Juan Cole

40 Killed in Bombings, Shootings Al-Hakim Seeks Shiite Federal Region Abdul Aziz al-Hakim’s United Iraqi Alliance laid out plans Wednesday in parliament for the creation of a nine-province regional confederacy in the south. AFP reports that die-hard Sunni opposition to the plan appears to be fading. They seem to have been given representations by al-Hakim’s […]

Bush, Abu Zubayda and the End of Trust Bush has lied so often, and about absolutely crucial matters of national security, that I do not trust him any more. This is a sadder commentary than anyone can know. On the War on Terror, I don’t prefer a partisan approach. After September 11, I felt we […]

Bush Turns to Fear-Mongering Creation of “Islamic” Bogeyman The Bush administration obviously wishes it were waging war on Nazi Germany. Even the old Soviet Union would be fine, these nostalgic Cold Warriors seem to think. Something big and menacing that would scare the blue-haired grannies in Peoria into voting Republican because, everyone knows, in addition […]

Parliament to take up Shiite Federal Region US Backs off Criticism of Barzani On Wednesday morning a car bomb in the Qahira district of Baghdad killed 8 and wounded 38. Civil war violence killed some 25 on Tuesday, including 3 US GIs. The US embassy in Iraq began by appearing to condemn the decree issued […]

35 Bodies Found Executed in Baghdad, Kut 10 Coalition Troops dead in 2 Days AP and Reuters report that 33 bodies, most showing signs of torture, were found in the streets of Baghdad on Monday. The victims were likely victims of reprisal killings from the opposite branch of Islam. Another two bodies were found in […]

Tantawi: Jihad is Purely Defensive Freedom of Religious Belief Intrinsic to Islam Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports that the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar Seminary in Cairo, perhaps the foremost Sunni Arab authority, has issued a statement that jihad or “holy war” was legislated in Islam for the defense of the persons and honor of Muslims, and is […]

Israel to Launch War on Syria, Iran? The Times of London details Israeli planning for a war with Syria and Iran. Richard Perle, who sold the American people the fantasy that the US could march into Iraq, install corrupt businessman Ahmad Chalabi in power, and would be greeted with garlands of flowers, is disappointed that […]

Barzani Threatens Secession; Sistani Aide Assassinated; 4 GIs Killed Massoud Barzani reacted angrily to criticisms of him by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and many other Iraqi politicians for his call that the Iraqi flag not be flown in Iraqi Kurdistan. Al-Hayat reports [Ar.] that in a speech before the opening session of the Kurdish parliament […]

South Asian Pilgrims Slaughtered; Sistani Retires from Politics Upbraids Government for lack of Security 11 Pakistani and 3 Indian Shiite pilgrims that passed through al-Anbar Province and reached al-Nakhib to the west of Karbala, to which they were making pilgrimage–were captured, robbed, tortured and killed on Saturday. Their women relatives were allowed to go free. […]