Europe

TeleSur | – – The western military bloc has been increasing its presence and activity around Russian borders. Polish President Andrzej Duda welcomed on Friday the decision of NATO to station a U.S. battalion in Poland to bolster the eastern flank of the military alliance, increasing troop numbers by up to 4,000. “We are pleased […]

Bashar al-Assad

If East Aleppo Falls to Regime, is the Syrian War over?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Reuters is reporting that the Syrian Arab Army and its Shiite militia allies have taken Malah Farms to the northwest of the city and so have cut the last remaining road by which the rebel forces in East Aleppo were resupplied with armaments. (Reuters is too […]

Iraq War

Int’l Criminal Court Won’t Investigate Blair but Might Prosecute Soldiers

contributors

TeleSur | – – The Hague says it is not in its mandate to prosecue Blair, but may use the long-awaited Chilcot report to prosecute British soldiers for malfeasance. With the long-anticipated release of the Chilcot report later this week, the International Criminal Court Monday said that it will not investigate former UK Prime Minister […]

European Union

What the carnage at Istanbul’s Airport tells us about Europe

contributors

By Karabekir Akkoyunlu | ( OpenDemocracy) Once the external anchor of Turkey’s democracy, the EU‘s normative influence has sunk as low as its reputation among its many erstwhile supporters, who now feel betrayed and abandoned. Shortly after the attack on Istanbul’s Atatürk airport on Tuesday night, a Greek colleague posted on his Facebook wall a […]

Featured

Putin’s Winning Hand in Syria, as Turkey Apologizes and Obama Deals

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Vladimir Putin was the skunk at the party in the West after his annexation (or repossession, depending on how you look at it) of Crimea. Europe declared that borders cannot be changed by fiat or troops. The US pressed for heavy sanctions. The Russian intervention in […]

European Union

Will Brexit Help the Palestinian Cause in the EU?

contributors

By Ramzy Baroud | (Ma’an News Agency) | – – After months of anticipation, the United Kingdom has decided to leave the European Union (EU). Although, the results were fairly close — 51.9 percent voted to ‘Leave’ vs. 48.1 percent elected to ‘Remain’ — the consequences of the decision will be far-reaching. Not only will […]

Featured

The Greater Middle East Reacts to British Exit from EU

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The oil-rich Gulf Cooperation countries may see additional buying opportunities in the British market after Brexit. BBC Monitoring reports: “Political analyst for regional issues and Gulf Cooperation Council Hamad Ahmad Abdul Aziz al-Amer says in Saudi pro-government Ukaz that the Britain’s leaving the EU “might lead […]

Middle East

The Middle East Dimension of Brexit

contributors

Middle East Eye | (Video News Report) | Brexit will affect Syrian and other Refugees at Calais, intelligence sharing on ISIL, and Palestine-Israel diplomacy among other pressing issues. ” Middle East Eye: “90 Seconds: Impact of ‘Brexit’ on the Middle East and UK foreign policy”

European Union

Why did UK leaving European Union hit your Retirement Account so Hard?

contributors

By Andre Spicer | (The Conversation) | – – Despite reassurances that we shouldn’t listen to the experts, the financial markets have gone and behaved almost exactly as the experts predicted. Following the news that the UK will be leaving the EU, the pound has dropped to a level not seen since 1985. The FSTE […]