By John Feffer | ( Foreign Policy in Focus ) | – – Iranians are protesting conditions worsened by U.S. policies, but Washington’s hawks see only an opportunity for regime change. The last time Iranians went out onto the streets in large numbers, they were protesting what they thought was a stolen election. It was […]
The Five Pillars of Iran: Poetry of Protest
By Nassrine Azimi | (Informed Comment) | – – Hiroshima—Throughout the massive public demonstrations in 2009, Iranians protesting against the notorious government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were often airing their anger and frustration at the abuses of the regime in rhyme. During this past week, people’s seething discontent has again spilled onto the streets, starting in […]
Protests in Iran – A Different View
Dr. Mohammed Nuruzzaman | (Informed Comment) | – – The week-long protests in Iran, starting on December 29, have gradually died down. The Iranian government as well as the international community was caught by surprise, since the protests erupted suddenly, in a rather disorganized and leaderless fashion, in contrast to the 2009 Green Movement, and […]
Egypt Promotes Jerusalem as Israeli Capital in Secret Calls
TeleSur | – – The private conversations stand in stark contrast with the government’s public position, in which it has consistently condemned the declaration made by US President Donald Trump. Four taped phone calls reveal Egyptian intelligence officer Capt. Ashraf al-Kholi telling popular talk-show hosts and one singer to promote a positive view of Jerusalem […]
US Cuts Aid to Pakistan As Trump Ramps Up Blackmail Tactic
TeleSur | – – On Wednesday U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said the U.S. would withhold US$255 million in assistance to Pakistan. U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert announced Thursday it would freeze nearly all security aid to Pakistan until “the Pakistani government takes decisive action” against terrorist groups. Although Nauert did not […]
Why Turmoil in Iran: Beyond the Fake News and Social Media Hype
By Ali R. Abootalebi |(Informed Comment) | – – A reporter from Argentina has contacted me via an email, asking my opinion about the recent demonstrations in Iran. He has raised the following questions: “How do you explain the protests that are going on in Iran? Is the economic crisis the only reason or people […]
The Map: Costs of 76 ongoing American Wars
By Tom Engelhardt | (Tomdispatch.com) | – – He left Air Force Two behind and, unannounced, “shrouded in secrecy,” flew on an unmarked C-17 transport plane into Bagram Air Base, the largest American garrison in Afghanistan. All news of his visit was embargoed until an hour before he was to depart the country. More than […]
Boston breaks the highest ever recorded tide, followed by frozen floods
The Watchers: Watching the World Evolve and Transform | – – Boston, Massachusetts has officially broken the highest ever recorded tide since 1921 as a major winter storm swept over the region on January 4, 2018. As the storm passed by, the winds shifted and brought viciously-cold winds from the northwest, turning flood water into ice […]
Is US National Security Strategy too Important to Leave to the Generals?
By Ingo Trauschweizer | (The Conversation) | – – President Donald Trump greeted the new year with an angry tweet about U.S. ally Pakistan. Among other things, the tweet accuses Pakistan of giving “safe haven to terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan.” The Pakistani prime minister responded that the tweet was “completely incomprehensible.” While the subjects […]