In Italy they placed boxes over classic nude sculptures so as to not offend Rouhani. The human body being the filth that it is, and all. And in France no dinner is served. Dinner in France means wine and Rouhani must not be seen near alcohol. Hence, no dinner, no drunken Rouhani, no nudity, scandal, dog and cats sleeping together, etc, etc. Welcome to the West, President Rouhani, I hope you're not terribly offended. Or it is your priests you fear?
I don't want to complain, just point out Trump coverage is all over everywhere as it is. Speaking only for myself, Middle East issues is why I come here.
Amazing how McCain and Graham both seemed to have forgotten all about IED's, Green-on-green attacks, suicide bombers, etc. Just send 20,000 troops and a few thousand body bags. That worked so well last time.
Dear Professor: I was hoping to see some reaction to the Sunday Morning news of the Wise Heads of the GOP, McCain and Graham's great plan to conquer ISIS-as they insist on calling the Daesh. It's a great plan of easy No-Fly Zones, combined with Safe Havens, and is a guaranteed winner with Arab armies from all over the region flocking to our Banner and doing almost all of the fighting for us.
I can't imagine why no one has thought of this up to now.
I am ever so grateful it is not my job to sit down with the biggest asshole in the world who has come demanding even more billions than usual. If it was me, his airplane would be diverted to anywhere but here.
Shiites won't take on the fight, Sunnis won't take on the fight, both would prefer the US fights and dies for them, so they turn to Putin who doesn't mind at all.
Was it Jindal who pointed out had the USA destroyed the Assad regime, that now the Daesh would fully control Damascus? That may have been the only sane point in the entire theater of the absurd.
This WH house has been quite good at refusing the quagmire expected of it by various ME "allies". And has been equally good at waiting out other powers to take on their own decisions including their own use of force against the Daesh.
Not our fight. Since the neighbors in the region have priorities greater than Daesh, so do we. Iraq is not about to change, solidify, and destroy the Daesh. The government seems perfectly willing to cede territory, rather than take the necessary steps. That's their problem.
Get that man on the RNC debate stage. Each one of them, please. Trump exemplifies the greater GOP/Con message perfectly: We don't need no steenken facts.
The only problem I have with Sanders is his Israel First belief. His solution is the same as everyone else's: Hand money to Israel while holding one's nose.
Not under Pres. Obama. And, as for after, US Democrats have a mission to inform each and every American voter of the costs of electing war hawk Republicans. Maybe this time, they will actually do it.
The US can do nothing. We are paralyzed by the Right Wing extremists. Only at the UN can sanity prevail. End the automatic Security Council veto the US uses to protect Israeli crimes against humanity.
For those reasons, and to continue inflicting as much damage as possible on the Obama WH, and topped off with the strong hatred within the TeaGop Party of all Muslims, Congressional Republicans are sure to do everything possible to burn the agreement.
Roughly, the one and only thing President Obama is doing right is not getting our soldiers killed. That is a good thing.
As for the rest, I'm getting the impression Obama is pushing buttons with no labels. He carefully selects a new button to try when the previous button failed to achieve sufficient success. Once in a while a good button is pushed.
Every single one of our "Boots on the Ground" contingent should be soundly slapped on a daily basis. And the same thing should be strongly considered for our "Helmets in the air" proponents real soon.
What would it take? Plainly, intervention by an advanced and benevolent alien species. Nothing short of that would release Congress from their Israel idolization.
A couple months ago I was under the impression Iraqi Shia would re-form their militias, replace the function of the hollow Army, and take the fight to the IS. It isn't happening. They seem to all be waiting for the US to come back, spill blood, deposit cash. Fortunately, our President is just not that stupid.
Has the real reason behind this Gaza Massacre even been mentioned anywhere? It's simple. A peaceful Two State solution was coming too close. The ultra-hardline coalition held together by Netanyahu saw this, and it had to be stopped. The unification of two Palestinian parties threatened Israel on one hand with a Palestine ready to negotiate in full, and on the other, to seek UN relief. Well, this massacre and casting all the blame on Hamas has scuttled that very nicely.
Misinformed, yet broad based US public support for Israel, is combined with varying degrees of ignorance and contempt for all Arabs and Muslims, is firmly cemented in place in the USA. What remains, then, is for the pro-Israeli aggression side to stamp out and drown out any and all evidence of their wrongdoings. Too much video is out showing scores of children killed by Israeli guns. To combat this problem, they use a non-stop campaign of round the clock propaganda intended to sooth whatever guilty conscience remains in the backs of our minds. And it's working.
Kerry's "discussions" with the Netanyahu bunch on Gaza were certainly improbable, as were Kerry's attempted settlement to begin with. My poor theory is Obama wants actors in any particular region to step up first, prior to the USA jumping in. The problem is I don't see this working anywhere but the Korean Peninsula. I support him on this anyway.
