By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations issued its annual report on the climate on Tuesday, making a full and final assessment of 2016. It was not good news. It was big news, but it wasn’t good news. Also, surprise, it wasn’t reported on most […]
Archives for March 2017
What’s Cuba *Really* Like?
H. Patricia Hynes | (Informed Comment) | – – What is Cuba like? Since visiting there recently, I have been asked this question hundreds of times and learned that every third person harbors a desire to visit there. Yes, there are iconic ‘57 Chevrolets, some in mint condition for taking tourists around Havana. But most […]
How Foreign Powers Could Try to Buy Trump
The Atlantic | (Video Report) | – – “Donald Trump is an unprecedentedly wealthy president, who owns or licenses his name to buildings, casinos, and luxury hotels around the world. An ethics watchdog group has already brought a lawsuit against him for violating the Constitution’s “Emoluments Clause,” which prohibits government officials from receiving gifts from […]
Climate Change: 5 Lessons the US Can Learn from Latin America
By Geovanny Vicente Romero | (TeleSur) | – – Taking a look at Latin America can provide some low-budget guidance on making a difference with less. During the week of March 12, 2017, the Trump administration revealed details about its national budget proposals. Among the significant changes observed in this budget proposal were reducing the […]
Ghosts Of ISIL: While All Eyes are On Mosul, Extremists Return To Other Iraqi Provinces
Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) – – While Iraq’s pro-government forces battle on in Mosul, extremists are heading back to other provinces. Locals say the number of attacks keep rising – and that something needs to be done before it is too late. In the town of Baiji in central-northern Iraq, a senior police […]
It is Comey who should be Investigated
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – FBI Director James Comey confirmed Monday that his agency has since last summer been investigating the circle of Donald J. Trump for their contacts with the Russian Federation during last year’s election campaign. He also denied Trump’s allegations that former president Barack Obama ordered wiretaps on […]
Does Trump’s slashed Foreign Aid Budget give China the Advantage?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The US foreign aid budget is not mainly about helping the poor. It is an instrument for buying influence in countries important to the US. The poorest countries in the world do not get much help from the US. Israel, which is a wealthy country, gets […]
Africa Trade Summit in US Had Zero Africans After Visas Denied
TeleSur | – – “This year it was 100 percent. Every delegation,” organizer Mary Flowers told the media. An African trade summit organized by the University of Southern California ended up with zero Africans as they were all denied visas to enter the United States just days before the summit despite applying months ahead of […]
Saudi throws Muslims under Bus, Sucks up to Islamophobe Trump
By Daniel Martin Varisco | MENA Tidningen | – – The old saying goes “With friends like this, who needs enemies.” This is especially apparent in the visit of Saudi Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to meet newly elected American President Donald Trump in mid-March. Coming two days before the latest Trump era anti-Muslim ban was […]