Informed Comment - Part 2483

Escobar on Palestinian Refugees in Brazil

Pepe Escobar writes with regard to my posting about Brazil’s granting of asylum to Palestinian refugees expelled from Palestine by the Israeli military in 1948, […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Iraq: Videotape of Blackwater Attack Jaafari Maneuvers in Najaf

Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they have a videotape of the shootings in Nisur Square last Sunday by Blackwater security guards, which shows that they […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Sistani Aides Killed UIC Unconcerned with Sadrists’ Departure

AP reports that two more aides to Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani were assassinated on Friday, bringing the total since late August to 5. Some worshippers […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Allawi Rejects al-Maliki’s charge of Treason US Kidnaps another Iranian from the KRG

Al-Hayat reports in Arabic that Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki slammed his rival, Iyad Allawi of the National Concord Movement, for engaging in secret talks with […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Republicans vote Down Webb Plan for Troops; Al-Maliki Accuses Blackwater

Iraqi guerrillas killed four US troops on Tuesday. Republican senators succeeded in blocking the Webb plan to give US troops off as much time between […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Wagner Guest Op-ed: Democrats Should Fund Demobilization

Guest Op-Ed by David Wagner: “It seems to me that political polarization in Congress prevents action on common sense measures that are needed, regardless of […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Rice Apologizes to al-Maliki for Blackwater Shootings Was Abu Rishah a Fake?

McClatchy reports from Baghdad that Iraqi eyewitnesses maintain that Blackwater security guards fired at civilians without provocation on Sunday, in contrast to the company’s own […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Jihadis Threaten to Kill Leaders of al-Anbar Council

The USG Open Source Center summarizes and partially translates a threat by the ‘Islamic State of Iraq’ [Salafi Jihadis] to kill more members of the […]

Juan Cole

Iraq