TeleSur | – – In an interview with Brazilian TV, the ex-wife of Omar Mateen claimed the U.S. agency told her to keep quiet about his homosexuality. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation told the former wife of the Orlando shooter Omar Mateen, Sitora Yusufiy, not to speak of his homosexuality or the fact that […]
Archives for June 2016
British Trumpism? Anti-Immigrant “Britain First” White Terrorist kills Member of Parliament
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The assassin shouted “Britain First!” as he repeatedly stabbed Jo Cox in the stomach with a hunting knife and then shot her with an old revolver several times. He also cut a 77-year-old man who unsuccessfully attempted to intervene. Cox, 41, and mother of two, served […]
The over-teched over-priced Weapons that Ate the Pentagon
By Andrew Cockburn | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – These days, lamenting the apparently aimless character of Washington’s military operations in the Greater Middle East has become conventional wisdom among administration critics of every sort. Senator John McCain thunders that “this president has no strategy to successfully reverse the tide of slaughter and mayhem” in […]
US still in Conventional War in Afghanistan via . . . Drones?
By Jack Serle | ( Bureau of Investigative Journalism) | – – US drones hit Taliban more than terrorist networks despite end of Afghan war The majority of US airstrikes in Afghanistan in 2016 have been in support of ground troops including Afghan forces fighting the Taliban, rather than targeting suspected terrorists. An investigation by […]
Trump’s response to Orlando massacre proves just how dangerous he is
By Adam Quinn | (The Conversation) | – – Those who’ve been wondering when Donald Trump would switch from the wild bombast of his primary campaign to the sober mode traditionally demanded by a general election now have their answer: never. The dreadful gun massacre at the Pulse club in Orlando, Florida on June 12 […]
In further Move to Far Right, Israel passes Draconian Terrorism Law
Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A controversial new anti-terrorism law passed the Israeli Knesset on Wednesday, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which will grant the Israeli state far-reaching powers in cases of suspected “terrorism,” in a move a member of the Joint List called “draconian and unacceptable.” According to Haaretz, the […]
Despite Terrorism fears, 59% of Americans Welcome Syrian, Iraqi Refugees
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | “American attitudes on refugees from the Middle East”: A Public Opinion Poll by Shibley Telhami is just out. Despite the raft of Republican mayors who have pledged to keep Syrian refugees out of their states (that isn’t actually a thing) and the sewage that has spilled from the […]
Orlando and the Future of Terrorism
By John Feffer | ( Foreign Policy in Focus ) | – – It’s tempting to use a harsh epithet like “terrorism” to describe the actions in Orlando. Perhaps “mass hate crime” would be more accurate. Those who commit atrocities in the name of ISIS should be considered criminals and nothing more. Their desire to […]
Obama: Hating on Muslim-Americans makes you an ally of ISIL, & Unamerican
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – President Obama is clearly concerned about the direction of the country and the mainstreaming of anti-Muslim hate speech, especially in the context of impossible-to-prevent lone wolf attacks like that at Orlando. He launched his fiercest attack yet on Donald Trump and warned of a repeat of […]