Ann Arbor (Informed Comment): Official Washington was horrified at the resignation on Thursday of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who wrote Trump a letter (below) that said “Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right […]
A New Middle East: Winners and Losers from Trump’s Abrupt Syria Withdrawal
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump shook up the Washington establishment and Middle Eastern and world politics on Wednesday by abruptly announcing by Tweet a full and immediate withdrawal of US military forces from northeast Syria. Trump’s motives for what he does are never easy to fathom. He may have been driven by a desire […]
Islamophobia & the Misuse of History: Isaiah 29 and Attacks on my “Muhammad: Prophet of Peace”
When I wrote Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires, and published it with a trade press, I knew what I was doing. The book is history, and I genuinely had an open mind when I approached the writing of it. But trade publications seek to reach the wider public, and it was […]
What did Flynn Know about Russian ties to Trump and When did he Know it?
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Disgraced former National Security Adviser to Donald Trump, Michael Flynn, had his sentencing postponed until March on Tuesday after Judge Emmett Sullivan raked him over the coals for lying to the FBI in the White House and for intimating that he was not really guilty and had been entrapped by […]
History and Essentializing Muslims as Violent: More on “Kirby’s” attack on my “Muhammad: Prophet of Peace”
As I noted here, an anonymous operative going by “Stephen M. Kirby” who is otherwise a ghost on the internet attacked my book at a major hate site directed against Muslims (I won’t link precisely because it is a hate site). Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires Available at Nicola’s Books in […]
Why Airbnb is not backing Down on Boycotting Israeli Squatter Housing in Palestinian West Bank
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The living space- sharing company Airbnb on Monday denied an allegation by the Israeli tourism minister that it had suspended its delisting of apartments in Israeli squatter settlements (which are Jewish-only) in the Palestinian West Bank. Airbnb has to boycott the Israeli squatter settlements because they are illegal. The European […]
Global Islam and Australia: Why Recognition of ‘West Jerusalem’ Capital is bad news for Israel
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The decision of the Australian government of PM Scott Morrison to recognize “West Jerusalem” as the capital of Israel but to hold off moving its embassy there until there is a peace settlement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict might look on the face of it like a victory for Israel. It […]
Despite US, Russian & Saudi Opposition, Climate Summit Reaffirms Paris Goals
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The Climate Summit at Kotwice, Poland, ended on a positive note, with the 195 countries present committing themselves to financing instruments in a quest to cut carbon dioxide emissions and keep global heating to 1.5 degrees C. (2.7 degrees F.). Given that so many countries are producing so much CO2, […]
California shows the Way with Solar Home Mandate, as Gov’ts at Climate Summit Falter
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – As the Climate Summit in Poland comes to a desultory end, there is nevertheless good news on the front of fighting the climate emergency and global heating. California has has mandated that starting a little over one year from now, in 2020, all newly built homes must have solar panels. […]
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