Russia

From Kristallnacht to the Berlin Wall: The Tragedies and Triumphs of Nov. 9 remind us of the Dangers of Racism and the Beacon of Liberty

Philadelphia, Pa. (Special to Informed Comment) – November 9 is momentous. We move forward with new hope. However, we must not forget to be humble and compassionate, to remember that of which people are capable, both the evil and the triumphant. On November 9 and 10, 1938 (called Kristallnacht), mobs rampaged through Germany, smashing windows, […]

al-Qaeda

Trump’s Falsehoods about Election Fraud give Aid and Comfort to Russia, ISIL Extremists

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump’s meltdown on Thursday evening in which he alleged a vast Democratic conspiracy to stuff ballot boxes and steal an election he believed himself to have won, along with the gun-toting, menacing MAGA crowds gathering outside vote-counting facilities, have embarrassed America before the world. Worse, they have given hope to […]

Authoritarianism

Trump’s ideal Strong man, Putin, orders Nationwide Mask Mandate, as US Flounders under weak Leadership

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump is well known for fawning all over Vladimir Putin, Russia’s autocrat who styles himself “president” from victories in phony elections. Back when he was campaigning the first time, Trump said of Mr. Putin, “I’ve already said he is very much of a leader. The man has very strong control […]

China

Has Russian media turned on its golden boy Trump, joining with China and Iran?

The Conversation

By Robert Hinck, Robert Utterback and Skye Cooley | – It can be easy to overlook how the rest of the world is making sense of America’s chaotic campaign season. But in many cases, they’re paying attention just as closely as U.S. voters are. After all, who wins the U.S. presidency has implications for countries […]

Donald Trump

With UN Embargo on Arms Sales to Iran Lapsing, Will Russia take on US to reap Bonanza?

Nikola Mikovic

Belgrade (Special to Informed Comment) – As of today, the 2007 UN Security Council embargo on conventional arms shipments to Iran expired. At least from the point of view of international law, Iran can now purchase powerful and advanced weapons such as the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system, or the Su-30 fighter jet. Still, although Iranian […]

Jabhat al-Nusra

Russia and Syria are committing War Crimes, Targeting Civilian Infrastructure

Human Rights Watch

Unlawful Attacks on Hospitals, Schools, Markets Forced Idlib Population Out

Donald Trump

Russia tells Trump to Jump in Lake, commits 80,000 Personnel to War drill alongside Iran, China

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – This week, Russia is deploying 80,000 personnel, including 12,000 troops, alongside 1,000 troops from friendly countries in its region, in its Caucasus 2020 (Kavkaz 2020) military drills. Its partners include Iran, China, Belarus, Armenia, Pakistan, and Myanmar. The choice of Iran was deliberate. The Trump administration has threatened the most […]

Featured

Russia defies US Sanctions, presses Syria on Long Term Trade, Investment deal for Energy

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Russia and Syria are preparing to enter into a wide-ranging trade and investment deal, according to RT Arabic. Sunday night, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov arrived in Damascus to meet with high Syrian officials. On Monday, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov arrived, meeting with Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad and his […]

China

Trump walks Alone: Former US Allies Britain, France, Germany join Russia and China in Forcefully Rejecting Trump Iran Sanctions

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – LeMonde reports that France, Germany and Britain have rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to reimpose UN Security Council sanctions on Iran that were revoked in early 2016 with the signing of the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA). Their joint statement said, “France, Germany and the […]