No, not "know", no good, as in bu hao, "pal". Escobar whose delightful mot "Pipelinestan" I used to repeat before I understood the full dimensions of the Zionist project, is a clever and v. professional journalist, but he is no James Petras. Check yourself, your provincial gullibility is showing. As Bruce Lee usta say, It is an Error to be too arrogant.
Are you aware that in Europe, Petras ranks higher on the list of "great US intellectuals" than Chomsky does?

Mr Raimundo,

Thanks for all your creative criticism of Ms B & crew. And for maintaining this superb news site.

Would you care to update me re your take on the ANSWER Coalition, which has been at loggerheads with Benjamin et al since at least March of 03? I myself have a lot of problems with ANSWER/PSL but still support the demonstrations they initiate. ??

no, "buddhao", you too are repeating BS. To wit Zionism inspired "War for Oil' jive intended to divert people from seeing what's under their eyes, at least if they have TV sets.
US occupation of Afghanistan has 3 overdetermining purposes: one, to give legitimacy to the snowjob OV re 911, AKA the 19 A-rabs did it with boxcutters; two, the longterms strategy to dismember the PRC; three and most important: the balkanization and impoverishment of Pakistan and the imposition of Zionist control over any nuclear capability currently in the hands of Muslims or of anyone who sympathizes to any degree with the Palestinian victims of Zionism.
cf. current discussion on DissidentVoice.org,, esp. comments by "B99", "Mulga", "Deadbeat", "Suthiano", "Mary" and others.
Also cf Walt & Mearsheimer; James Petras; Jeff Blankfort; Kathy & Bill Christison, for starters.