By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – AFP reported from the papal airplane on Pope Francis’s remarks about Islam in the wake of the brutal murder of an elderly priest by two teenagers of North African heritage in Normandy last Tuesday. Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) claimed responsibility. The pope said, “It’s not true and […]
Are the Muslim Khans better Americans than Donald Trump?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Donald Trump lashed out on Saturday against Ghazala and Khizr Khan over their speech Thursday night in which they criticized the casino and hotel moghul for his unconstitutional tirades. The Khans said at the Democratic National Convention in a speech they crafted, that Trump had ‘sacrificed […]
Russian & Iranian Press deplore Hillary Clinton Hawkishness; Israelis complain she’s Dove
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – How is the international press responding to the Democratic National Convention and the formalization of Hillary Clinton’s status as the party’s standard-bearer in the presidential campaign? BBC Monitoring helped me find these reports, which I’m paraphrasing or quoting from their translation: Boaz Bismuth in the Hebrew […]
Top Five Ways to tell if a Terrorist is still al-Qaeda despite name Change
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The leftist Beirut newspaper al-Safir comments scathingly on the name-change of the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate, the Nusra Front led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, to the Syria Conquest Front. Here are some reasons that the name change isn’t going to work: 1. Al-Julani got permission from 9/11 […]
Is the French Press Right to stop Printing Pictures, Names of Terrorists?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Le Monde is reporting that a number of French newspapers and television channels have decided to cease printing the pictures, and sometimes even the names, of those who commit terrorist acts. Le Monde itself is adopting the same policy. France and Belgium have seen a number […]
Top 7 firsts in Women in US Politics
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – As I pointed out, it is all very nice that Hillary Clinton is the first American woman to be nominated as the standard-bearer for her party’s presidential bid, but 11 Muslim women have already served. Women comprise 51% of the US population but they are only […]
The most Left Wing Supreme Court in a Generation? Sec. Clinton’s most important Progressive Prospect
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Progressives who had backed Bernie Sanders are understandably upset about the prospect of a Clinton presidency. Some put their hopes in the Democratic Party platform, where Bernie supporters won on issues like a $15 minimum wage. But party platforms don’t mean much in the end. It […]
Arab Street Shocked as Saudi Delegation Visits Israel
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Egyptian news site the Arab Observer Network reports that the visit to Israel of a former Saudi military intelligence officer, Gen. Anwar Eshki, came as a body blow to the Arab in the street. He conducted several meetings with Israeli officials last week, along with […]
Islamophobia Kills: German Munich shooter admired Breivik, Killed Turks
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The shooter at a Munich mall last week who killed 9 and left 27 wounded was an admirer of far right wing Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, and appears to have hated Muslims. Although David Sonboly was of Iranian heritage, he does not seem to have […]
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