By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The US is usually number 1 in the German research firm Gfk’s rankings, headed up by political consultant Simon Anholt. They ask some 22,000 people around the world to rank countries on six scales. This year it fell five full places to number 6. No such […]
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Featured
Pres. Aoun: Saudi Holding Hariri an Act of Aggression
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Beirut newspaper Al-Nahar [The Day] reports that President Michel Aoun of Lebanon said Wednesday, “Nothing justifies Prime minister Saad Hariri’s failure to return to Beirut after the passage of 12 days from his announcement of his resignation.” Aoun said he considered Hariri to have been […]
After Trump lets hundreds of ISIL Leave Raqqa, Turkey Enraged
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – On Tuesday, Turkey lambasted the US and its largely Kurdish allies in Syria, the YPG, for having made a deal that allowed 250 Daesh fighters and all their children and relatives to flee from Raqqa. Turkey’s prime minister Binali Yildirim said, “The YPG terrorists let Daesh […]
Protests as Trump promotes Coal at Climate Summit in Berlin
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Trump White House actually did a pro-coal exhibit at the Bonn climate summit in Germany, COP23. It did not go over well. Indeed, this sort of absurd stunt has the makings of a complete end to American leadership in the world. Mark Twain once observed […]
Former CIA Dir.: Trump is afraid of Putin Kompromat
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Two former intelligence officials on Sunday more or less said openly that Trump is compromised by Russia. Jake Tapper asked former CIA head John Brennan about Trump’s statement on Friday that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin when he said that Russia did not interfere in […]
Wind powered all of Scotland in October & other Renewable Success Stories
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Wind and solar keep falling in price– each fell 6% in 2016. That fall was not as big as the two previous years, but there is every reason to expect price drops much bigger in coming years, as new technology makes the move from basic science […]
Nasrullah: Saudi has declared war on Lebanon
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Al Jazeera Arabic reports that Hassan Nasrullah, the secretary-general of Hizbullah accused Saudi Arabia of declaring war on Lebanon and on his party. He repeated his charge that Riyadh has abducted Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri and has forced him to announce his resignation in a […]
Top 5 reasons Roy Moore could still Win, despite Sex Scandals
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for senate in Alabama, was rocked by scandal this week, as a woman accused him of initiating sexual contact with her when she was only 14. Moore was twice removed as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court for refusing to […]
Syria: If ISIL is dire threat, why isn’t its Defeat bigger News?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Syrian regime announced Wednesday that its army, supported by the Lebanese Shiite militia, Hizbullah and Iraqi Shiite militia, took control of the city of Al-Bu Kamal, the last base for ISIL on the Syrian-Iraqi border, after battles with the terrorist organization. At the same time, […]