US politics

By Andrew J. Bacevich | ( Tomdispatch.com To judge by the early returns, the presidential race of 2016 is shaping up as the most disheartening in recent memory. Other than as a form of low entertainment, the speeches, debates, campaign events, and slick TV ads already inundating the public sphere offer little of value. Rather […]

Militarization

No, Donald Trump, we can’t just “take their oil”

contributors

By Emily Schwartz Greco | (Otherwords.org) | – – Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign ad pledged to “take their oil.” That’s what President (gasp) Trump would do after having “quickly cut the head off the Islamic State,” says the deep-voiced narrator. Along with political decapitation, there are many disturbing things in the Republican front-runner’s commercials […]

Foreign Policy

Why has Turkish Foreign Policy Gone Rogue & What does it mean for the US?

contributors

By Nader Habibi | (The Conversation) | – – Turkey has become one of America’s most vital partners in the Middle East in promoting stability and growth in the region and a key ally in the West’s fight against the Islamic State, or ISIS. This is partly because of its status as the only majority-Muslim […]

Arab Americans

Not just “Immigrants”: 3 Arab-Americans Central to American History

contributors

By Hsain Ilahiane | (Informed Comment) | – – Arabs and Muslims Made and Are Still Making America Great: One came on foot, one with camels, and one brought Apple products to us. Arabs and Muslims have been under clouds of suspicion and scrutiny since recent mass shootings in Paris, France, and San Bernardino, California. […]

Foreign Policy

‘We had to destroy the Country to save it, Sir!’ The US Imperial Treadmill in Iraq etc.

contributors

By Tom Engelhardt | ( Tomdispatch.com) One of the charms of the future is its powerful element of unpredictability, its ability to ambush us in lovely ways or bite us unexpectedly in the ass. Most of the futures I imagined as a boy have, for instance, come up deeply short, or else I would now […]

Banking

Fearing the Bern, Billionaire Bloomberg Threatens to Buy Election for Establishment

contributors

By Jon Queally, staff writer | ( Commondreams.org ) | – – Former New York City mayor indicates willingness to spend “at least $1 billion”… especially if Sanders bumps Clinton. Is the real establishment getting worried? As news broke Saturday afternoon that billionaire former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is “seriously” considering the idea […]

Bernie Sanders

“Stunning” Sanders Surge in Iowa over Clinton on Healthcare, Wall Street Stands

contributors

Jon Queally, staff writer | (Commondreams.org) | – – With nations first caucus less than two weeks away, poll shows Sanders making gains for strong proposals like Medicare for All and holding Wall Street accountable. According to the CNN/ORC poll, Bernie Sanders’ success in Iowa is because his economic message resonates with Iowa residents. (Photo: […]

Foreign Policy

The Collapsed Iraqi Army: How to Succeed at Failing, Pentagon-Style

contributors

By Nick Turse | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – There’s good news coming out of Iraq… again. The efforts of a 65-nation coalition and punishing U.S. airstrikes have helped local ground forces roll back gains by the [so-called] Islamic State [group] (IS). Government forces and Shiite militias, for example, recaptured the city of Tikrit, while […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Arabs Caught between Trump and ISIL: Casino Capitalism driving backward Identity Politics Worldwide

contributors

Maged Mandour | ( OpenDemocracy) | – – Backwards looking politics is a malaise affecting both the west and east. It breeds violence as global elites clamber to maintain their grip on power. Flickr/Darron Birgenheier. Some rights reserved.Comments by leading republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, on banning Muslims from entering the United States garnered […]