Arab World

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – It transpires again that the US has two foreign policies, that of Trump, which favors brutal dictatorships unreservedly, and that of his cabinet officials, which favors brutal dictatorships with more nuance and caution. The White House announced Friday, Reuters and other outlets report, that Trump called Field Marshal Khalifa Hiftar […]

Corruption

The Seychelles Plot: Mueller on the UAE Role in Russian Influence-Peddling with Trump and Kushner

Juan Cole

The Mueller report sheds further light on the infamous Seychelles meeting in January, 2017, which appears to have aimed at establishing a back channel for the Trump administration to the circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin, brokered by Mohammed Bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates. That is, this story is not about pre-election collusion […]

Libya

Gen. Hiftar’s Drive to Take all of Libya Raises Atrocity Concerns

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch – (Tunis) – All forces taking part in fighting around Libya’s capital, Tripoli, should take all necessary action to minimize civilian harm and abide by the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said today. Armed groups loyal to both sides have a record of abusing civilians. Fighters led by General Khalifa Hiftar, […]

Featured

Congress Slaps down Trump-Saudi War on Yemen

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The House of Representatives voted Thursday 247 to 175 to end the US involvement in supporting the Saudi-led war effort in Yemen. 16 Republicans voted with the Democratic majority. The Senate had already passed the act, invoking the War Powers act for the first time since it was enacted in […]

Algeria

Arab Spring Pt. 2? Massive Crowds forced out Bouteflika, but What Next for Algeria?

Brian Whitaker

Algerians who have been demonstrating on the streets for more than a month appear to have achieved their primary goal of toppling President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. On Monday the official news agency reported that the 82-year-old president will resign “before 28 April” – the date when his current mandate expires. [Update: Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday April […]

Featured

Senators Grill Rick Perry on Transfer of Nuclear Info to Saudi Arabia Despite “Troubling Actions”

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Timothy Gardner at Reuters reports that senators on Tuesday sent a sharp letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry about the Part 810 approvals he secretly gave US businesses to provide sensitive nuclear specifications to Saudi Arabia. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) insisted that Perry inform them […]

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Political Prisoners Face Severe Abuse: Report

Middle East Monitor

Political prisoners in Saudi Arabia are facing severe abuses by prison authorities, according to a medical report leaked to the Guardian newspaper. The leaked report documented evidence that political prisoners – both men and women – are suffering from malnutrition as well as cuts, burns and bruises due to severe physical abuse by authorities. The […]

Arab World

Arab World Warms to Russia after Trump gives Syria’s Golan to Israel

Middle East Monitor

The Ambassador of the League of Arab States to Russia, Jaber Habib Jaber has praised Russia’s steadfast position on the Jerusalem and Golan files, which is in compliance with the international laws and legislation. Jaber also thanked Moscow for its adherence to this principle and considered it the right way to play an effective and […]

Nuclear Energy

As Trump OKs Saudi Nuclear Projects, Rep. Sherman replies: “If you can’t trust a regime with a bone-saw . . .”

AFP

Washington, DC (AFP) – The United States has given the green light to companies to work on six nuclear projects in Saudi Arabia, Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Thursday, despite lawmakers’ worries that the kingdom could seek weapons. Questioned during a Senate hearing, Perry confirmed that the Trump administration has approved six applications to do […]