Most Americans never see Iran on television, don’t know an Iranian, and speak of “striking Iran” entirely in the abstract. No one talks about the release of radioactivity and toxins on Iran as a result of a “strike.” Iran is depicted as a dreary, ugly theocratic dictatorship as though high politics were the only marker […]
Omar Khayyam (41)
When I am sober, I don’t feel lighthearted; but when I’m drunk my reason is defective. There is a state between being tipsy and clearheaded. I’m a slave to that state because that is life. Translated by Juan Cole from Whinfield 41
Logical Errors and Propaganda in Republican Debate on the Middle East
The candidates to be the Republican standard bearer in this year’s presidential campaign addressed Iran and Syria in the course of their debate. Except for Ron Paul, they resorted to propaganda and logical fallacies. This use of erroneous arguments by canny men who have been in positions of high responsibility can only be explained if […]
Arizona Republican Debate: The Middle East
Transcript of the Middle East-related portions of the Republican debate in Arizona hosted by John King of CNN: “QUESTION: Hi, my name is Ken Taylor (ph) from Wickenberg, Arizona and my question to all the candidates is, how do you plan on dealing with the growing nuclear threat in Iran? KING: It’s a pressing question […]
Omar Khayyam (39)
If a stranger proves faithful, I adopt him into the family. But if a relative sins, I take a dim view of him. If poison proves helpful, it is actually an antidote, and if an antidote attacks me, it is really a toxic sting. Translated by Juan Cole from Whinfield 39
How the FCC can take the Money out of Politics- Cole at Truthdig
My column is out at truthdig “How the FCC can take the Money out of Politics” Excerpt: “Big money has always been a problem in American politics, but now humongous money threatens to capsize the ship of state. Billionaires are very, very good at getting rich, mostly through stealth monopolies, relatively sure things (e.g., casinos) […]
71% of Americans think Iran already has the Bomb (Also we used to have pet triceratops)
A CNN/ Gallup poll shows that nearly three quarters of Americans believe that Iran already has a nuclear weapon. (About 80% believe that it either has one or will get one in short order). This belief is completely irrational. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has repeatedly said that the US believes that Iran has not […]
Save Homs with Humanitarian Airdrops by Drones
The Baath regime in Syria killed another 60 persons on Tuesday. About 30 were killed by troops in restive Idlib province. The Syrian military also continued to pound Homs on Tuesday, using heavy artillery against the civilian district of Baba Amr and and killing another 30 there. The assault also set the stage for a […]
Tomgram: Rebecca Solnit, Why the Media Loves the Violence of Protesters and Not of Banks
When you fall in love, it’s all about what you have in common, and you can hardly imagine that there are differences, let alone that you will quarrel over them, or weep about them, or be torn apart by them — or if all goes well, struggle, …
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