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Archives for January 2016

Counter-Terrorism
The Surprising Reason we Keep Falling for ISIL/ Daesh Propaganda

The Surprising Reason we Keep Falling for ISIL/ Daesh Propaganda

contributors

Haroro J. Ingram | (The Conversation) | – – The rise of [the so-called] Islamic State [group] (IS) has reaffirmed what al-Qaeda and the Taliban proved last decade: strategic communications, particularly counter-propaganda efforts, remains one of the key weaknesses of Western counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategy. In November 2007, the then-US defence secretary, Robert Gates, said: […]

Bernie Sanders
"Stunning" Sanders Surge in Iowa over Clinton on Healthcare, Wall Street Stands

“Stunning” Sanders Surge in Iowa over Clinton on Healthcare, Wall Street Stands

contributors

Jon Queally, staff writer | (Commondreams.org) | – – With nations first caucus less than two weeks away, poll shows Sanders making gains for strong proposals like Medicare for All and holding Wall Street accountable. According to the CNN/ORC poll, Bernie Sanders’ success in Iowa is because his economic message resonates with Iowa residents. (Photo: […]

Arab Spring
5 Years after Tahrir Square, Egyptian Government in Crackdown on Dissent ahead of Jan. 25 Anniversary

5 Years after Tahrir Square, Egyptian Government in Crackdown on Dissent ahead of Jan. 25 Anniversary

contributors

Global Voices Advocacy’s Netizen Report | (Globalvoices.org) | – – Activists online and on the ground in Egypt have faced heightened scrutiny and legal threats from government authorities since early January, as the country approaches the fifth anniversary of the mass protest movement that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. In addition to multiple arrests of […]

Foreign Policy
The Collapsed Iraqi Army:  How to Succeed at Failing, Pentagon-Style

The Collapsed Iraqi Army: How to Succeed at Failing, Pentagon-Style

contributors

By Nick Turse | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – There’s good news coming out of Iraq… again. The efforts of a 65-nation coalition and punishing U.S. airstrikes have helped local ground forces roll back gains by the [so-called] Islamic State [group] (IS).  Government forces and Shiite militias, for example, recaptured the city of Tikrit, while […]

Featured
Netanyahu demands more billions from US after Iran Deal, insults US Envoy, Steals more Land

Netanyahu demands more billions from US after Iran Deal, insults US Envoy, Steals more Land

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – At the Davos World Economic Forum, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insisted that the deal between the UN Security Council and Iran limiting its enrichment program to purely civilian uses had made Israel less secure, and that it must therefore be granted tens of billions of […]

Chaldeans
UNESCO: "Deepest Concerns" for Mideast Christianity after Daesh/ISIL Razes oldest Iraqi Monastery

UNESCO: “Deepest Concerns” for Mideast Christianity after Daesh/ISIL Razes oldest Iraqi Monastery

contributors

UNESCO | (Media Services) | – – “I express my deepest concerns after the destruction of the Monastery of St Elijah. It was the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq and an invaluable testimony to the rich cultural and religious diversity of the country. For 1,400 years the monastery stood as a place of worship and […]

Iran
Who's Against the Successful Iran Deal?  War Profiteers and Chauvinist Rabble Rousers

Who’s Against the Successful Iran Deal? War Profiteers and Chauvinist Rabble Rousers

contributors

By John Feffer | (Foreign Policy in Focus) | – – The Middle East is hardly a cheery place these days. But there’s one silver lining: The Iran deal is paying off big. In 1748, as part of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, France regained Cape Breton from Great Britain. The island, off the coast of […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
Arabs Caught between Trump and ISIL:  Casino Capitalism driving backward Identity Politics Worldwide

Arabs Caught between Trump and ISIL: Casino Capitalism driving backward Identity Politics Worldwide

contributors

Maged Mandour | ( OpenDemocracy) | – – Backwards looking politics is a malaise affecting both the west and east. It breeds violence as global elites clamber to maintain their grip on power.   Flickr/Darron Birgenheier. Some rights reserved.Comments by leading republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, on banning Muslims from entering the United States garnered […]

Climate Change
It's the CO2, Stupid!:  2015 'by far' Hottest Year on Record & New Torrid Normal

It’s the CO2, Stupid!: 2015 ‘by far’ Hottest Year on Record & New Torrid Normal

contributors

By Janette Lindesay and Mark Howden | (The Conversation) | – – It’s official: 2015 was the hottest year on record. The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has confirmed overnight that 2015 saw the global average temperature climbing to 0.90°C above the 20th-century average of 13.9°C. The record has been confirmed by the UK […]

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