By Andrew J. Bacevich | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – The purpose of all wars, is peace. So observed St. Augustine early in the first millennium A.D. Far be it from me to disagree with the esteemed Bishop of Hippo, but his crisply formulated aphorism just might require a bit of updating. I’m not a […]
Iraq’s al-Sadr offers to mediate between Riyadh, Tehran
Middle East Monitor | – – Prominent Iraqi Shia cleric and opposition leader Muqtada al-Sadr has declared his willingness to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran with a view to mitigating tensions between the two regional powerhouses. The offer came in a Tuesday statement issued by al-Sadr’s office in response to questions regarding the possibility […]
‘Son of a Whore’: Video Shows Israeli Troops Cheering After Shooting Unarmed Palestinian
TeleSur | – – While the world condemns Israel’s use of lethal force, Israeli politicians and policy makers defend soldiers’ cheering of shooting unarmed Palestinians. A video showing Israeli occupation soldiers shoot an unarmed Palestinian inside Gaza, near the border fence, and later cheering emerged through social media Monday. As the shot is fired and […]
Bombed and gassed into oblivion: The lost oasis of Damascus
By Karen Pinto | (The Conversation) | – – Dozens of people, including children, were killed this past weekend by an alleged chemical weapons attack in the eastern Ghouta city of Douma. The attack is the latest reminder that Ghouta, the one-time oasis of Damascus, is being destroyed. Every day brings with it news of […]
If the world doesn’t stop Chemical Massacres at Syria, who is Next?
By Michelle Bentley | (The Conversation) | – – Seven years into its catastrophic conflict, Syria has witnessed yet another major chemical strike. This time the target was the rebel-held city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus. The death toll currently stands at around 70 – making the attack as deadly as the […]
Why are only tinpot War Criminals Punished? What about the Architects of the Iraq War?
By Peter Singer | (Project Syndicate) | – – It is unlikely that former US President George W. Bush or any member of his administration will ever stand trial for initiating a war of aggression in Iraq. But it is still worth recounting the illegality of that act, not least because it is directly relevant […]
Trump on Syria Chem Attack: Putin responsible for supporting “Animal Assad”
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – On Sunday, Trump responded to the use by the Syrian regime of a chlorine-filled barrel bomb in the rebel enclave of Douma, a district of East Ghouta. Since Trump had launched 59 Tomahawk missiles on the Shuayrat Air Base last year this time after regime use […]
Yemen War: Do We Americans bear a Responsibility to Halt it?
By Olivia Alperstein | (Otherwords.org) | – – American taxpayers are helping to fight someone else’s war in Yemen, and the blood is on our hands. Since March 2015, the United States has supported a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that’s intervening in a civil war in Yemen. […]
Russia says Syrian rebels to be brought out of Douma
Middle East Monitor | – – Russia’s military said an operation would begin on Sunday to bring fighters of the Jaish al-Islam rebel group out of their besieged enclave of Douma, Interfax reported, after the Syrian government said the group had asked for negotiations. There was no immediate comment from Jaish al-Islam. The group so […]