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Juan Cole

Iraq
On Fourth of July, Let Iraq Go

On Fourth of July, Let Iraq Go

Juan Cole

The Fourth of July celebrates the Declaration of Independence of the American colonies of Great Britain, on the grounds that they deserved representative government and popular sovereignty– something denied to them by the British crown. Iraq was occupied by American troops in 2003 after an illegal invasion, and it is still so occupied. The viceroy […]

Afghanistan
Steele blames Obama for Afghanistan, Defends Iraq War

Steele blames Obama for Afghanistan, Defends Iraq War

Juan Cole

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele has provoked a furor by remarks he made on President Obama’s Afghanistan policy at a GOP fundraiser in Noank, Ct. (where he mumbled on for all the world like a third-rate lounge lizard at an off-off the Strip Vegas discount casino before an audience mesmerized into zombiehood by its […]

Pakistan
Fundamentalist bombings of Lahore mystical Shrine leave 42 Dead, 175 Wounded

Fundamentalist bombings of Lahore mystical Shrine leave 42 Dead, 175 Wounded

Juan Cole

The FT says that at least two suicide bombers struck at the shrine of medieval Sufi master Datta Ganj Bakhsh (Sayyid Ali Hujwiri), the patron saint of Lahore, on Thursday evening, killing at least 42 and wounding 175. (The death toll will rise since many of the injured are in critical condition). Pakistan’s The News […]

Environment
Hurricane Alex Halts Efforts to Deal with Gulf Oil Gusher

Hurricane Alex Halts Efforts to Deal with Gulf Oil Gusher

Juan Cole

VOA reports that the oil skimming ships are gone. The booms protecting islands and marshes have been torn from their anchors. Sand bags have been overwhelmed. The headline is that Hurricane Alex is delaying the clean-up. But what is really going on is that Hurricane Alex is making a real clean-up unlikely. Reuters has more, […]

Afghanistan
June Deadliest Month for NATO in Afghanistan; <br/> Congress cuts Civilian Aid by $4 bn.

June Deadliest Month for NATO in Afghanistan;
Congress cuts Civilian Aid by $4 bn.

Juan Cole

As the Senate confirmed Gen. David Petraeus as commander of US troops in Afghanistan, CNN estimated that 101 NATO troops (including Americans) were killed in June, the highest total ever since the NATO presence began in 2001. The Pentagon maintains that such a spike in troop deaths is to be expected given the counter-insurgency push […]

Afghanistan
Petraeus confirmed Quickly by Committee; <br/> Seminary rioting, Jalabad Airport Bombings

Petraeus confirmed Quickly by Committee;
Seminary rioting, Jalabad Airport Bombings

Juan Cole

The LAT reports on the lightning speed with which the Senate Armed Forces Committee confirmed the appointment of Gen. David Petraeus as commander of US troops in Afghanistan. The full senate votes on Wednesday. I was talking to an Afghan hand today who observed that in his view someone among the senators should have asked […]

Israel/ Palestine
Turkey Forbids Israeli Military Overflights

Turkey Forbids Israeli Military Overflights

Juan Cole

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday in Toronto in the wake of the G20 conference that Turkey will no longer routinely give Israeli military aircraft permission to fly in Turkish airspace. The announcement came as Turkey forbade an Israeli military airplane (taking officers on a visit to the sites of Nazi death camps […]

Environment
Walthen: I saw 100 Dolphins in the Oil, some Dying

Walthen: I saw 100 Dolphins in the Oil, some Dying

Juan Cole

John L. Walthen and companions take a helicopter trip out over the Gulf of Mexico. “This was the most emotionally disturbing video I have ever done! A flight over the BP Slick Source where I saw at least 100 Dolphins in the oil, some dying. I also photographed a Sperm Whale covered in oil all […]

Afghanistan
7 NATO Troops Killed; <br/> as Karzai is Said to Dicker with Insurgents; <br/> and Panetta Scoffs<br/> Taliban Rejoice in McChrystal Firing

7 NATO Troops Killed;
as Karzai is Said to Dicker with Insurgents;
and Panetta Scoffs
Taliban Rejoice in McChrystal Firing

Juan Cole

Radio Azadi reports that from early Sunday morning in the Marawara District of Kunar Province, a vigorous firefight has been pursued by the Taliban on the one hand and on the other, joint NATO and Afghanistan National Army troops. At least three NATO troops were killed, including 2 Americans, in the fighting. Those tribesmen who […]

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Gaza Yet Stands


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