Informed Comment - Part 1985

Saudi Internet Activists face Crackdown

(By Human Rights Watch) (Beirut) – Activists in Saudi Arabia face a repressive and intolerant government as they advocate popular political participation, judicial reform, and […]

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Climate Change

Top Ten Ominous Signs about Last Month being the Hottest November on Record

(By Juan Cole) The The National Climatic Data Center of the National Oceanic and Aeronautics Administration has announced that if you take the average land […]

Juan Cole

Domestic Surveillance

“60 Minutes” does Infomercial for NSA with Security Official posing as Journalist

(By Techdirt) CBS Airs NSA Propaganda Informercial Masquerading As ‘Hard Hitting’ 60 Minutes Journalism By Reporter With Massive Conflict Of Interest (via Techdirt) Last night […]

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Human Rights

842,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon (pop.: 4.4 mn) as UN Calls for $6 bn Aid

(By Agence France Presse) One in five Lebanon residents Syria refugees: UN (via AFP) One of five people living in Lebanon are refugees who have […]

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Human Rights

American Studies Association to Boycott Israeli Institutions in Historic Vote

(By Sarah Lazare) An association of 5,000 academics on Monday became the largest U.S. scholarly organization ever to join the boycott of Israeli academic institutions. […]

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Domestic Surveillance

Federal Judge to NSA: What you did to Verizon Customers was Unconstitutional

(By Juan Cole) Judge Richard Leon of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled Monday that the bulk collection by the […]

Juan Cole

Christianity

Syrian Christians Menaced by Extremist Sunnis, Slam Lack of Lebanese Support

Layal Abu Rahhal reported in Arabic from Beirut for al-Sharq al-Awsat [The Middle East] on the dilemmas of Syrian Christians and their Lebanese neighbors, Dec. […]

Juan Cole

Egypt