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Archives: May 2006
Kabul Under Curfew After Anti Us Anti
Kabul under Curfew after Anti-US, anti-Karzai Riots 14 Dead, over 100 Wounded 50 Killed in US Airstrike "We have conducted a thorough assessment of our military and reconstruction needs in Iraq, and…60 Dead Including Us Major 2 British
60 Dead, including US Major, 2 British Soldiers, CBS Crew Parliamentary Delegation Planned to Basra The FCC will investigate the placing by the Bush administration of "video news releases" full of "good…55 Dead In Civil War Member Of
55 Dead in Civil War Member of Parliament wounded in Attack al-Zaman/ DPA: An aide of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani called [Ar.] Sunday for the Iraqi tribesmen to convene a wide conference…Iran Cleans Up In Iraq Iran Is Perhaps
Iran Cleans up in IraqIran is perhaps the only unambiguous winner in the new situation in Iraq, and its foreign minister was basking in the glow on Saturday. On Friday, Iraqi foreign…3 Gis Dead So Far 18200 Us Troops
3 GIs Dead So Far, 18,200 US Troops Wounded in Iraq See Nir Rosen's important article, "Iraq is the Republic of Fear" in WaPo today.Reuters rounds up the civil war violence in…Italians To Pull Out Nearly Half Of
Italians to Pull Out nearly Half of Troops in June Sectarian struggle among Tribes at Suwayra Congrats to Mariam Karouny for an excellent story on how the Virtue (Fadhila) Party is staging…Arguing With Bush And Blair News
Arguing with Bush and BlairThe news conference of Bush and Blair on Thursday evening was unexpectedly dominated by Iraq.I'm going to just pull out some passages worthy of comment, not in order.In…Iraqs My Lai Friday Morning Guerrillas
Iraq's My Lai Friday morning, guerrillas used a car bomb to kill at least 9 persons [later reports say 9] at an East Baghdad market, wounding 31. AP had reported 13 killings…Iran Offered Recognition Of Israel
Iran Offered Recognition of Israel, Nuclear Cooperation Bush: "How dare you!" In 2003, Iran offered to come in from the cold in a proposal to George W. Bush. Recognition of Israel within…Maliki Iraqis In Control Of Own
Maliki: Iraqis in Control of Own Security within 18 Months 50 dead in fresh violence Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Wednesday that Iraq will be able completely to handle security throughout…Demonstrations On Thursday Face
Demonstrations on Thursday Face Repression Egypt's Mubarak Criticizes WashingtonHOw will the Mubarak regime deal with the protests planned for today against the lack of judicial independence and the rigging of elections?My article…National Post Retracts Minorities
National Post Retracts Minorities Badge Story on Iran Antonia Zerbisias follows up on the the bogus National Post story about Iran having passed a law requiring Christians and Jews to wear badges…Iran Revived Persecution Of Bahais 54
Iran: Revived Persecution of Baha'is 54 Arrested in ShirazOne unfortunate consequence of the bogus stories about Iran making minorities wear badges is that it could obscure the real human rights violations toward…Iraqi Currency My Comment That I
Iraqi Currency My comment that I thought Amir Taheri was wrong to praise the stability of the Iraqi dinar, because the dinar is a managed currency and does not float freely, brought…Shiite Mosque Bombed Weapons From
Shiite Mosque Bombed Weapons from Bosnia flood Iraq Zarqawi's Emirate of Baghdad Tribal clashes south of Baghdad at Suwayrah killed 16 on Tuesday.I presume that these casualties were announced late in the…Bin Laden Moussawi Not 911 Hijacker
Bin Laden: Moussawi not a 9/11 HijackerAnyone who has actually read a transcript of anything Zacarias Moussaoui has said has immediately recognized that he is not a high-powered al-Qaeda operative on the…Critique Of Us Policy In Iraq Bush
Critique of US Policy in Iraq Bush Administration policies in Iraq have largely been a failure. It has created a failed state in that country, which is in flames and seething with…Maliki Calls For Most Coalition Troops
Maliki Calls for Most Coalition Troops out by End of YearWell, there are two versions of Iraq's future. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki suprised visiting UK PM Tony Blair with an announcement: "Mr…Black Psy Ops Campaign Against Iran
The Black Psy-Ops Campaign against Iran The Iranian regime is despicable in its lack of respect for basic human rights and in its regimentation of its citizens into a rigid theocracy. But…Responses To Critics Open Thread I
Responses to Critics: Open Thread I don't want to give the impression that I am unduly interested in the cottage industry that has grown up on the US Right of, let us…Davinci Code As Parable Of American
