22, 2012

Romney’s Shape-Shifting Foreign Policy” by Melvin A. Goodman, noting the GOP candidate’s troubling inconsistencies. Oct. 23, 2012

’Moderate Mitt’: Neocon Trojan Horse” by Robert Parry, detecting subterfuge behind Romney’s shift to the foreign policy center. Oct. 24, 2012

Telling Truths about Israel/Palestine” by Lawrence Davidson, reporting on the admissions of aging Israeli military veterans. Oct. 28, 2012

Iran War on the Ballot” by Robert Parry, explaining how a Romney victory would disrupt Obama’s negotiations. Oct. 28, 2012

The Source of Romney’s Lying” by Robert Parry, tracing Mitt Romney’s strained relationship with the truth to Mormonism. Nov. 1, 2012

The Why Behind the Benghazi Attack” by Melvin A. Goodman, disclosing the CIA operation based in Benghazi, Libya. Nov. 4, 2012

A Great Night for US Democracy” by Robert Parry, noting the failure of right-wing strategies for suppressing and confusing voters. Nov. 7, 2012

Behind Petraeus’s Resignation” by Robert Parry, reporting on the strains between the celebrated general and the White House. Nov. 10, 2012

Pundit Tears for Petraeus’s Fall” by Ray McGovern, mopping up the many tears shed by Washington pundits for their beloved general. Nov. 10, 2012

The Neocons’ Waterloo” by Robert Parry, assessing the recent losses for Washington’s neocons from Romney to Petraeus. Nov. 14, 2012

Separating War from the Vets” by Matthew Hoh, warning that nostalgia for veterans can help perpetuate unnecessary wars. Nov. 15, 2012

Likening Palestinians to Blades of Grass” by Elizabeth Murray, criticizing the Israeli dehumanization of the Palestinian people. Nov. 16, 2012

The Death Toll of Watergate” by Robert Parry, linking the political scandal to its origins in Vietnam War deceptions. Nov. 17, 2012

 “Ron Paul’s Appalling World View” by Robert Parry, dissecting the quirky congressman’s neo-Confederate philosophy. Nov. 27, 2012

The Humiliation of Bradley Manning” by Ray McGovern, reporting on the strange trial of a brave whistle-blower. Nov. 28, 2012

Walmart’s Tears for a Tragedy” by Barbara Koeppel, questioning the sincerity of Walmart’s concerns for dead garment workers. Nov. 29, 2012

How the World Was Saved” by Jim DiEugenio, reviewing the secrets of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Nov. 30, 2012

How the GOP Promoted Gun Madness” by Robert Parry, naming names in the long march toward gun madness, Dec. 16, 2012

The Right’s Second Amendment Lies” by Robert Parry, explaining what the Framers were really trying to do. Dec. 21, 2012

To produce and publish these stories and many more costs money. And except for book sales and a few ads, we depend on the generous support of our readers.

So, please consider a tax-deductible donation either by credit card online or by mailing a check. (For readers wanting to use PayPal, you can address contributions to our account, which is named “[email protected]”).

Thanks for your support!