By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Former US Attorney General Eric Holder said in an interview that what NSA whistle blower Edward Snowden did was illegal but added “”We can certainly argue about the way in which Snowden did what he did, but I think that he actually performed a public service […]
Archives for May 2016
Let’s Fight ISIL, but Without Help of Any Kurds: Turkey to US
Via TeleSur | – – Ankara is angered by Washington’s support for Kurdish fighters in Syria in the fight against [the so-called] Islamic State group [IS]. Turkey is offering to “join forces” with Washington for a special operation inside Syria on the condition that the United States does not include the latter’s closet ally against […]
Israeli cabinet confirms far, far Right Lieberman as minister of defense
Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Israeli Cabinet unanimously confirmed the appointment of far-right politician Avigdor Lieberman as defense minister on Monday, the Israeli prime minister’s office reported in a statement. Lieberman, who formerly served as foreign minister, has advocated policies ranging from the overthrow of the Palestinian Authority to the […]
ISIS and Israel on the Golan Heights
By Sam Brennan | ( Open Democracy ) | – – The Yarmouk Valley is run by ISIS – and left alone by Israel. This is a testament to the complex, cynical and calculated machinations of the actors in this conflict. There is a strange relationship between Israel and a small sect of the Islamic […]
On Memorial Day, US Troops at War with ISIL near Mosul
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – On Memorial Day, it is as well to remember that US troops are still at war. Afghanistan is our nation’s longest such military engagement. But although there are only about 3,000 troops in Iraq and just a couple hundred in Syria, they are at the front […]
Corruption: Israeli Police recommends prosecuting wife of PM Netanyahu
Israel Broadcast Authority news | (Video Report) | – – “Israel Police submits file to Jerusalem district attorney: enough evidence for Prime Minister’s wife to be indicted for graft. IBA News: “Police recommends prosecuting Sara Netanyahu”
Does billionaire-funded lawsuit against Gawker create playbook for punishing press?
By Clay Calvert | (The Conversation) | – – Word last week that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel bankrolled wrestler Hulk Hogan’s invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against Gawker added a wrinkle to a case already featuring colorful characters and a US$140 million jury verdict. At a sensational and personal level, the story highlights the animus between PayPal […]
Not the Onion: Trump: ‘No California Drought & I will Solve it’
TeleSur | – – The presumptive GOP nominee told supporters in Fresno, California on Friday that he does not believe the state is currently facing drought-like conditions. During an electoral campaign speech on Friday, Republican presumptive presidential candidate Donald Trump told California voters that he can solve the state’s water crisis by simply declaring “there […]
In Fight against ISIL, does US have to Choose between Turkey & YPG Kurds?
By James Miller | ( RFE/ RL ) The fight against extremists from the Islamic State (IS) militant group is heating up on two fronts. Since May 23, a coalition consisting of the Iraqi army and primarily Shi'ite militias, backed by U.S. air strikes, has advanced towards Fallujah, 40 kilometers west of Baghdad. There are […]
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