The US has never held a plan to manufacture peace in the ME one one hand, and support anything Israel does on the other. And, of course, the Bush invasions made everything that much worse. Obama's doctrine has been to attempt the possible and discuss the improbable. But, his hands are tied by our Israel First commitment. All while militants grow stronger, US support weakens, and American politics are at rock bottom. Nothing portends particularly well.
So, IS at least gives a warning. Making them just fractionally less murderous than Boko Haram, for example. Both of which need to be ground to the pages of history.
Iraqi Shiites seem to be taking their time, almost as if they are waiting for a Superpower to arrive and fight and die for them. Paging all Superpowers, please pick up the tan colored phone...
Very informative. I would have liked to see some explanation included as to who and why the Kurds were also attacked. Does the ISIS really want two fights? the Kurds are not the Iraqi Army. The Kurds are not going to drop their weapons and run.
Is the resignation of 44 and the gun battle for the one as big as it seems on the outside? Is this really the beginning of the end? Are there elections coming up? will that be the acid test? If the Sunni population refuses to participate, will civil war be inevitable? What will we do when Iran and the Saudis intervene? 2014 could be another Iraqi disaster.
Genocide is not the correct term and should not be used even in this case. Genocide was not the goal and was not practiced. Using the term this way diminishes the true definition of a practice that should, in these times, cause an uproar all over the planet no matter who the perpetrator.
When the clear majority of Americans oppose it, and no US interests are in harm's way, does a president have the moral authority to wage warfare in our name anyway? I say he does not. Not this one, not his predecessor.
These top 10 lists are becoming really annoying. Where, instead, is an informed comment regarding the recent speech coming our of Iran denouncing Israel, and so on? That is what I would prefer to read here.
I wonder how far Assad will go risking a flattening from the Israeli air force? Like Lincoln, Assad's hands are quite to full with his civil war to gain a new, more powerful foe.
I thnk it is glaringly apparent Morsi is nothing of the moderate we were hoping for. Hey may very well turn into a religious extremist Assad. Just a few weeks ago Morsi was praising a cleric calling for the death of Jews. I brought it up here, but was ignored. And US financial aid should stop immediately.
Yesterday on local music radio, the on-air "Personalities" howled and pilloried Oliver Stone over his recent comments on how many Russians died in WW2 compared to jews, and his stated suspicions the American press is heavily influenced, possibly controlled, by a determined pro-Insraeli lobby. Never the brightest of folks, these radio people serve as great indicators of how untouchable all things Israeli and jewish are in this nation. No criticism, no suspicion, no questions allowed.
I wouldn't call US Navy ships in the Black Sea being cautious.
My questions exactly.
I suspect bribes were paid, promises made, to Iraqi officials.
It is sure a stick in our US eye.
To begin with, why do the Russians have permission to overfly Iraq?
I agree with you. And better you wrote it, too.
Looks like a dependably Red State (Republican) voting map to me.
If Bernie Sanders was just a little less socialist, I would support him and drop Hillary Clinton like a soiled diaper.
Easy. Just like usual, we will burn the village to save it.
Thanks for that depressing analysis.
Did not the campaigns to re-take Tikrit and Ramadi leave both places in ruins? Do the locals support this over Daesh control?
To begin with, looking at this as a boxing match as in "who won, who lost" is a remarkably stupid way to learn about presidential candidates.
In Italy they placed boxes over classic nude sculptures so as to not offend Rouhani. The human body being the filth that it is, and all. And in France no dinner is served. Dinner in France means wine and Rouhani must not be seen near alcohol. Hence, no dinner, no drunken Rouhani, no nudity, scandal, dog and cats sleeping together, etc, etc. Welcome to the West, President Rouhani, I hope you're not terribly offended. Or it is your priests you fear?
Of course we don't really know if Cruz is a misinformed bigot, or is simply pandering to the fears and bigotry present in his base of support.
I don't want to complain, just point out Trump coverage is all over everywhere as it is. Speaking only for myself, Middle East issues is why I come here.
Amazing how McCain and Graham both seemed to have forgotten all about IED's, Green-on-green attacks, suicide bombers, etc. Just send 20,000 troops and a few thousand body bags. That worked so well last time.
Dear Professor: I was hoping to see some reaction to the Sunday Morning news of the Wise Heads of the GOP, McCain and Graham's great plan to conquer ISIS-as they insist on calling the Daesh. It's a great plan of easy No-Fly Zones, combined with Safe Havens, and is a guaranteed winner with Arab armies from all over the region flocking to our Banner and doing almost all of the fighting for us.
I can't imagine why no one has thought of this up to now.
