Uncategorized

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Donald Trump-Jeb Bush tiff over whether George W. Bush “kept us safe” is another example of how Donald Trump is better than Karl Rove at politics. Rove had some success with his doctrine of attacking people on their strengths. Like a spiteful child, Trump attacks […]

Featured

Iran in Syria? Reports its Troops plan Idlib, Aleppo Campaigns

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Jordanian newspaper al-Ghad (Tomorrow) is reporting that the commander of the Jerusalem Brigade of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards has been spotted near Latakia, urging on a volunteer militia of Alawite Shiites. The report comes as AP says it was told by a senior Western official […]

Israel/ Palestine

Palestine: Of course, it is an intifada: This is what you must know

contributors

By: Ramzy Baroud | (Ma’an News Agency) | – – When my book ‘Searching Jenin’ was published soon after the Israeli massacre in the Jenin refugee camp in 2002, I was quizzed repeatedly by the media and many readers for conferring the word ‘massacre’ on what Israel has depicted as a legitimate battle against camp-based […]

Russia

Putin’s Syria Strikes Irk some among Russia’s 16 mn. Muslims, Raise Risks

contributors

By Tom Balmforth | RFE/ RL MOSCOW — With its soaring minarets and golden dome, the huge new mosque that President Vladimir Putin opened in Moscow late last month was welcomed by Muslims as a sign of their greater acceptance in mostly Christian Russia. Days later, some worshippers voiced dismay over the Kremlin’s campaign of […]

Islam-hatred

Armed Extremists plan “Global Rally” to Stalk American Mosques

contributors

Bridge Initiative Team | (Tracking islamophobia) Against the backdrop of increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric, a coalition of online activists is calling on “patriots” to organize protests in front of mosques across the United States. Dubbed the “Global Rally for Humanity,” events are planned in at least 20 cities nationwide on October 9th and 10th. Claiming that […]

Featured

What is Russia’s Strategy in Syria & Why does Egypt Approve?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Russian MiGs for the first time on Wednesday gave close air support to the Syrian Arab Army as it attacked rebels north of Homs. The Russians also continued their airstrikes against rebel-held Idlib Province. And, the Russians for the first time launched cruise missiles from warships […]

Bashar al-Assad

Syria: Is there a Russian-Iranian Dispute over Fate of al-Assad?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Russia and Iran don’t see eye to eye about the future of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad after their military intervention in the civil war, according to correspondent Basil Muhammad of the Kuwaiti dailiy al-Siyasah (“Politics”). Mr. Muhammad says he interviewed a member of the Iraqi parliament […]

Featured

Mercer, targeting Christians, kills 1/3 the annual gunshot death toll in England

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The shooter at Umpqua Community college in Roseberg, Oregon, Chris Harper Mercer, had three hand guns, likely semi-automatics, and an assault rifle. He killed 9 people on campus and wounded at least 7, before he was himself shot and killed. He asked people their religion and […]

Republican Party

Reason Trumped: How the Donald Phenom will Change our Lives

contributors

By Nomi Prins | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – The 2016 election campaign is certainly a billionaire’s playground when it comes to “establishment candidates” like Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush who cater to mega-donors and use their money to try to rally party bases. The only genuine exception to the rule this time around has […]