Arab World

Euronews film clip: “Three explosions in Baghdad have killed dozens of people as they were leaving an election rally in the east of the capital. A roadside bomb blew up near the gate outside the meeting. Followed by a suicide car bomb after a few minutes. Then a third explosion. A Sunni jihadist group [the […]

Featured

Israel, US Complain about not being able to Divide and Rule the Palestinians

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) This week the Fateh Party (secular Arab nationalist) of Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas met in Gaza with members of the Hamas Party (fundamentalist Muslim), seeking a reconciliation and a government of national unity. The Ra’y News Service of Gaza wrote, “The Palestinian Government has welcomed the [reconciliation] delegation sent by President Mahmud […]

Environment

This Saudi prince is accused of killing 2,000 endangered birds while on safari in Pakistan

Juan Cole

Jeez. Happy Earth Day. A Saudi prince has been accused of killing 2,000 endangered birds during a safari in Pakistan earlier this year. More from GlobalPost: These cities are among the greenest in the world The birds, known as houbara bustards, are…

al Qaeda in the Arabian Penisula

A War of another Kind: Joint US-Yemeni Strikes on al-Qaeda kill 68

Juan Cole

(via AFP) Dozens killed as Yemen, US mount air war on Qaeda (via AFP) An “unprecedented” US and Yemeni aerial campaign in Yemen killed at least 68 Al-Qaeda militants in a bid to head off attacks by the network’s local affiliate, officials said Monday. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been linked to a […]

Afghanistan

How Torture became Normalized in America

Juan Cole

(By Rebecca Gordon) The US military involvement in Iraq has more or less ended, and the war in Afghanistan is limping to a conclusion. Yet leaks of Senate torture reports about actions in 2002 to 2006 are still breaking news. Don’t the problems of torture really belong to the bad old days of an earlier […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Rebel In-Fighting Endangers Syrian Civilians in their Territory

Juan Cole

(By Issam Abdel Hamid) Ordinary people say their lives are at risk due to disputes between rival rebel groups. Tensions between Syrian rebel forces stationed in civilian areas are causing problems for residents, who say they risk being caught in crossfire or regime strikes. People in towns and villages far from the front lines say […]

Israel/ Palestine

Palestinians consider handing ‘keys’ back to Israel, ending Charade of “Peace Process”

Juan Cole

(Via AFP) Palestinians mull handing territory ‘keys’ back to Israel (via AFP) Palestinian negotiators have warned they may pass responsiblity for their territory back to occupying power Israel if peace talks remain stalled, a senior Palestinian official said on Sunday. The official said the Palestinians told US peace envoy Martin… —– Related video: PressTV […]

Afghanistan

Obama and David Brooks’s Manhood Problem

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) David Brooks attacked President Obama on Sunday, saying: “Basically since Yalta we’ve had an assumption that borders are basically going to be borders, and once that comes into question, if in Ukraine or in Crimea or anywhere else, then all over the world … all bets are off . . .” … […]

Human Rights

Saudi Arabia arrests Thinker for Encouraging Dissent!

Juan Cole

(By Human Rights Watch) Saudi authorities have repeatedly harassed Abu al-Khair for his human rights work, and now they’ve suddenly jailed him without letting him notify his family. The authorities should free Abu al-Khair immediately and drop the charges against him. UPDATE: Samar Badawi, the wife of Waleed Abu al-Khair, said that authorities allowed him […]