Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has roiled Iranian politics by admitting that the Syrian government gassed its own people at Ghuta in the eastern suburbs of Damascus. He was lamenting the calamities that are befalling the hapless Syrian people. He attacked the regime of President Bashar al-Assad for filling what he called “football stadiums” full […]
Archives for September 2013
Israeli Press on Syria Delay: History will Mock Obama (OSC)
The USG Open Source Center translates or paraphrases passages from the Israeli Hebrew press on President Obama’s decision to seek Congressional advice and consent regarding responses to Syria’s use of chemical weapons. Some slammed him, some were supportive or understanding : Historians To Mock Obama, President’s Actions Convey Weakness “Obama Playing Dumb” by Hagay Segal […]
Iraqi Government Rejects US Strike on Syria, Fears Civil War
In his speech on Saturday on the Syria crisis, President Obama instanced Iraq among the countries that might suffer if the Baath regime were allowed to get away with using chemical weapons. The elected government of Iraq, however, says thanks but no thanks. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki categorically rejects a Western strike on Syria. Sectarian […]
How America’s ‘Espionage Empire’ is Paid for: The ‘Black Budget’ (Queally)
Jon Queally writes at Commondreams.org: In the latest revelation made possible by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, the Washington Post on Thursday published an investigative analysis and interactive map of America's so-called "Black Budget" which details the $52.6 billion allotment of taxpayer money that funds the government's "intelligence-gathering colossus" that has previously remained insulated from the […]
Obama goes to Congress on Syria as his International Support Collapses
People have been asking why President Obama did not go to Congress about Libya but is willing to do so with regard to a much less robust action in Syria. The answer is a pragmatic and not a legal or constitutional one. Obama did not need Congress in the case of Libya. He had the […]
Gulf Arab Press divided on Syria Strike (OSC)
The USG Open Source Center paraphrases items in the Gulf Arab press regarding the US strike on Syria Gulf Press Carries Mixed Reactions to Potential US Military Attack on Syria OSC Summary Saturday, August 31, 2013 Document Type: OSC Summary On 30 August, websites of Gulf newspapers were observed to carry mixed reactions to a […]