Uncategorized

Philip J. Cunningham writes in a guest column for IC When the Roman empire fell into decline, the people were treated to bread and circuses. With America’s might on the wane, it’s more like breadcrumbs and circus reruns. Just take a look at American news coverage these days; it’s rock around the clock infotainment. The […]

Egypt

Brotherhood, Army risk Civil War: 30 Dead, Hundreds Wounded

Juan Cole

Egypt veered sharply toward the looming specter of civil war on Friday, as the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood continued to call for resistance to the overthrow of Muhammad Morsi, who had been the elected head of state before the army deposed him on Wednesday. On Thursday, the military had arrested the Supreme Guide of […]

Government surveillance

Venezuela’s Maduro: Unlike US Asylees, Snowden didn’t Blow anything Up, just said ‘This is not Right’

Juan Cole

Globovision reports that President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela on Friday offered asylum to US leaker Edward Snowden, in order, he said, to protect him from “imperial North American persecution,” describing the US government as among the “most oppressive in the world.” He said he hoped Snowden would be able to live “quietly in the free […]

Egypt

Egypt’s “Revocouption” and the future of Democracy on the Nile

Juan Cole

The argument over whether what happened in Egypt on Wednesday, July 3, was a coup or a revolution is really an argument over the legitimacy of the actions taken. If it was a revolution, it was perhaps a manifestation of the popular will, and so would have a sort of Rousseauan legitimacy. If it was […]

Uncategorized

Snowden: US now using deprivation of Citizenship as a Weapon

Juan Cole

Edward Snowden released a statement from Moscow on Monday, slamming Barack Obama for revoking his passport and rendering him stateless and unable to seek asylum even though Snowden has not been found guilty of any crime. (The US denies that revoking a passport is the same as deprivation of citizenship, but in this case it […]

Uncategorized

Biggest Demonstrations in Egyptian History: Millions Demand President Morsi Step Down

Juan Cole

The Egyptian military estimated that “millions” of Egyptian demonstrated on Sunday to demand early presidential elections, only one year into the four-year term of President Muhammad Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. The nationwide rallies were, the military said, the largest in Egyptian history. The army estimated that 500,000 gathered at Maydan al-Tahrir in Cairo, and […]

al-Qaeda

Texas Near-Ban on Abortion foiled by People’s ‘Gallery Filibuster’

Juan Cole

This is the “gallery filibuster” — shouting by pro-choice advocates in the Senate halls after Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis’s filibuster was shut down– that so delayed the vote on a proposed law virtually banning abortion in Texas that it took place too late to be valid. Video of the ‘Gallery filibuster: After a marathon filibuster […]

Uncategorized

Arab Idol Winner performs “I want it that Way”

Juan Cole

The just-announced winner of Arab Idol 2013, Muhammad Assaf of Gaza, performs a cover of the Back Street Boys’ 1999 “I want it that Way.” The video is here: Assaf sings classical Arabic ballads in a soulful way that reminded listeners of the great Egyptian crooner of the 1950s and 1960s, Abdel Halim Hafez. Assaf’s […]

Uncategorized

So When will Dick Cheney be charged with Espionage? His Crime was the Same as Snowden’s

Juan Cole

The US government charged Edward Snowden with theft of government property and espionage on Friday. Snowden hasn’t to our knowledge committed treason in any ordinary sense of the term. He hasn’t handed over government secrets to a foreign government. His leaks are being considered a form of domestic spying. He is the 7th leaker to […]