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Bombings of Churches Bush and Blair Plotted to Ignore Security Council Who woulda thunk it? Bush and Blair plotted to go to war against Iraq even if the UN Security Council declined to authorize it. The Scotsman summarizes findings of Phillipe Sands: “Prof Sands’ book, entitled Lawless World, claims that president Bush had earlier displayed […]

Beeman Guest Editorial: US to Blame for Iranian Nuclear Program United States Instigated Iran’s Nuclear Program 30 Years Ago William O. BeemanBrown University ‘ The White House staffers, who are trying to deny Iran the right to develop its own nuclear energy capacity have conveniently forgotten that the United States was the midwife to the […]

Over 30 Killed in Guerrilla Violence Sadrists Demand any Prime Minister Call for US Troop Withdrawal AP reports on the ambitions of the Shiite religious parties to retain control of the Ministry of the Interior security forces (analogous to the US FBI and Secret Service.) AP also reports that some 22 died in Iraq as […]

Achcar on Hamas: Guest Editorial ‘First Reflections On The Electoral Victory Of Hamas by Gilbert Achcar; January 27, 2006 1. The sweeping electoral victory of Hamas is but one of the products of the intensive use made by the United States in the Muslim world, since the 1950’s, of Islamic fundamentalism as an ideological weapon […]

Iraq Round-Up Al-Zaman/ AFP report that [Ar.] the fundamentalist Shiite United Iraqi Alliance is awaiting the arrival in Baghdad of Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani at the beginning of the coming week for discussions concerning the formation of a new government. A source within the UIA told al-Zaman [the Baghdad Times] that the party had formed […]

Sistani Calls on Iraqis to Turn in Terrorists Sadrists Call for Sunnis to Fight Zarqawi Al-Zaman/ AFP report that Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the Shiite spiritual leader, called Friday on his supporters to aid the authorities in combatting the perpetrators of violence, according to the members of a delegation that met with him. According to […]

The Victory of Hamas and the Miseries of Bush’s Policies My article about the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections is out at Salon.com. Excerpt: ‘ Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, a branch of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, has come to power in Palestine. In his press conference on Thursday, Bush portrayed the […]

Minister of Industry Almost Killed US Tilting to Sunni Arabs? Assassinations in Kirkuk, a near-death of the minister of industry (and actual deaths of his bodyguards), the death of a GI and wounding of another in a roadside bombing, were among the violent incidents in Iraq on Thursday. Guerrillas also attacked a convoy of oil […]

Split in Sunni Guerrilla Movement Gilbert Achcar kindly shares this translation of an article from al-Hayat on splits in the Sunni Arab guerrilla movement. ‘ The AMS: We Are Now Waging Two Battles: Against ‘the Occupation’ and Against ‘the Terrorists’ Sunni Clans Take the Initiative of Launching a Campaign to Expel Zarqawi’s Followers and ‘Foreigners […]