Arab World

Special Correspondent | Mosul | (Niqash.org) | – – In Mosul, the Islamic State is preparing for a siege, building walls, tunnels and trenches and boasting that, like the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century, they will be able to withstand any attacks. Locals doubt it. In Mosul, members of the extremist group that control […]

Arab World

The Challenge for the Arab World of tackling Gender-based Violence

contributors

By Lina Abirafeh | (The Conversation) | – – It should now be beyond dispute that gender-based violence is a critical human rights issue – possibly the most important human rights challenge of our time. There is a great deal of research and action on this issue, and also a great deal of terminology that […]

Development

Can Saudi Arabia Survive its Economic ‘Shock Therapy’?

contributors

By Nasser Saidi | (Project Syndicate) | – – BEIRUT – Saudi Arabia has long relied on oil to fuel its economic growth and development. Last year, oil accounted for about three-quarters of the Kingdom’s total export revenues and around 90% of government revenue. But the recent collapse in oil prices highlighted what should long […]

Bush

Iraq: Bush DoD paid PR Firm millions to Plant fake I.S. Videos, False Stories

contributors

By Crofton Black and Abigail Fielding-Smith | ( The Bureau of Investigative Journalism ) | – – The Pentagon gave a controversial UK PR firm over half a billion dollars to run a top secret propaganda programme in Iraq, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism can reveal. Bell Pottinger’s output included short TV segments made in […]

Featured

Syria Quagmire: Has Russia Accomplished anything in a year of Bombing?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Alarabiya says that Russia has killed over 3,000 civilians in its bombing raids of the past year. BBC Monitoring translated an article by Mikhail Khodarenok at the Gazeta.ru site from 23 September that tries to explain why any decisive victory in Syria has eluded Russia during […]

Saudi Arabia

Saudi women demand full rights, end to guardianship system

contributors

By Sarah Aziza | ( Waging Nonviolence ) | – – In Saudi Arabia, a country many view as synonymous with gender discrimination, women are seeing signs of change. While a few top-down reforms have come in recent years — the right to vote in municipal elections, for example, was introduced by King Abdullah in […]

Featured

How the JASTA override on Saudi could Bite Americans in the Ass

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – President Obama vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, but Congress has for the first time in his presidency over-ridden his veto. This is a disastrous law with potentially ruinous effects on the US economy and US policy. Individual tort suits against other countries had […]

Syria

Syro-Russian Hospital Bombings in Aleppo “War Crimes,” worse than Slaughterhouse- Ban Ki-moon

contributors

By TeleSur | – – Western media reports that the airstrikes were conducted by Syrian or Russian aircraft as part of an offensive launched by President Bashar al-Assad. At least six people were killed in airstrikes on two hospitals in rebel-controlled [East] Aleppo, Reuters reported Wednesday, and the World Health Organization confirmed that both Syrian […]

Featured

The Presidential Debate that did not really Happen

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Regular readers will know that in my view the 2016 presidential election did not happen. Likewise, the first debate between the two candidates did not take place. There was no debate as the word is usually understood, where the two take turns setting out policy positions. […]