Among the anecdotes told in the early biographies of the Prophet Muhammad is one about him being harassed by his immediate neighbors in Mecca, in roughly the period 614-622. One way they bothered him was to throw sheep offal through the window of his home in Mecca where he lived with his first wife, Khadija. […]
Trump’s Remark that Israeli PM will be ‘Mohammed’ ignores how Apartheid Works
In a conversation earlier this summer with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the king told Trump about the possibility of a one-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, which Abdullah said younger Palestinians increasingly favor. Trump is said by French and other diplomats present to have replied, “what you say makes sense. [In a one-state scenario,] the […]
Yemen: Why is the US Helping Saudis Kill Children, Allying with al-Qaeda?
The Saudi and United Arab Emirates war on little Yemen, which was launched by Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman in March of 2015, has flown under the radar among the US public until recently. Then on August 9, the Saudi-led air coalition struck Saadeh, the stronghold of the Helpers of God (Houthi) movement in north […]
India plans 58 GW of new Solar Energy by 2022, as Trump unleashes Dirty Coal
India has achieved 70 gigawatts of installed renewable capacity, and has another 40 gigs under construction or already bid on. That would take it to 110 gigs of mainly wind and solar. New Delhi had set a goal of 175 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2022, and clearly will reach it early, though 80 gigs […]
Trump Corruption: Mueller Probe looks at Broidy Pay-to-Play with China, Malaysia
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The Mueller probe is looking into whether Elliott Broidy, former vice chair of the Trump Victory Committee and a one time deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee Finance Committee, has been involved in using his connections in the Trump administration to engage in influence peddling and to seek kickbacks from […]
If you Put an old W. Bush crony in Charge of Iran Policy, doesn’t it Signal a War-Like Intention?
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has appointed Brian H. Hook, the State Department director of policy planning, to head a coordinated “Iran Action Group.” Hook served in several important posts in the George W. Bush administration, indicating his support for lying the country into war with Iraq and the years-long US military occupation of that […]
#NottheEnemy: Ben Franklin warned that attack on Free Press Turns Liberty to Tyranny
Informed Comment is pleased to respond to the call of the Boston Globe for the press to fight back, on August 16, 2018, against Trump’s savage attacks on journalists and the free press. This column is dedicated to James Wright Foley, whom I met in Egypt in 2012, and who was fearless and level-headed in […]
Trump wouldn’t have let her in the Country, but Ilhan Omar is Likely joining Congress
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Ilhan Omar, a refugee and a Somali-heritage Muslim woman who veils, has won the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s Fifth District congressional seat, hoping to succeed Keith Ellison. The district, which includes Minneapolis, typically votes heavily Democratic, so she has a good shot at winning the seat. Somalia is one of […]
Defying Trump, Iraq’s PM walks Back Pledge to Boycott Iran, says will avoid Dollar Trade
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Iraqi caretaker prime minister Haidar al-Abadi on Monday walked back his pledge last week that Iraq would participate in the US sanctions regime imposed on Iran. Al-Abadi now will only say that Iraq will not trade with Iran in dollars. I suppose that the two could instead use Euros or […]
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