DaVinci Code as Parable of American ModernityDespite the scowls and titters of the critics, the DaVinci Code did $77 million at the box office in the US, better than Tom Cruise pulled…50 Dead Maliki Vows To End Militias
50 Dead Maliki Vows to End Militias, Graft The civil war in Iraq killed 50 persons on Sunday, according to al-Zaman. Reuters managed to detail the circumstances of 35 of them, including…Wikipedia Article Hijacked I Fear I
Wikipedia Article Hijacked I fear I have never had the time to get up to full speed with regard to the Wiki world or the procedures of Wikipedia. But I am told…Canwest And Lobby Kind Reader Alerted
CanWest and the LobbyA kind reader alerted me to this item about the present owners of the National Post that tried to float the black psy-ops operation charging Iran with requiring religious…Libyan Blogger On Us Relations With
Libyan Blogger on US Relations with Tripoli A Libyan-American blogger on the US establishment of diplomatic relations with the Qaddafi regime.Haaretz On Israeli Settlers How Mean
Haaretz on Israeli Settlers: How Mean Can you Be?Israeli settlers in the West Bank have shot Palestinians, stolen their land, stolen their water, chased them out of their homes, put their own…Maliki Elected Prime Minister 56 Dead
Maliki Elected Prime Minister 56 Dead in Civil War Violence From al-Hayat [Life]: Nuri al-Maliki won a vote of confidence in the Iraqi parliament on Saturday. He thus became the first full-term…Doostdar On Iranian Dress Code Alireza
Doostdar on Iranian Dress CodeAlireza Doostdar writes:'Thank you for debunking the lies about Iran requiring religious minorities to be “color-coded.” I just wanted to make a small comment about the actual national…Another Fraud On Iran No Legislation
Another Fraud on Iran: No Legislation on Dress of Religious Minorities Maurice Motamed, the representative of the Iranian Jewish community in Iran's parliament, has strongly denied the rumors started by Canada's National…Maliki To Present Partial Cabinet
Maliki to Present Partial Cabinet Bombing in East Baghdad Kills 19 Udate: The Iraqi parliament approved the Maliki government. Some Sunni Arab representatives protested and walked out. But the Iraqi Accord Front,…Two Dozen Dead In Violence Sistani
Two Dozen Dead in Violence Sistani, Yaqubi Aides Trade Insults Al-Hayat reports that [Ar.] the Civil War left 20 Iraqis and 5 US troops dead on Thursday. There were clashes between the…Maliki Said Near To Forming Government
Maliki said Near to Forming Government Turks shell Kurdish village It is being alleged that Prime Minister designate Nuri al-Maliki will present his cabinet to parliament on Saturday. If he fails, according…42 Iraqis 3 Gis Dead In Civil War
42 Iraqis, 3 GIS Dead in Civil War The Iraqi Civil War took the lives of another 42 persons on Tuesday. The most horrible attack was in the Shaab district of the…
George W
George W. Nixon George W. Bush's Iraq misadventure has made him among the least-liked presidents in modern history, according to an ABC News/ Washington Post poll. Even Lyndon B. Johnson in the…Middle East Conflicts On Campus Scott
Middle East Conflicts on Campus Scott Jaschik discussed the disputes on college campuses, especially UC-Irvine, over the Middle East. Yours truly makes a cameo appearance, as does the petition I started to…Nation Soccer And Punishing Iran
The Nation: Soccer and Punishing Iran The Nation looks at the global politics of soccer with reference to Iran. Americans don't realize it, but soccer politics is what makes most of the…
33 Dead In Civil War 7 Us Troops
33 Dead in Civil War 7 US Troops Killed over Weekend Basra in Chaos as Tribes Feud On Monday, scattered bombings and shootings left at least 33 persons dead by my count.…Monday Afternoon Scandals David
Monday Afternoon Scandals David Swanson says that angry veterans surrounded and berated Richard Perle, a major architect of the Iraq War, when he showed up at one of their events for a…Guerrilla Violence Kills 48 Al Maliki
Guerrilla Violence Kills 48Al-Maliki May announce Government without Interior, DefenceOn Monday morning, guerrillas in the south launched a mortar barrage of 40 shells against the British Abu Naji base near Amara, wounding…Iranian Paramilitaries Pledge To
Iranian Paramilitaries Pledge to Defend Iran Since the US military has most trouble with asymmetrical forces and paramilitaries, it is worthwhile noting that Iran's paramilitary forces, the Basij and the Iranian Revolutionary…Lying And Ordering Others To Lie Bush
