Informed Comment - Part 2561

Obama vs. Bush On How Honesty is the Highest form of Leadership

Hillary Clinton fired the co-chair of her New Hampshire campaign, Bill Shaheen, because he speculated that Barack Obama would be attacked by Republicans for admitting […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Kurdish Press Freedoms Curtailed

The parliament of the Kurdistan Regional Authority, a part of Iraq, has just passed a very dangerous press law, which has drawn vigorous protests from […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Former US interrogator recounts torture cases in Afghanistan and Iraq

The USG Open Source Center translates an interview in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo with Damien Corsetti, a former private in the US army who […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Pelosi on Republicans: They Like this War

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she has been surprised at the depth of support for the Iraq War among Republicans in […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Muqtada Hits the Books; Said to aim at one day being Ayatollah

The Associated Press reports that Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr has gone back to his studies of Shiite law and jurisprudence in Najaf. He began work toward […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

40 Dead, 125 Wounded in Amara Bombings; Bombings in Baghdad leave 30 Dead or Wounded

Militiamen detonated three car bombs in downtown Amara on Wednesday, killing over 40 persons and wounding 125. The southern Shiite city of Amara–capital of Maysan […]

Juan Cole

Uncategorized

Ayatollah Huckabee’s Fatwa

In Shiite Iran, only a Shiite may be president. Not a Sunni Muslim, not a Christian, and not a secularist. Article 115 of the current […]

Juan Cole

Iraq

Rubaie: No Permanent Bases; Bombing Near Allawi’s Compound; Basra Christians cancel Christmas Celebrations

Iraq’s national security adviser, Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, said Tuesday that the Iraqi nation would never permit permanent US military bases in that country. He named some […]

Juan Cole

Uncategorized