The Los Angeles Times | (Video News Clip) | – – “White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, criticizing Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, misrepresented an April 2015 speech she made at the opening of a new FBI building in Miami. (Oct. 20, 2017)” “Frederica Wilson 2015 Video Shows John Kelly Got It Wrong | Los […]
George W. Bush & GOP lack standing to bash Trump for Racism
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – George W. Bush gave a speech on Thursday widely interpreted as an attack on Trump in which he deplored the rise of white nationalism and bigotry in the past year. “Bigotry,” he lamented, “seems emboldened.” George W. Bush may or may not personally be a nice […]
Why is Saudi Arabia suddenly so paranoid?
By James L. Gelvin | (The Conversation) | – – In the past, Saudi Arabia depended upon its enormous oil wealth and the United States for its security. It used the former to buy friends and pay off enemies and potential enemies. It used the latter to guarantee its survival. With a few exceptions, Saudi […]
Beyond the “Me Too” campaign: Sexual harassers and adult bullies
By Gail Ukockis | (Informed Comment) | – – His name was Jesse. I would have considered him to be handsome but for his dark eyes, which looked at me in a predatory manner. Dressed in his blue security guard uniform at the downtown Denver library, he looked official and authoritative. I was only sixteen, […]
Iran’s Khamenei: We’ll observe Deal if Europe does, despite “Charlatan,” Trump
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Iran’s clerical Leader, Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday that he did not intend to engage in a tit for tat with Donald Trump, who had attacked Iran in a speech last week. “Naturally, I do not want to spend time right now in replying to the […]
Burma: New Satellite Images Confirm Mass Destruction of Rohingya
Human Rights Watch | – – 288 Villages, Tens of Thousands of Structures Torched (New York) – Newly released satellite images reveal that at least 288 villages were partially or totally destroyed by fire in northern Rakhine State in Burma since August 25, 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. The destruction encompassed tens of thousands […]
ISIL was ended not by Trump or Obama but by Muslims
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Raqqa, the capital of the ISIL phony “caliphate” in eastern Syria, has completely fallen, according to a spokesman for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. It is just a matter of neutralizing a few remaining cells and defusing booby traps in the city. The SDF is primarily […]
Trump told widow of slain Sgt., he “knew what he was getting into”
CBS News | (Video Report) | – – “U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson said that she was in the car when President Trump called the widow of Army Sgt. La David T. Johnson, who was killed in Niger. Wilson said Trump said Johnson “knew what he was getting into. Wilson spoke to CBS Miami about the […]
No, It Wasn’t Iran: Top 7 Reasons Baghdad took Kirkuk
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Iraqi Army and its Shiite militia adjuncts have taken Kirkuk city and raised the Iraqi flag over the state house, taking down the Kurdistan flag. They also have an army base and oil fields in Kirkuk province, which they are returning to the control of […]








