By Juan Cole | (informed Comment) | – – The US military says that the number of ISIL fighters in eastern Syria has fallen from 3000 a month ago to only 1000 today. Moreover a lot of the latter are fleeing into al-Assad-controlled territory, a severe security concern for the Syrian state. The US is […]
Trump “not welcome” in UK after Neo-Nazi retweets: London Mayor
Middle East Monitor | – – Describing London as the city of “tolerance, acceptance and diversity”, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, however, on Wednesday said President Donald Trump is “not welcomed”, Anadolu reports. Khan’s written statement came after the London Assembly asked him how the city’s government would prepare for an official state visit from Trump. […]
Chess is Universal; Saudi Arabia isn’t: Women’s Boycott, Israeli Lawsuit
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Saudi Arabia under the hyper-active crown prince Muhammad Bin Salman is undertaking rapid changes in society and international diplomacy. But the kingdom’s conviction that it is ready to host international events has been demonstrated to be premature by a debacle over a chess tournament. A chess […]
Trump’s disastrous Year in the Middle East: Syria
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Trump on the campaign trail said many self-contradictory things about the Syrian civil war. He wanted to carpet bomb ISIL, which had a strip of territory in the far east of the country. He wanted to send in 30,000 US troops, he said at one point. […]
Riyadh releases more royals in corruption probe, Demands $6 bn from Alwaleed
Middle East Monitor | – – Saudi Arabia’s authorities have released a number of detained royals allegedly involved in corruption in public office. The move came after a settlement was agreed with the suspects, the daily Okaz reported yesterday. The pro-government newspaper added that the detainees, who had been held in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in […]
What does the Muslim Scripture say about the Birth of Jesus?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | The Qur’an, the scripture Muslims believe was brought from God by the Prophet Muhammad (d. 632), has a number of passages that mention Mary and the virgin birth of Jesus. The Chapter of Mary, 19:16, says (my interpretation): And mention in the Book Mary, when she withdrew from […]
Trump to rich Cronies at Mar-a-Lago: “You all Just got a lot Richer” (Video)
Demarco Morgan | CBS News | (Video News Report) | – – “”You all just got a lot richer,” Mr. Trump told friends at his exclusive Palm Beach club after signing the new tax overhaul into law” CBS News: “Trump touts tax bill to friends at Mar-a-Lago” – @demarcoreports
At Christmas, Palestinian Christians slam US call on Jerusalem as Israeli
Middle East Monitor | – – Palestinian Christian religious leaders have decried US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as an “insult” to Muslims and Christians around the world. “We, Palestinians, Christians and Muslims reject the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna said at a press […]
Was Jesus a DACA Dreamer and Should he have been Deported/ Crucified?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – When the Roman Empire took Judea in 63 BCE, it ruled through vassals. It lost Palestine briefly to the Iranians, but then came back and from 37 BCE ruled through a vassal king, Herod. Jesus of Nazareth, according to the Gospels, was a displaced person. In […]
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