Lying and Ordering others to LieBush not only continued to lie about mobile biological weapons labs in Iraq even after weapons inspectors discovered that the story was false. Now it comes out…Mearsheimer And Walt Again Mearsheimer
Mearsheimer and Walt Again Mearsheimer and Walt on the "Israel Lobby and American Foreign Policy" stay in the news. The Forward's Ori Nir did an excellent piece on anxieties in the American…Basra Police Chief Dismissed 8 Bodies
Basra Police Chief Dismissed 8 Bodies found in Najaf The political violence in Iraq continues apace.11 bodies were found dead in Najaf. One of them was an Iranian. This according to al-Hayat.…Recommended Blog Take Look At All Of
Recommended BlogTake a look at All of this . . . and Nothing.4 Marines Die Fadila Withdraws From
4 Marines Die Fadila Withdraws from Government Friday's guerrilla violence was relatively muted, though there were bombings and killings. The most serious incident was a firefight in Dhulu'iyyah between Shiite and Kurdish…3 Gis Killed Government Postponed
3 GIs Killed Government Postponed Guerrillas set off bombs to kill 3 GIs in Hilla on Thursday.At least 15 Iraqis were also killed (-al-Sharq al-Awsat). Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani cancelled Friday prayers…Bush Founding Fathers Were Just
Bush: Founding Fathers were Just Kidding About Fourth Amendment.President Bush apparently thinks that the fourth amendment of the US Constitution (i.e. the US Constitution) doesn't have to be taken seriously, because he…19 Dead In Violence Walkout In
19 Dead in Violence Walkout in Parliament over Shiite Ringtone The Iraqi civil war took at least 19 lives on Wednesday, including especially in the Baqubah area of Diyala province. Five of…Cole In Salon
Cole in Salon.com My article, "Saving Iraq: Mission Impossible," is out in Salon.com.Excerpt:' Hopes for a breakthrough hinge on the assumption that al-Maliki will be able to act more decisively than his…Europeans Offer Iran Deal Iranians Say
Europeans offer Iran Deal Iranians say Program Peaceful Over Bush's initial objections, the Europeans are going to try offering Iran further incentives to abandon its civilian nuclear energy research program. The attempt…Tal Afar Bombing Kills 20 Wounds 70
Tal Afar Bombing Kills 20, Wounds 70 Did Coalition Ship 200,000 Guns to Guerrillas? Guerrillas killed 11 persons on a busnear Baqubah Wednesday morning.At least 30 Iraqis died in the civil war…Mesaisis Letter On Behalf Of Ramin
MESA/ISIS Letter on Behalf of Ramin JahanbeglooFor more on this case see this article and Eurasia.net.May 8, 2006Ayatollah Ali KhameneiSupreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iranc/o H.E. Javad ZarifAmbassador Extraordinary and…Ahmadinejad As W
Ahmadinejad as W.'s Penpal Ebadi warns of another IraqIran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote a letter to W., in which he insisted on Iran's right under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to conduct scientific research…13 Dead 33 Wounded Gi Killed Bali
13 Dead, 33 Wounded; GI killed Bali Bombers Sought Revenge for Iraq An armed group raided a prison at Tikrit north of the capital and killed an inmate. (Presumably to keep him…Close Dont Send Us Soldiers Into Iran
Close: 'Don't Send US Soldiers into Iran to Spy' The question of US intelligence on Iran is now coming to the fore.Veteran CIA Middle East analyst Ray Close reacts to rumors that…Proposal Covenant With America Here
Proposal: A Covenant with America Here are my suggestions for a new covenant with America that could be adopted by politicians running for Congress this fall.1. The American people do not want…Black Sunday Yields 81 Dead In Iraqi
Black Sunday Yields 81 Dead in Iraqi Bloodbaths Interior Admits Death Squads The Washington Post reports that four bombs in Iraqi cities killed altogether some 30 persons on Sunday, and left dozens…Mearsheimer And Walt Reply Mearsheimer
Mearsheimer and Walt Reply Mearsheimer and Walt reply to criticisms of their paper, "The Israel Lobby and American Foreign Policy."We're still accepting signatures of post-secondary teachers on our petition defending Mearsheimer and…Apologizing For Ahmadinejad Assume
Apologizing for Ahmadinejad"Assume that the Iranians are within measurable distance of nuclear status. Appearances sometimes to the contrary, they are not mad—or not clinically insane in the way that Saddam Hussein was…Basra Explodes In Shiite Rage
Basra Explodes in Shiite Rage Unidentified guerrillas shot down a British Lynx helicopter in Basra on Saturday, killing 5 UK servicemen. The helicopter fell on a house. A large, angry crowd of…10 Troops Killed In Afghanistan Crash
10 Troops Killed in Afghanistan CrashAn American helicopter crashed on Saturday in Afghanistan, killing 10.Guerrillas Kill 3 Gis 15 Iraqis Dead
Guerrillas Kill 3 GIs 15 Iraqis Dead in Violence Muqtada Emerging as Kingmaker Guerrillas killed 3 GIs in Babil province south of Baghdad on Friday.Friday morning, Five bodies were found in Ramadi.…Hekmatyar Goes Al Qaeda Kabul Bomb
Hekmatyar goes Al-Qaeda Kabul Bomb Kills ItaliansGulbuddin Hekmatyar, the radical Islamist guerrilla fighter, has pledged his allegiance to Usamah Bin Laden.Back in the 1980s, Hekmatyar was a "freedom fighter" supported strongly by…Hitchens Affair Little Satire On
Hitchens Affair A little satire on the Hitchens affair.and . . .Sadly no!Coleweisberg Correspondence On
Cole/Weisberg Correspondence on HitchensWith Mr. Weisberg's permission, I am posting our correspondence on the Hitchens hatchet job on me in Slate earlier this week.========From: Jacob WeisbergSent: Thu 5/4/2006 6:15 PMTo: Cole, JuanSubject:…28 Dead Over 50 Wounded In Bombings
28 Dead, over 50 Wounded in Bombings, Assassinations Shiites Keep Interior? At least 28 persons were killed in the Iraqi civil war on Thursday. Another big car bomb killed 10 and wounded…Rumsfeld It Depends On What Meaning Of
Rumsfeld: It Depends on what the Meaning of "Where" IsBack in the Sixties it would be some activist college student who confronted the Secretary of Defense on an illegal, ill-conceived and unwinnable…Hitchens No Journalist Insider Person
Hitchens "No Journalist": InsiderA person of long and wide experience with journalism and politics writes an interesting analysis of the Hitchens affair:'Hitchens has been in a spiral for a long time, more…Dalila Case In Syria This Is Letter I
Dalila Case in SyriaThis is a letter I signed recently on behalf of the Committee for Academic Freedom in the Middle East and North Africa of the Middle East Studies Association. Thanks…Gold From Tomdispatch One Of Essential
Gold from Tomdispatch One of the essential websites for reality based journalism is Tomdispatch.com. It is always rich in commentary and reportage. But this week if you just go there, it is…Americana Update Initial Fundraising
Americana UpdateThe initial fundraising drive for the Global Americana Institute has been extremely rewarding. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported us. We have noted that the great works of American…Racial Mccarthyism On Right Redux
Racial McCarthyism on the Right ReduxA repeat and a reminder to let your academic friends know:"The petition I set up to defend John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt from scurrilous charges of anti-Semitism…Bill Scher Importance Of Cole V
Bill Scher: The Importance of Cole v. Hitchens And, a Suggestion Bill Scher nails it.He also points out the MEMRI's translation is close to my own.So, I have a suggestion for my…At Least 61 Dead In Iraq Civil War
At Least 61 Dead in Iraq Civil War, Dozens Injured Censure Motion Against Iran Fails Another wave of violence washed over Iraq on Wednesday. A suicide bomber killed 18 potential police recruits…Cobban On Hitchens Helena Cobban Is
Cobban on HitchensHelena Cobban is one of our great foreign affairs journalists. She has covered the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere for many years and is herself an accomplished Arabist. Those interested…Hitchens Not Drunk Only Asinine Thief
Hitchens not Drunk, Only an Asinine Thief I'm told Andrew Sullivan is saying that he was at Hitchens's house when Hitchens stole my private mail and published it without my permission, and…British To Withdraw From Maysan
British To Withdraw from Maysan, Muthanna Dozens KilledThe British are obviously declaring victory in southern Iraq and going home. They are in the process of handing over security to local provincial governments…
Hitchens Hacker And Hitchens
Hitchens the Hacker; And, Hitchens the Orientalist And, "We don't Want Your Stinking War! Christopher Hitchens owes me a big apology.I belong to a private email discussion group called Gulf2000. It has…Biden Plan On Iraq As Some Readers
Biden Plan on Iraq As some readers suggested, the Biden/Gelb op-ed in the Washington Post on Iraq was much compressed. More details are available in a recent Biden speech, which actually addresses…More On Autonomous Regions Senator
More on Autonomous Regions Senator Biden and Leslie Gelb propose a Bosnia solution for Iraq. That is, a very loose federation of three big ethnic enclaves. They seem to just surrender Kirkuk…Israel Lobby And Reply To Drezner
The Israel Lobby And a Reply to Drezner Philip Weiss weighs in on the Mearsheimer and Walt paper on the Israel lobby at The Nation. It is a fine, searching, level-headed treatment.…