Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – We saw a lot of pivotal developments in the Middle East this year, including the impact of climate change in the form of increasing aridity and massive dust storms. But there were also realignments of interests that affect the U.S. Here are some of them: 1. President Biden in July […]
A Merry Palestinian Christmas in Bethlehem: Tourism and National Resistance
Palestinian Christians Israeli Occupation
The Great Muslim Sufi Mystic Farid al-Din Attar on Jesus’ Innocence, Love, Forgiveness
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Christians are often surprised to discover how important Jesus is to the Muslim spiritual tradition. The Muslim scripture, the Qur’an, praises him as a Word from God and affirms the Virgin Birth. In Muslim civilizations with painting traditions, such as the Mughals in India, Jesus, Mary and the nativity became […]
New Israeli Gov’t to un-ban Violent Racists from Parliament, and allow Discrimination against Women, Gays
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The new Israeli government, formed in the nick of time by incoming Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, is so morally compromised that even the country’s right wing is visibly uncomfortable with the agreements made by Netanyahu to allow him to come back to power. Iconic among those concessions was Netanyahu’s acquiescence […]
If the US Aim in Helping Ukraine is a Rules-Based International Order it must Condemn Israeli Annexation of Syria’s Golan and Occupation of Palestine
Zelensky Ukraine War Syria Israel Golan Occupation International Law
New Solar installations Rocket up by 50% in Europe in 2022, amid Ukraine War Energy Crisis
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The industry think tank SolarPower Europe has concluded that new solar power installations rocketed up in Europe by nearly 50% in 2022, driven in part by the spike in fossil gas prices caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Europe installed 28.1 gigawatts of solar power in 2021. In 2022, Europe […]
Why Algeria’s Coup and Civil War Should Alarm Americans about Trumpism, Whether he is Convicted or Not
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Donald Trump’s attempted coup on Jan. 6, for which he has now been referred to the Department of Justice on sedition and other charges by the January 6 Committee of the House, evoked in me a powerful feeling of déjà vu. It reminded me of Algeria 1991. Algeria had been […]
Suspected of Sedition, Trump Joins Rogues’ Gallery of Aaron Burr and Jefferson Davis
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Ali Vitali, Kate Santaliz and Haley Talbot at NBC News report that the January 6 Committee of the House of Representatives met Sunday to finalize their recommendation, to be announced today, that they will refer Donald J. Trump to the Department of Justice on three charges: “obstructing an official proceeding, […]
Iranian State Arrests Popular Actress Taraneh Alidoosti, star of Academy-Award-Winning Film, for Protesting Executions
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Iranian authorities arrested renowned actress Taraneh Alidoosti, 38, on Saturday for an Instagram post in which she denounced the execution last week of the first of this fall’s protesters to be put to death by the Iranian government. Her instagram account, which had 8 million followers, has been suspended. She […]
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