By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – President Trump along with allies British prime minister Theresa May and French president Emannuel Macron struck Syria on Friday evening. It was not a piece of military strategy designed to win any war aims. It will have no effect on the situation in Syria at all. […]
Russia, Iran and Syria respond to Trump’s Threats
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The UK-based Arabic language daily, al-Arabi al-Jadid (a secular, left-leaning newspaper helmed by Azmi Bishara from Qatar) reports on the responses of Syria and its allies to sabre-rattling from Trump and from the UK and France. A key advisor to Ali Khamenei, Iran’s clerical leader, is […]
Why Trump can’t reverse Syrian regime dirty win in Ghouta & why Iran is Gloating
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Trump administration and the May government in the UK seem poised to launch missile strikes on Syria in the near future. It probably won’t matter. The Syrian regime figures it can take the punishment, which is likely to consist of another set of one-off missile […]
Protests won’t stop Trump derailing Mueller Inquiry; Putting the Left in Congress Will
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The broad hints Trump gave Monday that the search of his personal attorney’s offices on a tip from Robert Mueller might lead him to fire deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has galvanized the American left, which is pledging massive public rallies in response. Public protests and […]
Will Trump divert attention from Cohen Raid by attacking Syria?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Matt Apuzzo of the New York Times reports that FBI agents produced a warrant at the offices in the Rockefeller Center of Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, that allowed them to gain access and to spend hours going through and confiscating documents and equipment. Trump lambasted […]
Peace in Islam: Qur’an 73:10 on Patience as Tolerance
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Chapter 73 of the Qur’an, “The Robed” (Al-Muzammil), contains what is probably the earliest Islamic injunction to turn the other cheek. 8 Remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him wholeheartedly– 9 the Lord of the East and the West. There is no god save He, so […]
Syrian Regime kills dozens in Chem attack on Douma Holdout Enclave: Why?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Saudi-backed fundamentalist militia “Army of Islam” in the Douma district of East Ghouta near Damascus alleged Sunday that the al-Assad regime had dropped a barrel bomb full of chlorine and other chemicals on the rebel enclave on Saturday. Initial reports said that some 41, including […]
Three Countries show how Near a 100% Green Grid is
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The aspiration for a 100% green electricity grid is no longer a dream. It is regularly being achieved in the real world for weeks or months on end. This development is absolutely crucial, since burning fossil fuels at the rate we are burning them is rapidly […]
Trump wants out of Syria within 6 months, Seeks Saudi Aid: AP
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – AP’s Josh Lederman reports that on Tuesday, Trump told national security aides meeting in the White House that his patience is running out with the Syria operation. “I want to get out. I want to bring our troops back home. I want to start rebuilding our […]
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