By Adrian Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – It is ironic, perhaps, but writing a world history, which involves telling hundreds of stories, makes one realize how few truly significant stories there are in that history. Most significant among these is not the history of Europe, or the history of science, or warfare, or […]
Archives for July 2015
As the Iraqi Army takes on ISIL in al-Anbar: How did we get here?
Brian Glyn Williams | (Informed Comment) | – – Last week the Iraqi government announced that it would be commencing operations to retake Ramadi, the capital of the vast western province of Anbar from ISIL (also called ISIS and Daesh). This represents the Shiite-dominated government’s first attempt to roll back the hybrid terrorist-army in Iraq’s […]
Iraqi Government halts al-Anbar Campaign over Sectarian Fears, US Pressure
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Kuwaiti press (al-Siyasah) is alleging that the Iraqi government, under American pressure, has hit the pause button on its campaign to take al-Anbar Province back from Daesh (ISIS, ISIL). The report was also carried by 24.ae in the United Arab Emirates. A source in the […]
Jaw-dropping: Surfer fights off shark attack live on TV in S. African competition
RT | (Video Report) | – – “Courtesy of World Surf League (WSL): www.worldsurfleague.com Professional Australian surfer Mick Fanning had a huge scare as his board was attacked by a shark during the 2015 World Surf League championship’s, at the Jeffreys Bay Open in South Africa, Sunday.” RT: ” Jaw-dropping: Surfer fights off shark attack […]
Yemen: As Aden Falls to pro-Saudi forces, Focus now on Taiz
Natasha Ghoneim | (Aljazeera English Video report) “Houthi fighters in Yemen have fired artillery shells into the port city of Aden.The latest casualty count in the shelling is more than 40 dead and over 100 injured. The attacks come just two days after Yemen’s government-in-exile declared that Aden had been recaptured from Houthi forces.Much of […]
Are the Courts the next decisive Arena of Climate Activism?
By Emily Schwartz Greco | (Foreign Policy in Focus/ Otherwords) People from Seattle to Fiji are filing lawsuits over global warming — and they just might have a case. Climate action is finally gaining ground in Washington. No, not that Washington. Following their victory in a Seattle court, eight children are pressing Washington State’s Department […]
Did Daesh/ ISIL just hit Hamas in Gaza with Car Bombs?
Ma’an News Agency | – – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Five car bombs targeting the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad went off in near-simultaneous blasts on Sunday morning in the center of Gaza City and its northern neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan. Witnesses said the explosions that went off at around 6:30 a.m. appeared […]
Trump Swiftboats McCain the Way W. Swiftboated John Kerry
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The chickens of 2004 have come home to roost in the Republican Party. The Republican strategists around George W. Bush in that year decided to rip John Kerry’s face off by attacking him, in accordance with Karl Rove’s dirty tactics, at his strength. Bush, who hid […]
On ‘Death Road’: Women, Civilians Flee ISIL Extremists in Iraq & Syria
By Shalaw Mohammed | Kirkuk | (Niqash.org) – – As extremists rule harshly and coalition airstrikes hit, there’s a mass exodus of civilians out of Hawija. And one of the ways they are getting out is with people smugglers on the “death road”. A few days ago Mahmoud Fathallah arrived with his family and another […]