By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) declared his candidacy today to be the Republican standard bearer in the 2016 election. So what would a Rand Paul presidency look like with regard to Middle East policy? Although Paul has a reputation as a Libertarian non-interventionist, he isn’t actually either one. As […]
Archives for April 2015
Situation in Besieged Yarmouk Camp ‘One of the Most Severe Ever’
By Josh Butler | UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has described the situation inside the Syrian refugee camp of Yarmouk, under attack by Islamic State (IS) militants, as “one of the most severe ever” for the already spartan camp. Fighters allegedly from the IS, and al-Qaeda […]
Palestinian Lives in Gaza at Risk if Israeli Blockade Continues: Ministry of Health
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — As millions around the world mark April 7th as World Health Day, the health situation in Gaza continues to worsen as the joint Israeli-Egyptian siege of Gaza continues in its eight year. Gaza Strip Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra told Ma’an that there are hundreds of patients in the besieged […]
Execution without Trial: A Short History of the Predator Drone
By Grégoire Chamayou | (Tomdispatch.com) Initially, the English word “drone” meant both an insect and a sound. It was not until the outbreak of World War II that it began to take on another meaning. At that time, American artillery apprentices used the expression “target drones” to designate the small remotely controlled planes at which […]
4 Key Players In Yemen’s Chaos
AJ+ | – “Yemen’s being torn apart in a struggle for power. The stakes are high, with many different groups involved in the current chaos. We’ve narrowed down the key players you should know about.” AJ+: “4 Key Players In Yemen’s Chaos”
Netanyahu slips, Reveals reason for Opposition to Iran Deal
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – US television news isn’t very good and it has clearly gotten worse over the past 20 years. In the aftermath of the Kerry-Zarif initial framework deal on nuclear energy in Iran, it seems obvious that an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif would be newsworthy. But […]
‘It’s like a war here’: Saudi police raid defiant Eastern Province amid wider conflict with Shia
RT | – One Saudi policeman was killed and four injured during raids on a Shia-dominated oil-rich eastern province, as the Saudi-led coalition bombardment of rebels in neighboring Yemen prompted fears of the fighting spilling over the border. It is thought the security raid in the eastern town of Amawiyah was aimed at subduing Shiite […]
Palestine Authority seeks to speed up ICC probe into Israeli war crimes
RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — The Palestinian Authority is providing new documents to the International Criminal Court to speed up a preliminary probe into possible Israeli war crimes, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Malki said Monday. The probe, which was opened on Jan. 16 by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, is not a full investigation but an […]
Israeli Squatters’ Environmental Terrorism Cripples Palestinian Farmers
By Mel Frykberg AL SHUYUKH, Southern West Bank (IPS) – “Exactly which olive trees do you want to see? The Israeli settlers have cut down thousands. Can you be more specific?” asked the taxi driver, telling IPS that he wished to remain anonymous. About a week ago, Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Mezad, […]