By Jeffrey H. Cohen | (The Conversation) | – – President Donald Trump wants to close the door on Syrian refugees, barring them indefinitely from settling in the U.S. In an executive order signed on Jan. 27, the president wrote: “I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to […]
Yemen withdraws blanket approval for US action after Trump’s botched Raid
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The the Arab press, reports that that government has withdrawn blanket permission from the Trump administration to conduct raids and drone strikes on al-Qaeda and other targets. It is sourcing one of the two Yemeni governments (that of Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi). Mansour Hadi’s diplomat expressed to […]
“This Land:” The pro-Immigrant Radicalism of Lady Gaga and Guthrie at Half-Time
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – By beginning with Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” and then switching to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is your Land,” Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta, 30) engaged in a subtle but very radical critique of the immigration and other policies of Donald J. Trump. Her switch at the […]
Yes, Trump, Some Americans also murder: Some are Your White Supremacists
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In an interview with Bill O’Reilly airing Sunday afternoon, O’Reilly observes of Russian President Vladimir Putin: “He’s a killer, though. Putin’s a killer.” TRUMP: “There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What, do you think our country’s so innocent?” As The […]
In Shocker, Federal Judge in Seattle Halts Trump Muslim Ban
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – When Trump issued his executive order halting immigration from seven countries, suspending the refugee program, and banning Syrian refugees indefinitely, I wrote that he might well get away with it, since the judiciary tends to defer to the executive on issues of national security and on […]
Trumpworld Fake News: Iran attacks US Navy, Iraqis Massacre Bowling Green
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – So I was watching Chris Matthews’ Hardball on MSNBC Thursday evening and Matthews had Kellyanne Conway on to defend Trump’s disastrous first two weeks. For some reason, Matthews declines to challenge her when she flat-out lies, although he is quick to get in the face of […]
Trump’s 5th Bankruptcy: Budget-Busting Trillions to US Department of War
By William D. Hartung | ( Tomdispatch.com ) | – – At over $600 billion a year and counting, the Pentagon already receives significantly more than its fair share of federal funds. If President Donald Trump has his way, though, that will prove a sum for pikers and misers. He and his team are now […]
Here we go Again: Trump Admin Threatens Iran
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – National Security Advisor Mike Flynn came out on Wednesday to make a brief statement putting Iran “on notice.” Flynn complained about Iran’s ballistic missile tests, about a Yemeni Houthi attack on a Saudi naval vessel in the Red Sea (maintaining that it was ‘Iran-backed’) and about […]
Trump Can’t Make America Great Again without Immigrants
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In 2016, the US birthrate fell to 59.6 births per 1,000 women, the lowest ever recorded. Birth rates rise and fall over time, so the rate may not stay stuck at that level. It seems clear, however, that white nationalists like Trump’s evil genius Steve Bannon […]