(By Juan Cole) We’ve been treated to a rash of articles about how US veterans of the Fallujah campaigns of 2004 are upset about the return of al-Qaeda to that city and the now dominant position of the extremists. Despite my respect for US soldiers who risked their lives, these veterans are making a political […]
Archives for January 2014
Top Ten Ways Ariel Sharon Ruined Israel and the Middle East
(By Juan Cole) Arik Scheinerman, who became Ariel Sharon, was from a Russian family that emigrated to Palestine at a time when Palestinians had been deprived of the right to set immigration policy into their own country. He would go on powerfully to shape the lives of most people in Israel and the Middle East, […]
40 prominent Journalists Call for Release of Detained Colleagues
Sharif Abdel Kouddous: In a strong show of solidarity, nearly 40 correspondents and editors representing 29 international media organizations are calling for the immediate release of journalists detained in Egypt. On December 29, Peter Greste, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed from Al Jazeera English were arrested by Egyptian authorities and have been held arbitrarily […]
Fossil Fuels causing Antarctic Glacier to Melt Irreversibly, raise Sea Levels
(By AFP) Giant Antarctic glacier beyond point of no return (via AFP) Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier, one of the biggest single contributors to world sea-level rise, is melting irreversibly and could add as much as a centimetre (0.4 inches) to ocean levels in 20 years, a study said Sunday. The glacier “has started a… […]
Top Ten Things wrong with NSA Surveillance of Americans
(By Peter Van Buren) The debate Edward Snowden envisioned when he revealed the extent of National Security Agency (NSA) spying on Americans has taken a bad turn. Instead of a careful examination of what the NSA does, the legality of its actions, what risks it takes for what gains, and how effective the agency has […]
Ariel Sharon should have been Tried for War Crimes: Human Rights Watch
(By Human Rights Watch) (Jerusalem) – Ariel Sharon died without facing justice for his role in the massacres of hundreds and perhaps thousands of civilians by Lebanese militias in the Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps in Lebanon in 1982. The killings constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity. Sharon also escaped accountability for other alleged […]
Did Ariel Sharon get a pass on War Crimes because he was White?
(By Juan Cole) It is shameful that Vice President Joe Biden should be attending the funeral of Ariel Sharon today, given that the former Israeli prime minister was clearly guilty of a host of war crimes. Much Mideast instability must be laid at his feet. Since a pattern of war crimes comes to equate to […]
Iran interim nuclear deal to begin January 20
A landmark interim nuclear deal between Iran and world powers will begin on January 20.
Iran Negotiations Breakthrough: Reduction of 19.25% Enriched Uranium Stock begins Jan. 20
(By AFP) White House confirms Iran nuclear deal to take effect Jan 20 (via AFP) The White House confirmed Sunday that a nuclear agreement with Iran will take effect from January 20, but US President Barack Obama said he was under “no illusions” how hard it would be reach a comprehensive resolution. “Beginning January 20th, […]