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Archives: March 2009
Attack on Police Blamed on Pakistani Taliban
Pakistani security forces quickly restored order Monday to the police academy near Lahore that was attacked on Sunday by militants. The Taliban Movement of Pakistan, led by Baitullah Mahsud, is being blamed…El Mundo: New Governor of Badghis Controversial
The USG Open Source Center translates an article from the Spanish newspaper El Mundo profiling Delbar Jan Arman, a former member of the Hizb-i Islami of Gulbadin Hikmatyar who fought the Soviets,…Fadl Rebellion against Government is Put Down
It seems fairly clear from McClatchy's account that the slummy Sunni Arab district of al-Fadl in Baghdad went into rebellion against the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Saturday and Sunday,…Two Major Attacks on Pakistani Police; Obama Focuses on Al-Qaeda
Ten gunmen attacked a police training facility near Lahore on Sunday, killing 20 and wounding 150. They deployed 11 bombs and machine gun fire. Two the attackers were killed in a counter-attack.…Cole in Salon: Obama’s Domino Theory
My column in Salon.com is out, "Obama's domino theory," in which I worry that "The president sounds like he's channeling Cheney or McCain -- or a Cold War hawk afraid of international…
Cole interview at Washington Note
Video of my conversation with Steve Clemons about my new book, Engaging the Muslim World, is up at the Washington Note website. Clemons is a canny observer of US foreign policy and…Jang on Baluchistan’s Sense of Deprivation
The USG Open Source Center translates an editorial on Baluchistan from the Urdu newspaper "Jang." There is now talk that the Obama administration will extend its Predator drone strikes into the Pakistani…Gun Battle with Sunni Arabs in Downtown Baghdad
The Shiite government of Iraq arrests Adil Mashhadani, an Awakening Council or Sons of Iraq leader who had turned against the radical Salafi fundamentalists and took a salary from the US to…World Reactions to Obama Plan for Afghanistan
NATO and Afghan troops raided a bomb-making cell of insurgents in the southern Pushtun province of Helmand, killing 19 guerrillas, it was announced on Saturday. Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai praised President Obama's…OSC: Cheragh: Obama Plan for Afghanistan Flawed
The USG Open Source Center translates an Afghan editorial criticizing elements of President Obama's new plan for Afghanistan. It displays the gravest doubts that he will find any moderate Taliban with whom…Pakistan Mosque Bombed, 50 Killed; US: Pakistani Military Elements Support Taliban
In Pakistan, Taliban detonated a bomb in a mosque at Jamrud in the Khyber agency near the Afghanistan border on Friday, killing 50 and wounding 100. The mosque is frequented by paramilitary…Cole on Pakistan Drone wars, on Rachel Maddow’s Show
I was on Rachel Maddow's MSNBC television news show on Friday evening, commenting on the Pakistan bit of President Obama's plan. She referred to it as a drone war. I said I…Urdu Editorials Condemn US Predator Strikes on Pakistan
The USG Open Source Center translates Pakistani editorials in the Urdu press that condemn US Predator drone strikes on targets inside Pakistan. In a recent poll, Muslim publics, including that in Pakistan,…
Obama Goes to War; Are 60,000 of 80,000 Afghan Troops Potheads?
