This video report on China’s new interest in Middle East diplomacy begins by pointing out that the Obama administration has announced a pivot toward Asia (i.e. US interests lie more in the Pacific Rim than the Middle East.). At the same time, China (which dislikes this pivot, fearing it is aimed against Beijing) is moving […]
Archives for May 2013
UN has strong suspicions Syrian Rebels used Sarin Gas
A UN commission unvestigating the situation in Syria has strong, concrete suspicions that Syrian rebels used sarin gas, but does not have firm proof, according to investigator Carla del Ponti. Euronews reports The announcement landed like a bombshell because during the past week Israeli and European officials have levelled the same charge against the Syrian […]
BS Happens: Parody of 24/7 Cable News
Parody of 24-hour cable news from The Onion that that nails it:
Israeli, Hizbullah Proxy War in Syria
Israel and Lebanon’s Hizbullah, who fought a war in 2006, are increasingly being drawn into a proxy war in Lebanon. Hizbullah supports the Baath regime of Bashar al-Assad. The Israeli government, after a long period of neutrality, seems increasingly to have decided that the Baath must go. Israel on Sunday bombed what it said were […]
Shiraz, Iran: Timelapse Video
Timelapse of scenes of Shiraz, Iran. The southwestern city is known for its poets and shrines to poets and gardens and, in the old days, wine.
The Conservative Logic of Ferguson’s Smears of Gays, Muslims, Obama and Krugman
Harvard historian Niall Ferguson apologized Saturday for having said that economist John Maynard Keyes did not care about future generations because he was gay and had no children. The question I want to raise here is the over-all logic of Ferguson’s underlying reasoning. What makes him continually make embarrassing and simple errors of fact, as […]
Saudi Arabian Women, Unveiled (VICE video)
VICE reports on Saudi Arabian women, unveiled, showing the strong private/ public divide in the Kingdom (and moreover private and public are drawn differently there).
We’ve been hurt before: Jon Stewart on Obama’s Renewed Pledge on Guantanamo
Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show on President Obama’s renewed push to close the illegal Guantanamo prison camp. Limbo Update America wanted to believe Barack Obama’s promise to close Guantanamo, but the skeptical country had been hurt before. The Daily Show with Jon StewartGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook
Syria’s Neighbors have Rising Anxiety about Crisis (Three Aljazeera Videos)
Turkey is strategizing how to limit the impact of the Syria war on Turkey. Ankara is particularly concerned by the emergence of a relatively autonomous Kurdish area in northern Syria, fearing that PKK guerrillas might find refuge there. Turkey is also deeply worried about chemical weapons falling into hands of various sorts of guerrillas. Turkey […]