Arab World

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – As US commanders begin confessing that it is likely that the US military bears responsibility for last Thursday’s errant airstrike that killed as many as 200-300 innocent civilians, America’s Iraqi partner Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi disagreed, lashing out at critics. Al-Abadi, from the fundamentalist Shiite Da’wa […]

Arab Spring

The Arab Spring and the Western Winter

contributors

Ishac Diwan | (Project Syndicate) | – – BEIRUT – There are many striking parallels between the “Arab Spring” that began in 2010 and the United Kingdom’s Brexit referendum, the election of US President Donald Trump, and the far-right resurgence across Europe. In each case, an old order fell, and progressive parties have been too […]

Houthi

As 100,000 Rally in Yemen, Houthis Defy Trump, Saudis

contributors

TeleSur | – – According to Yemen’s Legal Center of Rights and Development, the conflict has thus far killed over 12,040 Yemenis and left more than 20,000 others wounded. The leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badreddin Houthi, said in a speech marking the two-year anniversary of the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led bombing campaign in the […]

Iraq

Mosul: ISIL Scorched Earth Tactics put Civilians in Crossfire

contributors

Special Correspondent* | Niqash.org | Baghdad | – – Mosul Locals Explain Extremists’ Desperate Tactics Mosul locals, some of whom have escaped the extremists and some who are still under their control, describe the Islamic State group’s desperate tactics. They will fight to the death, trapped locals warn. A month has passed since Iraqi pro-government […]

Displaced and Refugees

After Trump Massacres in Mosul, Campaign against ISIL Halted

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Candidate Donald Trump called last year for carpet-bombing of Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) in Iraq and Syria. It is possible that Trump has loosened the rules of engagement for the US Air Force, which is providing air support to the Iraqi Army. Looser rules could well be […]

Displaced and Refugees

Top 5 Lessons Saudi should learn from its Failed Yemen War

contributors

By Mohammed Nuruzzaman | (Informed Comment) | – – Top 5 Lessons Saudi Arabia Learns from the Yemen War Saudi Arabia’s Yemen war has reached a dead end. Launched in late March 2015 to restore President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power, either by subduing or by eliminating the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies, […]

Iraq

Did Trump loosen Rules? Charges that US Airstrikes Kill 230 Iraqi Civilians in Mosul

contributors

TeleSur | – – “Finding survivors is very difficult because the area is completely destroyed,” an authority told reporters. “It’s a very big disaster, indeed we can describe it as a disaster.” Dozens of residents were buried in collapsed buildings in the Iraqi city of Mosul after a U.S. airstrike Wednesday as rescuers tried to […]

Human Rights Watch

Iraq: ISIS Dumped Hundreds in Mass Grave

contributors

Via Human Rights Watch | – – Security Forces, Prisoners, Women, Among Those Executed (Erbil) – The Islamic State (also known as ISIS) executed and dumped the bodies of possibly hundreds of detainees at a site near Mosul, Human Rights Watch said today. Multiple witnesses told Human Rights Watch that the bodies of those killed, […]

Asia

Isolated Saudi Arabia pivots to Asia; but will it spread Extremism There?

contributors

By Babak Mohammadzadeh | (The Conversation) | – – Capital cities across Asia spent the last month rolling out the red carpet for a rarely seen visitor: Saudi Arabia’s ageing King Salman, accompanied by a hundreds-strong diplomatic entourage including senior princes, businessmen and ministers. Taking in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, China and the Maldives, the […]