By Andrew Thomas, Deakin University (The Conversation) – Some national borders are determined by natural phenomena like seas, mountains and rivers. Most, however, are created by people. This means the creation of borders is often a political exercise – usually informed by the interests of those who create them, not the local populations to whom […]
Archives for February 2025
Beating Trump, Dumping Trump (It can be Done)
By Robert Lipsyte ( Tomdispatch.com ) – In bad times — and these are bad times — I call up the spirit of Willie. Willie has seen me through cancer, divorce, and deaths in the family. His memory has given me the courage and strength to push on when I wanted to give up and […]
Sinai! Why Egypt’s al-Sisi says he will snub White House Invitation if Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza is on Agenda
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Egypt has shown more spunk in standing up to Trump than has the mostly supine US Congress. Offered the most insane rogues’ gallery of cabinet appointees in American history (and there have been some doozies), the Senate has rolled over time and again. Not so former Field Marshall Abdelfattah al-Sisi. […]
Trump’s Gaza Plan: A Green Light for Ethnic Cleansing?
( Middle East Monitor ) – Let’s be clear: the forced displacement of Palestinians is not a new idea. US President Donald Trump’s latest proposal to take “long-term ownership” of Gaza, to “clean out” the “mess”, and to turn it into a “Riviera of the Middle East” is just the latest iteration of efforts aimed […]
Gaza’s Telecommunications: Occupied and Destroyed
Ali Abdel-Wahab Introduction ( Al-Shabaka ) – In the 21st century, telecommunications—particularly the internet—have become indispensable tools in the global struggle for freedom and dignity. For Palestinians in Gaza, who have endured over 17 years of Israeli blockade and many more decades of Israeli colonial occupation, the internet serves as a critical lifeline: a […]
In the Race for Influence in the New Syria, will Türkiye come out on Top?
Istanbul (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – Last week, Syria’s newly appointed President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Ankara to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, marking the highest-level meeting between Türkiye and Syria since 2009. The visit was al-Sharaa’s second international trip since being declared president, following his recent visit to Saudi Arabia. During the […]
Protest to MIT about Denying a Palestine Course to Professor Michael DeGraff
Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | – Sally Kornbluth President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sally.kornbluth@mit.edu . . . Dear President Kornbluth and colleagues: We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our concern about the […]
Make Art, not War
( Tomdispatch.com ) – The world is in danger, mind-numbingly so, from a combination of crises: disease, hunger, mass displacement, racial and economic inequality, war and the threat of more war, a rampaging climate crisis, and an accelerating nuclear arms race (and that’s just for starters) — all occurring in a climate of massive mis- […]
As Trump Shutters US Offshore Wind, Asia’s Renewables Promise Cheaper Manufacturing, Trade Surpluses
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump has halted the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management from granting new offshore wind licenses. This move will gut the growing US offshore wind industry, though it does not necessarily affect already-granted licenses. Gavin Maguire at Reuters explains the outcome of this policy will be high energy costs for Americans, […]
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