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 […]
How Trump could avoid another $7 trillion bill in Mideast: Back off war with Iran
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Donald Trump, having backed the losing (and objectionable) candidate in Alabama’s senate race, suddenly wants to cooperate with Democrats on infrastructure spending. At some point, and for the good of the country, I predict we will start working with the Democrats in a Bipartisan fashion. Infrastructure […]
Nations of World at UN Humiliate Trump w/ Massive vote for Palestinians
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Arab and Muslim worlds exulted Thursday over their massive victory at the United Nations General Assembly, which passed a resolution condemning the Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Despite his crude threats to cut off US aid to countries who bucked […]
Trump’s Pentagon Admits to ‘Multiple Ground Missions’ in Yemen
TeleSur | – – The U.S. Defense Department claimed the ISIS presence has doubled in Yemen. For the first time, U.S. Pentagon has admitted to carrying out “multiple ground missions” in Yemen. “U.S. forces have conducted multiple ground operations and more than 120 strikes in 2017,” U.S. Central Command, Centcom, in Tampa, Florida, said in […]
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