By Kevin McDonald, Middlesex University Over recent weeks there has been a constant background noise that Islamic State and its ideology are some sort of throwback to a distant past. It is often framed in language used last week by the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, who claimed that ISIS is “medieval”. In fact, the […]
ISIL Fighting With Weapons From US and 'Moderate' Syrian Rebels: Report
By Sarah Lazare via Commondreams.org The Islamic State (IS) is now in possession of lethal weapons formerly owned by so-called “moderate” Syrian rebels, as well as large quantities of arms produced in the United States, a new report (PDF) reveals The study — conducted by Conflict Armament Research, a research organization that tracks weapons proliferation […]
US, Iraq have same child homicide rate – UNICEF
RT America: “America leads all Western nations in the number of child homicide victims, according to a new report from UNICEF. In 2012, there were four adolescent homicides per 100,000 people in the US, which is on par with the child death toll in Iraq. RT’s Ameera David takes a look at the troubling figures.” […]
Gaza and Israel: Serial “Ceasefires” and the 70-Year War Continues (Chomsky)
By Noam Chomsky On August 26th, Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) both accepted a ceasefire agreement after a 50-day Israeli assault on Gaza that left 2,100 Palestinians dead and vast landscapes of destruction behind. The agreement calls for an end to military action by both Israel and Hamas, as well as an easing of […]
Climate Change is the real Terrorist (Young Turks)
Cenk Uygur, The Young Turks “Atmospheric volumes of greenhouse hit a record in 2013 as carbon dioxide concentrations grew at the fastest rate since reliable global records began, the World Meteorological Organization said on Tuesday. “We know without any doubt that our climate is changing and our weather is becoming more extreme due to human […]
Hamas, Shmamas: It’s about Israeli National Ambitions
By Brian K. Barber, special to Informed Comment Much recent commentary on forging a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israel makes two deceptive and unproductive claims: 1) Hamas is responsible for the recent violence and must alter its behavior; 2) More generally, both Israel and Palestinians must make “painful concessions.” This preoccupation with Hamas severely […]
Are ISIL fighters Afraid of Women with Guns?
BBC “In Kurdish areas of northern Syria, fighters have been battling Islamic State – or ISIS – for two years – and unlike Iraq’s kurdish forces, they get no help from the west. Gabriel Gatehouse has been northern Syria to meet some of those taking on the jihadists.” ‘ISIS are afraid to see women with […]
Iran begins to Emerge from three Decades of Isolation
Channel 4 News Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi tells Channel 4 News that there is a genuine negotiating bond of respect with the United States, but the negotiations are hard. Channel 4 News: “Iran begins to emerge from three decades of isolation”
Will the People’s Climate March be this generation’s March on Washington?
By Nick Engelfried On August 28, 1963, 200,000 people swarmed into the nation’s capital for one of the most iconic moments in the civil rights movement: the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. More often remembered today simply as the March on Washington, it was seen by many as a turning point for the […]