Uncategorized

10. “Tropical Depression Stirs Concern.” 9. ” Financial reform package wouldn’t change Wall Street much.” 8. ” In Afghanistan, Petraeus will have difficulty replicating his Iraq success.” 7. BP Stock Reaches all-time Low.” 6. Palin’s Legal Defense Fund was illegal.” 5. Nine in Ten Americans Eat Too Much Salt. 4. Jindal Vetoes bill to Open […]

Environment

Hurricanes could Threaten BP Ships, Relief Well Operations

Juan Cole

Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico could force oil recovery ships to seek a safe harbor for as much as two weeks starting early July. since the upward estimate for oil flow from the BP site is 60,000 barrels a day, wouldn’t that mean an unimpeded volcano of petroleum spewing for the subsequent two weeks? […]

Environment

Aerial footage of tar on Pensacola Beach

Juan Cole

Aerial footage of tar on Pensacola Beach from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.

Environment

Bhopal Victims Protest, Draw Contrast with US Treatment of BP

Juan Cole

T.L. Caswell on how Union Carbide’s negligence in the Bhopal chemical leak near Agra in the 1980s was punished late and lightly, whereas BP was forced by the US to establish a $20 billion payout fund right away. Aljazeera English reports on the ongoing Bhopal protests by victim families, and their new resentments about how […]

Uncategorized

US Strike Kills Civilians in Khost,
Bombings Rock Helmand Capital
UN: Roadside Bombings Double

Juan Cole

Things are not going well for the Obama administration in Afghanistan, and the only good news for the White House is that almost no one in the United States seems to be paying attention. Supposedly precision strikes by the US air force against the militant Haqqani Network in Khost province in the south of the […]

Iraq

Twin Oil Disasters: BP and Iraq
Bloody Friday in Iraq Leaves 27 Dead, over 80 Wounded

Juan Cole

The wave of violence in Iraq on Friday, wherein guerrillas killed at least 27 and wounded dozens, underlined how fragile the country still is. In many ways, American Iraq resembles BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil gusher. In the cases both of Iraq and of Deepwater Horizon, oil men were trying to get a big reserves […]

Israel/ Palestine

Limited Israeli Easing of Gaza Blockade Greeted with Dismay

Juan Cole

Despite the breathless flurry of approving statements provoked by the English-language pledge issued by the prime minister of Israel, Binyamin Netanyahu that the blockade of Gaza would be ‘eased,’ in fact , Haaretz reports, the Hebrew text of the communique does not indicate that the cabinet made any such decision, and there has been no […]

Turkey

Turkey Shelves Israeli Cooperation,
Considers breaking off Ties;
Israel Lobbies in Congress denounce Ankara

Juan Cole

Members of the US Congress attacked Turkey on Wednesday for voting against the UN Security Council resolution imposing further sanctions on Iran, and for its heavy criticism of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) said, “There will be a cost if Turkey stays on its present heading of growing closer to Iran […]

Energy

Obama Launches Green Equivalent of Moon Mission

Juan Cole

President Obama for the first time addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Tuesday evening, on the Gulf of Mexico oil volcano. The address came as scientists revised upward their estimate of how much petroleum is daily gushing into the Gulf, deciding it is between 35,000 and 60,000. Only 18,000 barrels a day is […]