By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Saudi Arabia’s execution on Saturday of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr Baqir al-Nimr has so far not created a crisis between Riyadh and the Shiite-dominated Baghdad government. But Saudi Arabia’s name with the rank and file Shiites and parliamentary backbenchers is mud. On Tuesday, thousands (or perhaps […]
Archives for January 2016
Do Drug Gangs in Mexico kill more than ISIL? & other Big Security threats that will Surprise You
By Natasha Ezrow | (The Conversation) | – – This has been a remarkably violent year – and many of the worst threats to human security that have dogged people all over the globe are no less a problem than they were a year ago. Here, in no particular order, are some of the biggest […]
White Oregon Terrorists mocked: YeeHaw-dists, Y’all-Qaeda
AJ+ | (Video Report) | – – “A group of armed men took over a building on federal land in remote western Oregon. They’ve been there for a few days without any police intervention. Meanwhile, Twitter is finding clever ways to call out some double standards in the media.” AJ+: “Oregon Armed Men Mocked As […]
Syrian Peace Groups: This is not a Civil War, it is a Set of Foreign Invasions
By Mairead Maguire | (Inter Press Service) |- – BELFAST (IPS) – In November 2015 I visited Syria together with an International Peace delegation. This was my third visit to Syria in the last three years. As on previous occasions I was moved by the spirit of resilience and courage of the people of Syria. […]
Vatican: Historic Accord with Palestine Takes Effect
By IMEMC | – – The Vatican’s first accord with the Palestinians — an agreement that Israel has attacked as counter-productive to the Middle East peace process — has come into force, the Holy See announced Saturday, according to Al Ray. The accord was signed in June, just over two years after the Roman Catholic […]
The Question isn’t of Saving the World via Renewables but of how Much can be Saved
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Humanity is not abandoning fossil fuels fast enough to avoid some massive changes to our world’s climate, with all the implications that change has for sea level, coastal erosion, extreme weather, and desertification and drought. There have been impressive advances in adoption of solar and wind […]
Saudi Arabia Executes Top Shia Cleric Nimr Al Nimr Under “Terrorism” Charges
By Amira Al Hussaini | ( GlobalVoices.org) Saudi Arabia announced today it had executed 47 people under “terrorism” charges, including top shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr who was seen as a leader in anti-government protests that took place in the Eastern province of the absolute monarchy at the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring. Saudi […]
Turkish Pres. Erdogan cites Hitler in case for Presidential System
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday cited Hitler in support of his contention that a presidential system can coexist with a “unitary state,” i.e., with a non-federal government. The United States has a presidential system, but the presidency’s powers are limited because it is a federal […]
In the past 12 months, Iraqis finally lost all Hope
By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – In 2015, every Iraqi – almost without exception – paid a price for events in their country. Some Iraqis lost their jobs, others lost loved ones. But the biggest loss of all in 2015 cannot be measured. In Iraq, 2015 was a taxing year. Almost […]
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