Juan Cole

Plan for Southern Confederation Advances Al-Hayat: Twenty-five political, social and religious personalities met to create the “Project for the Southern Confederation,” that would unite Basra, Amara and Nasiriyya provinces in accordance with the loose federalism prescribed by the Temporary Administrative Law. Baqir Yasin of Basra was named the secretary-general of the Confederation. The scheme will […]

Democracy Now on Ann Arbor/ Ypsilanti Radio This page suggests ways to campaign for Democracy Now to be heard in our area. I suggest that we work with WUOM and WEMU to see if it isn’t possible to add it to the schedule of one or the other. It is apparently a huge help in […]

On Ending Military Occupations in the Middle East Some Iraqis find it ironic that President Bush called for a withdrawal of foreign troops from Lebanon before the elections, but that elections were held in Iraq under conditions of foreign military occupation. Some quotes from the Knight Ridder story: “He must have forgotten that his army […]

Fallujah, Tent City, Awaits Compensation Al-Zaman/ AFP: The Iraqi government has yet to pay out any compensation to the inhabitants of Fallujah from the funds dedicated to the rebuilding of the city, which was assaulted by the US Marines and Iraqi forces beginning last November 8 in order to root out guerrillas who were thought […]

Discover Yo Mama’s Network Turning the tables on Horowitzism, just for fun.

Sistani Calls for Unity Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani called Friday “unity and solidarity among all Iraqis despite the attacks targeting the innocent.” He was referring to the horrific bombing of a Shiite funeral in Mosul. Weeping relatives held small family wakes for the dead, avoiding a large mass funeral that might again be targeted by […]

What do you Do if Democracies Defy You? The US and British support for democratization in the Middle East is a deeply contradictory policy, since Washington and London also want friendly regimes that agree with their policies and crack down on radicals. The contradiction was pitched ironically by Lebanese Speaker of the House Nabih Berri, […]

Democracy Now Transcript Here is a transcript of my interview this morning with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. For Southeast Michigan readers: What would have to happen for WUOM or WEMU here in the Ann Arbor/ Ypsilanti area to carry the program regularly? Isn’t it odd that it is in 300 markets but not here?

Sadrist Funeral Targeted The funeral targeted by a bombing that killed 47 and wounded 84 in Mosul was for “Hisham al-Araji, the Mosul representative for radical Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr.” The bombing might have just been targeting Shiites, or it might specifically have aimed at the Sadr movement, which has some support in northern Iraq […]