By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Thomas Friedman’s column this week made several allegations about the danger of an explosive situation in Syria, about which he is certainly correct. He pointed out that the US-UK-France missile strikes on Syria in reprisal for the alleged use of chlorine gas at Douma by the […]
Syria After Trump’s Withdrawal: Top Reasons an “Arab Force” will Fail
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – President Trump’s determination to withdraw US troops from eastern Syria by October, so that GOP candidates for representative and senator can run on having defeated ISIL and having then brought the troops home, has created a policy dilemma for the Department of Defense and for the […]
The Hannity Case is so Serious it Requires a Consumer Boycott of his Advertisers
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The problems at Fox Cable “News” go way beyond Sean Hannity. But he is a major problem. For him to go on air and defend attorney Michael Cohen numerous times without so much as mentioning that Cohen is his legal adviser is the height of journalistic […]
Comey did it to himself & Us, by gutting Privacy, Encryption, & 4th Amendment
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In former FBI director James Comey’s interview with ABC News, he attempted to position himself as an upholder of the rule of law, of the constitution, and even of the truth. Human beings are very good at forgetting their own misdeeds and building narratives that justify […]
Iraq on Syria Strikes: We’ve seen this Movie and it doesn’t End Well
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Iraq’s foreign ministry came out strongly against the US, British and French missile strikes on Syria. In a statement issued Saturday, the ministry called the attacks “an extremely dangerous step”that could result in a weakening of regional security. Spokesman Ahmad Mahjub said, “The ministry underlines the […]
Reality Show violence in the Age of Trump: Striking Syria
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – President Trump along with allies British prime minister Theresa May and French president Emannuel Macron struck Syria on Friday evening. It was not a piece of military strategy designed to win any war aims. It will have no effect on the situation in Syria at all. […]
Russia, Iran and Syria respond to Trump’s Threats
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The UK-based Arabic language daily, al-Arabi al-Jadid (a secular, left-leaning newspaper helmed by Azmi Bishara from Qatar) reports on the responses of Syria and its allies to sabre-rattling from Trump and from the UK and France. A key advisor to Ali Khamenei, Iran’s clerical leader, is […]
Why Trump can’t reverse Syrian regime dirty win in Ghouta & why Iran is Gloating
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Trump administration and the May government in the UK seem poised to launch missile strikes on Syria in the near future. It probably won’t matter. The Syrian regime figures it can take the punishment, which is likely to consist of another set of one-off missile […]
Protests won’t stop Trump derailing Mueller Inquiry; Putting the Left in Congress Will
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The broad hints Trump gave Monday that the search of his personal attorney’s offices on a tip from Robert Mueller might lead him to fire deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has galvanized the American left, which is pledging massive public rallies in response. Public protests and […]
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