And just Sunday I cringed when the KSA was referred to a being a "moderate" Arab nation.
How many billions? This may rank among the most costly debacles in human history. And its not over yet.
I am ever so grateful it is not my job to sit down with the biggest asshole in the world who has come demanding even more billions than usual. If it was me, his airplane would be diverted to anywhere but here.
Shiites won't take on the fight, Sunnis won't take on the fight, both would prefer the US fights and dies for them, so they turn to Putin who doesn't mind at all.
Was it Jindal who pointed out had the USA destroyed the Assad regime, that now the Daesh would fully control Damascus? That may have been the only sane point in the entire theater of the absurd.
Expect no comment or expression of support for this latest example of ethnic cleansing from any presidential candidate in the US.
The Repubs will go nuts demanding our soldiers must die too, and in greater numbers than the Russians.
A very intelligent and thoughtful young lady running the risk of Likud ire and retribution aimed at her career. Good luck, Natalie.
For the time being, I am of the opinion Trump is the best thing the Dems have going in the 2016 Prez race.
You dare insult Klingons like that! Kaplah!
I cannot imagine reasons why the Obama WH is not becoming much more deeply involved than it already is in this little Syrian paradise.
And I fully support all the Repubs demanding swift, decisive US ground action right now. Just as long as it is they and theirs who do so.
This WH house has been quite good at refusing the quagmire expected of it by various ME "allies". And has been equally good at waiting out other powers to take on their own decisions including their own use of force against the Daesh.
Equals sound US decision making.
What universe is this?
Not our fight. Since the neighbors in the region have priorities greater than Daesh, so do we. Iraq is not about to change, solidify, and destroy the Daesh. The government seems perfectly willing to cede territory, rather than take the necessary steps. That's their problem.
Get that man on the RNC debate stage. Each one of them, please. Trump exemplifies the greater GOP/Con message perfectly: We don't need no steenken facts.
I hope Trump goes far into the Primary process. Real far. His landslide defeat would win the Senate for Dems, maybe even the House.
"Court Jews" Now there's a new one by me. Have to give them credit for imagination. Much better to invent a Straw Man rather than deal in honesty.
If a Bush was President, US troops would have a new security job guarding the Eastern Province.
The only problem I have with Sanders is his Israel First belief. His solution is the same as everyone else's: Hand money to Israel while holding one's nose.
The NY Times on Iraq War II is little different from the NY Post. Or, Washington Times. Zero credibility.
Just don't shoot down another airliner.
If there was a "moderate Republican" she could be one.
I cannot believe some people are howling mad over the policies and tactics the WH is using there. It sounds perfect to me.
Not under Pres. Obama. And, as for after, US Democrats have a mission to inform each and every American voter of the costs of electing war hawk Republicans. Maybe this time, they will actually do it.
The US can do nothing. We are paralyzed by the Right Wing extremists. Only at the UN can sanity prevail. End the automatic Security Council veto the US uses to protect Israeli crimes against humanity.
and yet there seems to be an endless supply of Daesh volunteers just asking to be killed in battle.
Let the facts come out, as any lawyer would say.
I have the strangest feeling Sen. Lindsay Graham won't be reading this one.
Why do religious people have to cause so much goddamn trouble?
For those reasons, and to continue inflicting as much damage as possible on the Obama WH, and topped off with the strong hatred within the TeaGop Party of all Muslims, Congressional Republicans are sure to do everything possible to burn the agreement.
Roughly, the one and only thing President Obama is doing right is not getting our soldiers killed. That is a good thing.
As for the rest, I'm getting the impression Obama is pushing buttons with no labels. He carefully selects a new button to try when the previous button failed to achieve sufficient success. Once in a while a good button is pushed.
Good post.
I find it hard to believe they don't have weapons. Are they really eager to do battle? Are they waiting for anything?
Every single one of our "Boots on the Ground" contingent should be soundly slapped on a daily basis. And the same thing should be strongly considered for our "Helmets in the air" proponents real soon.
What would it take? Plainly, intervention by an advanced and benevolent alien species. Nothing short of that would release Congress from their Israel idolization.
ISIL fighters were forced to flea? Sounds disgusting. I hope they also fled. This is good news. Hope against reprisals.
Virtually forcing Iraqis to step up and fight their own fight. And it is beginning to work too. This is bordering on brilliant, Mr. President.
A couple months ago I was under the impression Iraqi Shia would re-form their militias, replace the function of the hollow Army, and take the fight to the IS. It isn't happening. They seem to all be waiting for the US to come back, spill blood, deposit cash. Fortunately, our President is just not that stupid.