Part I of President Barack Obama's major policy speech on Afghanistan, Pakistan and al-Qaeda on Friday, 3/27: And Part II:Full text of prepared remarks available here. A Guardian Television report suggests that…
26 Killed, 37 Wounded in Baghdad Bombing; Women’s Condition Deteriorating
A car bombing in a market district of Shaab, Baghdad, killed 26 and wounded 37 on Thursday, the fifth large bombing in March. The LAT underlines that blast walls separating Shiite Shaab…Predator Strikes Stir anti-US "Hatred"
As the Obama administration announces that it will send 4,000 further troops to Afghanistan to train the Afghan army, the USG Open Source Center translates a talks show from Islamabad that alleges…Sunni Arab Refugees from Iraq Not Returning; $3-5 Bn. US Reconstruction Aid Wasted
Hamza Hendawi of AP says his interviews and on-the-ground researches in Baghdad support my contention that the Iraqi capital is now only 10 percent to 15 percent Sunni (in 2003 it was…
Cole Interview with Riz Khan
My two-part interview with Riz Khan of Aljazeera English regarding my new book, Engaging the Muslim World, is now available at YouTube.Part I:and Part II of the interview:Engaging the Muslim WorldEnd/ (Not…Update: Bombing Kills 10 in Afghanistan; 3 Australian Troops Wounded
Wednesday witnessed a new round of deadly violence in Afghanistan. In Khost to the east, a roadside bomb incinerated a civilian vehicle, killing 10. It was probably intended for the new Afghan…US May Undermine Karzai with PM; 8 Police Killed by Taliban;
The Obama administration is so discouraged by the poor performance of the government of Afghan president Hamid Karzai that it is contemplating appointing a prime minister who would do the serious work…
News from the Book Tour
Thanks so much to Steve Clemons and the New America Foundation for hosting my talk regarding my new book on Tuesday afternoon. It was live streamed, and I will post links when…37 Killed in 4 Iraqi Car Bombings; Gul to Baghdad
McClatchy reports that four bombings around Iraq killed 37 and wounded 60 on Monday.A bombing at a mechanic's shop in Abu Ghraib to the west of Baghdad killed 9 and wounded 27.…
Cole on NPR
Listen to my interview with Steven Inskeep of National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" on myths about Saudi Arabia's puritanical and hyper-Protestant Wahhabi branch of Islam. I argue that there is no statistical…Obama v. Cheney on Guantanamo, Prosecutions, Torture
President Barack Obama on 60 Minutes Sunday night:' Commenting on former Vice President Dick Cheney's recent assertion that the closure of Guantanamo will make America more vulnerable to attack, Obama said, "I…
Defending Jim Lehrer and Nicholas Kristof from Martin Peretz
The editor-in-chief of The New Republic, Martin Peretz, attacked Jim Lehrer and Nicholas Kristof over the weekend for having had anything to do with me.I'm not important, but I really must come…
Engaging the Muslim World at Firedoglake
Check out the good discussion we had at the Firedoglake Book Salon on Saturday evening of my new book Engaging the Muslim World. Many thanks to Robert Farley for good hosting and…
OSC: Khamenei’s Speech Replying to Obama
The USG Open Source Center translates Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's response to the Persian New Year's message of US President Barack Obama. For a canny reading of this text, see the blog…Khamenei Adopts a Wait and See Attitude to Obama; "If You Change Your Attitude, We Will Change Ours"
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday, "Of course, we have no prior experience of the new president of the American republic and of the government, and therefore we shall make…Hixson: Finding a Way Out in Afghanistan
Walter L. Hixson writes in a guest op-ed for IC After receiving his welcoming gifts from the departing Bush administration—a depression and two failed wars—President Barack Obama faces a perhaps unprecedented combination…Firedoglake Book Salon 5 pm Today
Am doing live Q & A at the Firedoglake book salon Saturday afternoon 3/21 at 5 pm ET. Refresh the page to see the start of it at 5.End/ (Not Continued)Obama and Now-Ruz
President Barack Obama gave an unprecedented adress to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to its people on the occasion of the Persian New Year, "Now-Ruz," which is celebrated…
Cole & Colbert Report in the Blogosphere
Was traveling, but finally getting time tonight to post the video of my appearance on the Colbert Report to promote Engaging the Muslim World, which Comedy Central kindly allows bloggers to embed:The…Israeli Excesses in Gaza Revealed
A discussion among Israeli veterans of the past winter's military campaign against Gaza has become public, embarrassing the Israeli military and the politicians who launched that attack, which killed many more innocent…
More Reactions to "Engaging the Muslim World"
With regard to my argument in Engaging the Muslim World that the Iraq War was fomented by an unusual alliance of oil interests (Dick Cheney) and Neoconservative Zionists, M. J. Rosenberg gets…
Blogging Colbert
So I was on the Colbert Report, hosted by Stephen Colbert at Comedy Central, on Wednesday night, to promote my new book, Engaging the Muslim World.The clip is up at the Colbert…Cole on the Charlie Rose PBS Interview Show
Charlie Rose is kindly taping an interview with me on Thursday, March 19. I do not know if it will air that day, or later. Will advise, but watch local listings. My…Armstrong on Moyers
Karen Armstrong on Bill Moyers. Moyers says, "BILL MOYERS: While working on a film in Jerusalem, the ancient city where Islam, Judaism and Christianity converge, the connections among that trio of faiths…Schechtman Interview
Catch my interview with Jeff Schechtman today here.End/ (Not Continued)Will Khatami’s Withdrawal Spoil Obama’s Iran Plans?
