By Carlyn Meyer | (Informed Comment) — For years, AIPAC and the Netanyahu government in Israel have tried to mark the Iran nuclear talks as a “Jewish” or ‘Israeli’ concern distinct from a world interest in nuclear non-proliferation. In this way, they were able (with plenty of help from the media) to control the framework […]
‘Too Big to Exist’: Sanders Introduces Bill to Break Up Big Banks
by Nadia Prupis, staff writer | (Commondreams.org) | – If passed, bill would give Treasury Secretary a year to break up institutions bailed out in financial crisis. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is running for president in 2016, will introduce a bill to Congress that would break up “too big to fail” institutions. (Photo: Brookings Institution/flickr/cc) […]
Israel Slammed Over Treatment of Palestinian Children in Detention
By Mel Frykberg | – RAMALLAH, West Bank (IPS) – Palestine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, has sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council demanding that action be taken against Israel over the abuse of Palestinian children after they have been arrested by Israeli security forces. “Every single day and in countless […]
Holy War Hotel: 5-star resort opens for ISIS supporters in Iraq
RT | – “It may look like any other top resort in Iraq, but the Ninawa International Hotel in Mosul has one major difference. It is the first 5-star hotel for Islamic State jihadists. It includes a swimming pool and tennis court… but no bar.” RT: “Jihad Hotel: 5-star resort opens for ISIS supporters in […]
Iranian Police Arrest Leading Human Rights Activist Again
By Golnaz Esfandiari | (RFE/RL) | – Narges Mohammadi, the deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) co-founded by Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, was arrested on May 5 at her home in Tehran, according to her husband. Speaking to RFE/RL by telephone from Paris, Taghi Mohammadi said the officers […]
We’re all Iraqis now: How Bush’s Wars Militarized Baltimore & Ferguson Police
By Michael Gould-Wartofsky | (Tomdispatch.com) | – Last week, as Baltimore braced for renewed protests over the death of Freddie Gray, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) prepared for battle. With state-of-the-art surveillance of local teenagers’ Twitter feeds, law enforcement had learned that a group of high school students was planning to march on the Mondawmin […]
Afghanistan’s Endless War: Between the US, Taliban and ISIL
By Brian M. Downing | (Informed Comment) | – War is largely a seasonal activity in Afghanistan. Winters are harsh and fighters need to work fields and tend herds. With spring, another fighting season is underway. This year will be different from its many predecessors. US ground troops are no longer engaged in large numbers; […]
Young Muslim-Americans Draw Their Own Muhammad
AJ+ | – “Muslims condemned the attack at a Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas. But some of them started drawing cartoons of their own.” AJ+: “Muslim Americans Draw Their Own Muhammad”
How Muslim-Americans can avoid being Trolled by Israel-Firsters: Look again at the Prophet’s example
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – In the period from roughly 610 to 622 CE (“AD”), Muhammad ibn Abdallah of the noble Quraysh tribe in the western Arabian city of Mecca preached monotheism to an outraged polytheistic city dedicated to the worship of ancient Near Eastern goddesses, and the commerce of which deeply depended […]