Has the real reason behind this Gaza Massacre even been mentioned anywhere? It's simple. A peaceful Two State solution was coming too close. The ultra-hardline coalition held together by Netanyahu saw this, and it had to be stopped. The unification of two Palestinian parties threatened Israel on one hand with a Palestine ready to negotiate in full, and on the other, to seek UN relief. Well, this massacre and casting all the blame on Hamas has scuttled that very nicely.
Misinformed, yet broad based US public support for Israel, is combined with varying degrees of ignorance and contempt for all Arabs and Muslims, is firmly cemented in place in the USA. What remains, then, is for the pro-Israeli aggression side to stamp out and drown out any and all evidence of their wrongdoings. Too much video is out showing scores of children killed by Israeli guns. To combat this problem, they use a non-stop campaign of round the clock propaganda intended to sooth whatever guilty conscience remains in the backs of our minds. And it's working.
Kerry's "discussions" with the Netanyahu bunch on Gaza were certainly improbable, as were Kerry's attempted settlement to begin with. My poor theory is Obama wants actors in any particular region to step up first, prior to the USA jumping in. The problem is I don't see this working anywhere but the Korean Peninsula. I support him on this anyway.
The US has never held a plan to manufacture peace in the ME one one hand, and support anything Israel does on the other. And, of course, the Bush invasions made everything that much worse. Obama's doctrine has been to attempt the possible and discuss the improbable. But, his hands are tied by our Israel First commitment. All while militants grow stronger, US support weakens, and American politics are at rock bottom. Nothing portends particularly well.
So, IS at least gives a warning. Making them just fractionally less murderous than Boko Haram, for example. Both of which need to be ground to the pages of history.
Our MSM has forgiven itself for their war cheering, and would prefer we all just forget all about it. As I'm sure you already know.
Iraqi Shiites seem to be taking their time, almost as if they are waiting for a Superpower to arrive and fight and die for them. Paging all Superpowers, please pick up the tan colored phone...
A Kurdistan and a Palestine would certainly settle a lot.
Very informative. I would have liked to see some explanation included as to who and why the Kurds were also attacked. Does the ISIS really want two fights? the Kurds are not the Iraqi Army. The Kurds are not going to drop their weapons and run.
I'm hoping for so much more than another detente. Iran should be and could be an ally. We have a lot to offer one another.
Still wondering if Prof. Cole will cover the Sudanese woman sentenced to death, preceded by 1000 lashes.
And then the Rummy's and Cheney's don't even appreciate the fact Obama let them all off the hook. They really are something.
Nicely said. It's a tough sell. And the more deeply religious a country is, the tougher to sell mutual respect based governance.
What are the chances al-Maliki is likely to allow an election to remove him from power?
Is the resignation of 44 and the gun battle for the one as big as it seems on the outside? Is this really the beginning of the end? Are there elections coming up? will that be the acid test? If the Sunni population refuses to participate, will civil war be inevitable? What will we do when Iran and the Saudis intervene? 2014 could be another Iraqi disaster.
"Aid" is a funny word for a bribe.
and not a word of this from our great Media.
Those dead Iraqis, especially the children, are proof of where "Exceptionalism" leads.
That is no nit to pick. Diminishing the true meaning of genocide is very wrong. See my post from earlier this morning.
Genocide is not the correct term and should not be used even in this case. Genocide was not the goal and was not practiced. Using the term this way diminishes the true definition of a practice that should, in these times, cause an uproar all over the planet no matter who the perpetrator.
When the clear majority of Americans oppose it, and no US interests are in harm's way, does a president have the moral authority to wage warfare in our name anyway? I say he does not. Not this one, not his predecessor.
These top 10 lists are becoming really annoying. Where, instead, is an informed comment regarding the recent speech coming our of Iran denouncing Israel, and so on? That is what I would prefer to read here.
I wonder how far Assad will go risking a flattening from the Israeli air force? Like Lincoln, Assad's hands are quite to full with his civil war to gain a new, more powerful foe.
I thnk it is glaringly apparent Morsi is nothing of the moderate we were hoping for. Hey may very well turn into a religious extremist Assad. Just a few weeks ago Morsi was praising a cleric calling for the death of Jews. I brought it up here, but was ignored. And US financial aid should stop immediately.
Always did like Tom Ricks.
I would also like to know how so many rockets and launchers came to be inside Gaza and exactly which factions are doing the shooting.
I would like comment on Morsi and the cleric calling for an end to Israelis.
This blog used to be about the Middle East. What happened?
The US Media won't touch this one.
Yesterday on local music radio, the on-air "Personalities" howled and pilloried Oliver Stone over his recent comments on how many Russians died in WW2 compared to jews, and his stated suspicions the American press is heavily influenced, possibly controlled, by a determined pro-Insraeli lobby. Never the brightest of folks, these radio people serve as great indicators of how untouchable all things Israeli and jewish are in this nation. No criticism, no suspicion, no questions allowed.