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Spencer Ackerman

Spencer Ackerman, a senior correspondent for The American Prospect, is a senior reporter for The Washington Independent.

Recent Articles

Final Fantasy

Spencer AckermanDec 15, 2006

There's a line from one of Johnny Cash's final songs that adequately sums up the new Iraq strategy proposal released yesterday by Fred Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute. Go tell that long tongue liar, Johnny sings, go and tell that midnight rider; tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter -- tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down.

THE WASHINGTON POST...

Spencer AckermanDec 12, 2006

THE WASHINGTON POST AND DOUBLE STANDARDS. In the midst of apologizing for Pinochet, The Washington Post drops this bombshell while apologizing for Pinochet-apologist Jeane Kirkpatrick:

No Middle Ground

Spencer AckermanDec 06, 2006

Given the specific lineup of the 10 wise men and women serving on the Iraq Study Group, the most conspicuous absence is that of supermodel Heidi Klum. Sure, she has no relevant experience in foreign policy, nor any real knowledge of Iraq -- but neither do commissioners Sandra Day O'Connor, Vernon Jordan, Alan Simpson, or Edwin Meese. What Klum does have to offer is a lesson completely lost on the commission, one taught each week on her hit reality show Project Runway: you're either in, or you're out. When it comes to Iraq, it's good advice.

MORE IMPORTANTLY?

Spencer AckermanDec 06, 2006

MORE IMPORTANTLY? I spent my morning at the Iraq Study Group's press conference on the Hill. (I'll have a piece for TAP on all this imminently.) Many bizarre things were said, but one that revealed the ISG's midset particularly well was this, courtesy of co-chair Lee Hamilton:

"We have one last chance at making Iraq work, and, more importantly, one last chance to unite this country on this war."

STANDING IN THE WAY OF CONTROL.

Spencer AckermanDec 04, 2006

STANDING IN THE WAY OF CONTROL. Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of SCIRI and commander-in-chief of the fearsome Badr Corps, left his meeting today with President Bush for a brief appearance at the U.S. Institute of Peace this afternoon. I asked Hakim: You've been accused of the abduction, torture, and execution of perhaps thousands of Sunnis. How do you respond?

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