The rapidly changing political scene in the Middle East is presenting kaleidoscopic challenges to President Barack Obama as a policy-maker.It is of some moment who wins the June, 2009, presidential election in…Cole on Colbert Report Tonight; New Reviews of "Engaging the Muslim World"
Remember to check in with Stephen Colbert's "Colbert Report tonight, Wednesday, at 11:30 ET, 10:30 Central for his interview of me regarding "Engaging the Muslim World."More reactions to Engaging the Muslim World…Asia Society 7 pm March 17
The Asia Society in New York City will be hosting a live Webcast at 7 pm on today, March 17, of my talk on "Engaging the Muslim World." See you there!End/ (Not…
Cole on Democracy Now!
Amy Goodman interviewed me Tuesday morning for Democracy Now! It was a wide-ranging conversation with a lot of good, sharp questions. Democracy Now! on Engaging the Muslim World.The Mp4 video stream the…
Cheney’s Mission Accomplished
Dick Cheney: "I guess my general sense of where we are with respect to Iraq and at the end of now, what, nearly six years, is that we've accomplished nearly everything we…
Juan’s New Book is Out!
More news about my new book, Engaging the Muslim World, which is in bookstores starting today. (Barnes and Noble in particular has it on the front table as you enter the store).…Chief Justice Reinstated in Pakistan; Protest Rally in Capital Cancelled; Crisis subsiding
The immediate crisis in Pakistan was averted Monday morning when Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that he was going to reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry as chief justice of the supreme court. Chaudhry…Freeman and the Coming War on Iran
Bob Dreyfuss has a postmortem on the scuttling by the Israel lobbies of the Chas Freeman appointment to the chairmanship of the National Intelligence Council. Dreyfuss shows that well-known figures in the…
Engaging the Muslim World Events & Review
Updated for Monday: Here are some media advisories for my book tour this week in New York City. Note that media is always a last-minute business and preemptions do occur, but this…Vet issues and Mesothelioma
I keep seeing those ads on television about victims of mesothelioma, caused by exposure to asbestos, did some googling about the issue. Lo and behold, it has an Iraq and Middle Eastern…Violent Demonstrations in Lahore
Wire services reporting that Nawaz Sharif defied House arrest and went to a huge rally in Lahore. Thousands of demonstrators broke through a police blockade to demonstrate in front of the Punjab…Nawaz Sharif under House Arrest; Army on Alert; Protesters Continue to Converge on Capital
In the midst of Pakistan's ongoing political crisis, the government of President Asaf Ali Zardari sent out highly mixed signals on Saturday and Sunday. His government looked like it might be backing…US Urges Freedom to Protest; Zardari Rejects Reconciliation Plan, Bans Geo; Sherry Rehman Resigns
The Pakistani government arrested another 200 protesters on Friday, mostly in Punjab province. The Long March demonstrators, in the meantime, reached the outskirts of Lahore. The arrests continued in the teeth of…Caron: Uprooting Flowers on Pakistan’s Frontier
James Caron writes in a guest op-ed for ICSome time before dawn on the 5th of this month, there was an explosion in the main building at the ziyarat, or shrine, of…Iraqi Refugees
Website for Iraqi Refugees:'Five million Iraqis have been driven from their homes by sectarian terror since Saddam Hussein was overthrown. Security has improved but most still can't go home. If the world…Stern: Effects of Global Warming Even Worse
Prominent British economist and environmentalist Nicholas Stern, has concluded that the average temperature of the earth could go up as much as about 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees centigrade) by 2100. He…Plans for March Unaltered; Nawaz: Zardari will Not Serve out Term
Even though the Zardari government has arrested hundreds of activists, planning for the march on Islamabad this weekend continued unabated.In what sounds like an ominous threat, Nawaz Sharif said Thursday that his…3 Years Sentence on Shoe-Thrower
Iraqi shoe-thrower Muntadhar al-Zaidi was sentenced to 3 years in prison on Thursday, under a statute forbidding assaults on visiting heads of state. The maximum sentence is 15 years, but the judge…Al-Qaeda Threatens US Embassy
The USG Open Source Center translates from Urdu an article on planned al-Qaeda attacks on on US facilities in Pakistan under cover of turmoil provoked by the long march..Pakistan: Al- Qa'ida Said…
Hundreds Arrested in Punjab; Suspension of Civil Liberties; Some set Out on Long March on Capital
Well, I already used "crisis deepens in Pakistan," so what should I say about the news that the Pakistan People's Party government has had hundreds of attorneys and Muslim League (N) party…
Cole in Harper’s On the Muslim World
Scott Horton at Harper's Magazine asked me six questions about my new book, Engaging the Muslim World, which will be in bookstores March 17 (or in some cases earlier), and which is…Did Schumer and Emanuel Sink Freeman?
