European Union

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – French President Francois Hollande met Thursday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow, in his marathon search for a “Grand and Unique Coalition” against Daesh (ISIL, ISIS) in Syria. One of the sticking points between France and the US on the one side and Russia […]

Bashar al-Assad

Can France forge a grand alliance against ISIL that includes Putin & Obama?

contributors

Shelby Holliday | (WSJ Video Report) | – – “In the wake of the Paris attacks, French President Francois Hollande is traveling to Washington and Moscow to build support for a new “grand coalition” to defeat Islamic State. As WSJ’s Shelby Holliday reports, disagreement over the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could stand in […]

Belgium

Paris Attackers: What radicalized one Brussels Neighborhood?

contributors

By Martin Conway | (The Conversation) | – – Just as during the German invasions of 1914 and 1940, war, it seems, is coming to France through Belgium. If one follows the logic of the statements of various French political leaders since the bloody attacks in Paris on November 13, Belgium has become the base […]

Displaced and Refugees

Dear GOP: France is still Taking in Syria Refugees so who is the Coward?

contributors

AJ+ | (Video report) | – – “While U.S. governors say no to refugees in response to the Paris attacks, France says it will take in 30,000 Syrians.” AJ+: “France Still Welcoming Syrian Refugees, Unlike Many U.S. Governors”

European Union

Can European Union, Russia & US team up to defeat ISIL?

contributors

By Georgi Gotev & Aline Robert | (EurActiv.com) | – – Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has teamed up with French President François Hollande in seeking a ‘rapprochement’ with Russia to fight [the so-called] Islamic State [group], described by both as the biggest threat to the EU. Jean-Claude Juncker [European Commission] Juncker spoke on Wednesday (18 […]

Israel/ Palestine

Arrest Warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu for War Crimes in Spain, South Africa

contributors

IMEMC | – – South Africa issued, on Tuesday, an arrest warrant against four Israeli officials over their role in deadly attacks on pro-Palestinian international activists. Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Against the Israeli occupation in Africa said, in a statement: “South Africa’s Directorate of the Priority Crimes Investigation Unit has issued warrants of arrest against […]

Barack Obama

A New Yalta? Can France Craft an alliance of Putin & Obama against Daesh/ISIL?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – French President Francois Hollande is seeking a new relationship with Russia after the attacks on Paris by Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) and the Russian conclusion that a bomb downed a Russian airliner in Egypt’s Sinai last month. Le Monde reports that France and Russia have agreed on […]

Israel/ Palestine

Swedish FM worries about Muslim & Palestinian Youth Despair, draws Israeli Rebuke

contributors

By IMEMC | – – Following the Paris attacks on Friday, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom made a connection between Islamic State extremism and the Israeli occupation, causing a feud between the two governments, that the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned its Swedish envoy on Monday. In an interview with a Swedish TV channel, following the […]

France

Paris attacks: how effective has the military response been?

contributors

By Scott Lucas | (The Conversation) | – – Even as Parisians were trying to assess the scale of the attacks by Islamic State (IS) which killed 132 people on November 13, politicians were promising a decisive and effective military response. French President Francois Hollande assured, “We will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic […]