2019

By Nicolas J S Davies | – As the PM announces his resignation, Iraqis continue to demand the withdrawal of the crony capitalism implemented by US backed government officials. As Americans sat down to Thanksgiving dinner, Iraqis were mourning 40 protesters killed by police and soldiers on Thursday in Baghdad, Najaf and Nasiriyah. Nearly 400 […]

Pentagon

You Mean we’re at War in Somalia? The Hidden Costs of U.S. Airstrikes

The Conversation

By Bryce W. Reeder | The US is an active participant in the war against Al-Shabaab in Somalia, efforts that have increased in the last few years under the Trump Administration. The strategy involves using airstrikes to assist Somali ground forces in recapturing territory controlled by Al-Shabaab. In addition, there have been attempts to take […]

Veterans

A Different Kind of War Wound Afflicts America

Arnold R. Isaacs

(Tomdispatch.com) – When an announcement of a “Moral Injury Symposium” turned up in my email, I was a bit startled to see that it came from the U.S. Special Operations Command. That was a surprise because many military professionals have strongly resisted the term “moral injury” and rejected the suggestion that soldiers fighting America’s wars […]

Featured

Tucker “Kremlin” Carlson Comes out for Putin

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Fox white nationalist pundit Tucker Carlson asked last night what is so bad about Putin. Kremlin Carlson had provoked a firestorm the previous week when he said that he took Russia’s side against Ukraine in the current low-intensity war between the two. When criticized, he said he was joking. Russia […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israeli PM Netanyahu formally Indicted as Israel Faces Political Earthquake

Ramzy Baroud

( Middle East Monitor) – Nothing seems to be working for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has tried every trick in the book to save his political career and avoid a possible prison sentence. Nevertheless, for Israel’s longest-serving leader, the end is almost certainly nigh. Netanyahu described his indictment on charges of fraud, bribery […]

Climate Crisis

If we don’t Slash Coal, Oil use 8%/yr., the Earth is heading for a Calamitous Temp. Rise of nearly 6° F.

China Dialogue

By Catherine Early | – China Dialogue – Missed opportunities for tough action on the climate emergency mean emissions cuts must be much faster, UN warns Emissions reductions need to be urgently speeded up, with a 7.6% cut required each year in order to keep global temperature rise within 1.5C, according to a UN assessment […]

Christianity

Rick Perry’s belief that Trump was chosen by God is shared by many in a fast-growing Christian movement

The Conversation

By Brad Christerson and Richard Flory | – In a recent interview with Fox News, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry stated that Donald Trump was chosen by God to be president. He said throughout history God had picked “imperfect people” such as King David or Solomon to lead their people. Perry is not alone. A […]

Climate Crisis

Turning point in Climate Activism? Germans Block Coal Mines with their Bodies

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Deutsche Welle reports that that more than 1,000 green activists made their way past police lines and blocked trains at 3 important coal mines in eastern Germany on Saturday. A few clashes took place between police and protesters. The environmental group End of the Road claimed more like 4,000 people […]

Brazil

Beef and Oil: Are Brazil’s Bolsonaro and Saudi’s MBS a Match Made in Heaven?

Tori Avila

By Vitoria Avila Fioravanti | – Sao Paulo (Special to Informed Comment) – Beef, oil and veiling and a murdered journalist have catapulted the burgeoning relationship between Brazil and the controversial Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into the headlines for the first time this fall, though the two countries have had formal diplomatic relations since 1968. […]

Archives for 2019

Iraqis rise up against 16 years of ‘made in the USA’ corruption