By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | — There was a rash of Confederate flag removals on Wednesday. The governor of Alabama had it removed from the statehouse. The governor of Virginia recalled vanity plates with the flag on them. Some Mississippi legislators proposed removing it from the state flag. Amazon, E-Bay and other retailers […]
Archives for June 2015
Will Iraq Be Libya? Can the Shiite Militiamen Avoid Turning on Each Other?
Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) – – Iraq’s Shiite militias have been celebrated and criticised. Now, as differences in everything from weapons to leadership to loyalties become evident, tensions between the militias are rising. Last Saturday was the anniversary of senior Iraqi spiritual leader, Ali al-Sistani’s call to arms. The cleric, who is seen […]
Palestinian Member of Israeli Parliament will join Gaza Aid Flotilla, Risks loss of Immunity
Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Arab MK [Member of Knesset or Parliament] Basel Ghattas said this week that threats by fellow Israeli lawmakers to remove his parliamentary immunity will not affect his decision to take part in the Freedom Flotilla III. The Israeli Knesset Committee reportedly voted in favor Tuesday of […]
As 700 Die in Pakistan from Extreme Heat, Pakistanis Deny Climate Change
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Pakistan is in the midst of an extreme heat wave with highs around 110 degrees F., which has killed 700 persons in the past 3 days. Three weeks ago it was India’s turn, when extreme heat killed 1200 in the country’s south. Despite the severe dangers […]
Is the Confederate flag unconstitutional?
By Alfred L Brophy | (The Conversation) | – The tragedy in Charleston has revived the movement to take the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina statehouse grounds. On Monday June 22 – five days after the shooting in the AME Emanuel Church – South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called a press conference to […]
Dear GOP: Play the Angry White Man card Enough & you might attract Racist Donors
Cenk Uygur | (The Young Turks Video) | – – “The leader of a rightwing group that Dylann Roof allegedly credits with helping to radicalise him against black people before the Charleston church massacre has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republicans such as presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Rick Santorum. Earl […]
The Would-be Bush Trifecta, Brought to you by the Family Bankers
By Nomi Prins | (Tomdispatch.com) | – – [This piece has been adapted and updated by Nomi Prins from her book All the Presidents’ Bankers: The Hidden Alliances That Drive American Power, recently out in paperback (Nation Books).] It’s happening. As expected, dynastic politics is prevailing in campaign 2016. After a tease about as long as Hillary’s, Jeb […]
Iranians pin Hopes on success of Kerry-Zarif Nuclear Negotiations
By William O. Beeman | (Informed Comment) | – – I have just returned from a three-week trip in Iran in which I interviewed hundreds of Iranian citizens. I think many know that I speak fluent, unaccented Persian, so I am able to talk with Iranians of all ages, ethnicities, education and income levels quite […]
What South Carolina needs to do for Racial equality (taking down the flag is just symbolic)
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – – Governor Nikki Haley announced on Monday that she would attempt to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the statehouse, recognizing the pain it causes the one-third of the state who are African-Americans (about a quarter of whites also don’t care if it is up or […]
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