US politics

Washington (AFP) – US President Donald Trump called Monday for “a long prison term” after his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen admitted lying to Congress about pursuing a real estate deal with Russia on Trump’s behalf during the 2016 election campaign. He also repeated his accusation that Special Counsel Robert Mueller — who is investigating possible collusion […]

Featured

The Pivotal GHW Bush Presidency: How the US became Mired in the Mideast

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – On the occasion of the death of George H. W. Bush, I’d like to reflect on the meaning of his presidency for American foreign policy in the Middle East. Bush was the last representative of the old Republican Party of wealthy northeast businessmen and Midwestern farmers and small town dwellers, […]

Donald Trump

Trump was seeking Moscow Skyscraper Deal during 2016 meeting with Veselnitskaya

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – We now know that Michael Cohen lied to Congress about the timeline of Trump’s negotiations with Russia for a skyscraper in Moscow, telling them that the bid for a Trump Tower hotel in Moscow ended in January, 2016. It did not, but rather continued to be a live possibility into […]

Native Americans

The DNA Industry and the Disappearing Indian: DNA, Race, and Native Rights

Aviva Chomsky

By Aviva Chomsky | – (Tomdispatch.com) – Amid the barrage of racist, anti-immigrant, and other attacks launched by President Trump and his administration in recent months, a series of little noted steps have threatened Native American land rights and sovereignty. Such attacks have focused on tribal sovereignty, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and the […]

National Security State

NSC Advisor Bolton won’t listen to Tape of Khashoggi Murder b/c Doesn’t Know Arabic

AFP

Washington (AFP) – John Bolton, the influential White House national security advisor, said Tuesday he will not listen to the tape recording of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder because he doesn’t understand Arabic. The gruesome tape — a key piece of evidence in the murder allegedly ordered by US ally Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed […]

Donald Trump

Trump wants out of Mideast, blames Oil and Israel for Having to Stay

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – In an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday, Trump bruited the notion of removing US troops from the Middle East. He said that Israel and oil were the only reasons the US was in the region and that oil no longer justified the US military presence. The Post reported: […]

Pentagon

Into the Maws of the Lost “Long War”: Trump sends Abizaid to Saudi Arabia

Andrew J. Bacevich

What does President Trump’s recent nomination of retired Army General John Abizaid to become the next U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia signify? Next to nothing — and arguably quite a lot. Abizaid’s proposed appointment is both a non-event and an opportunity not to be wasted. It means next to nothing in this sense: while once […]

Corruption

‘Blue Wave’ Dems in House to Probe Trump Money ties to Saudis & Russians

AFP

Washington (AFP) – Democrats intend to probe US President Donald Trump’s financial ties to determine whether they are the “hidden hand” driving US foreign policy on Russia and Saudi Arabia, the incoming chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said Sunday. Adam Schiff, currently the ranking Democrat on that committee, accused Trump of being “dishonest” about […]

Bernie Sanders

Democrats Need to Go Bold on Wages, Ed, or Why would their Big Win Matter?

Sam Pizzigati

(Otherwords.org) – Tony Maxwell, a retired African-American naval officer, was trying to get his Jacksonville, Florida neighbor to go vote with him. The young neighbor, a high-school-dropout, had no interest. “Voting,” the young man declared, “doesn’t change anything.” Can Democrats use their newly won House majority to reach that dispirited young man in Jacksonville? That […]