Arab World

By Michelle Bentley | (The Conversation) | – – Seven years into its catastrophic conflict, Syria has witnessed yet another major chemical strike. This time the target was the rebel-held city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus. The death toll currently stands at around 70 – making the attack as deadly as the […]

Iraq

Why are only tinpot War Criminals Punished? What about the Architects of the Iraq War?

contributors

By Peter Singer | (Project Syndicate) | – – It is unlikely that former US President George W. Bush or any member of his administration will ever stand trial for initiating a war of aggression in Iraq. But it is still worth recounting the illegality of that act, not least because it is directly relevant […]

Featured

Trump on Syria Chem Attack: Putin responsible for supporting “Animal Assad”

contributors

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – On Sunday, Trump responded to the use by the Syrian regime of a chlorine-filled barrel bomb in the rebel enclave of Douma, a district of East Ghouta. Since Trump had launched 59 Tomahawk missiles on the Shuayrat Air Base last year this time after regime use […]

Yemen

Yemen War: Do We Americans bear a Responsibility to Halt it?

contributors

By Olivia Alperstein | (Otherwords.org) | – – American taxpayers are helping to fight someone else’s war in Yemen, and the blood is on our hands. Since March 2015, the United States has supported a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that’s intervening in a civil war in Yemen. […]

Syria

Russia says Syrian rebels to be brought out of Douma

contributors

Middle East Monitor | – – Russia’s military said an operation would begin on Sunday to bring fighters of the Jaish al-Islam rebel group out of their besieged enclave of Douma, Interfax reported, after the Syrian government said the group had asked for negotiations. There was no immediate comment from Jaish al-Islam. The group so […]

Featured

Syrian Regime kills dozens in Chem attack on Douma Holdout Enclave: Why?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Saudi-backed fundamentalist militia “Army of Islam” in the Douma district of East Ghouta near Damascus alleged Sunday that the al-Assad regime had dropped a barrel bomb full of chlorine and other chemicals on the rebel enclave on Saturday. Initial reports said that some 41, including […]

Qatar

Geographical Warfare?: Saudi plans to make Qatar an Island

contributors

By Daniel Martin Varisco | (MENA Tidningen) | – – On June 5, 2016 Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain began a boycott of its Gulf neighbor Qatar, the richest country in the world, cutting off land and air travel over their space. No doubt the same countries that had launched a war against Yemen […]

Syria

Kurds of Afrin looted by Turkey-backed Arab Militias, as Syria blocks Kurdish Exodus

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – Turkish-Allied Groups Loot, Destroy People’s Property (Beirut) – Syrian government forces are blocking some civilians fleeing the Turkish-led military actions in Afrin from entering territory under government control, Human Rights Watch said today. The civilians are stranded in areas with limited food, clean water, and medical supplies. Syrian government […]

Donald Trump

Trump wants out of Syria within 6 months, Seeks Saudi Aid: AP

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – AP’s Josh Lederman reports that on Tuesday, Trump told national security aides meeting in the White House that his patience is running out with the Syria operation. “I want to get out. I want to bring our troops back home. I want to start rebuilding our […]