My interpretation of Chas Freeman's withdrawal from appointment as the chairman of the National Intelligence Council is that it was provoked primarily by Chuck Schumer and Rahm Emanuel. Schumer's call to White…Bomber Kills 32 in Abu Ghraib
The NYT reports that a suicide bomber killed 33 persons and wounded over 60 at Abu Ghraib, striking at a meeting of tribal sheikhs accompanied by military officers. Seven of the dead…Iraqi TV: Rate of Withdrawal of Foreign Troops is Accelerating; Calls for Sunni-Shiite Reconciliation
Al-Iraqiyah, Al-Sharqiyah Roundup: Thirty Killed in Baghdad Suicide BombingIraq -- OSC SummarySunday, March 8, 2009 Document Type: OSC Summary . . .Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television in Arabic, government-sponsored television station, run by the…Chas Freeman forced by Israel Lobbies to withdraw from NIC Chairmanship
Below is a note former MEPC president, Chas Freeman, sent to friends and supporters. Begin Text:To all who supported me or gave me words of encouragement during the controversy of the past…Pakistan Political Crisis Deepens
The Pakistani Taliban are not going to take over the Pakistani government. That worry doesn't keep me up at night. They are small, and operate in a rugged, remote area of the…Obama Might Save Some of us from Alzheimer’s
George W. Bush set stem cell research back 8 years and violated the principle of the separation of church and state by issuing what was essentially executive-branch legislation that imposed on a…12000 US Troops Withdrawn from Iraq; 32 Killed in Police Academy Bombing
The Obama administration will not replace two US brigades (12,000 troops) that are departing Iraq. There are 140,000 US troops in that country, down from 160,000 in 2008 during the Bush troop…Obama: Talks Possible with Moderate Taliban; Karzai Accepts August Elections, Refuses to Step Down
In an interview in the New York Times, President Barack Obama admitted that the US is not winning in Afghanistan. He also allowed that it might be possible for the US to…Walt: In Defense of Chas Freeman Why we Need Clear-Eyed NIEs
Harvard political scientist Stephen Walt, who blogs for Foreign Policy takes on the critics of Chas Freeman's possible appointment as chair of the National Intelligence Council, and critics of Walt for defending…Clinton Reaches out to Iran on Afghanistan; 3 Americans Wounded, 3 Canadian Troops killed
In the Obama administration's first formal overture to Iran, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that Iran might be invited to an international conference on Afghanistan scheduled for March 31. In…12 Killed in Market Blast; Rafsanjani visits Sistani
A car bomb at a livestock market in Babi province near the city of Hilla . The blast left 12 dead. Babil is majority Shiite but has a Sunni minority. Al-Hayat reports…Clinton Slams Israel on Jerusalem House Demolitions; 50-Years War Looms with Danger to US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton slammed Israel on Wednesday for its plan to demolish 88 Palestinian homes in Occupied East Jerusalem, calling it a violation of the Roadmap for Israeli-Palestinian peace. She…Sunni Guerrillas at Mosul Kill a US Soldier; Kirkuk Council Member Predicts Permanent US Base in Kirkuk
Guerrillas in the northern city of Mosul on Tuesday subjected a US military base to a barrage of mortar fire, killing a US soldier. The guerrillas successfully targeted a mililtary counter-insurgency office…Cairo Donor Conference Nets $5 bn for Gaza Reconstruction; Israelis Block Gaza Reconstruction
Shorter AFP: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will try to tell Binyamin Netanyahu, the far rightwing prospective prime minister of Israel, that he should allow the rebuilding of Gaza and start up…50 Afghan Parliamentarians Oppose Obama’s Troop Surge; US Slams Karzai over Snap Election Plan
Anand Gopal reports for CSM that many Afghans, especially in the Pushtun south, oppose President Obama's plan to send more US troops to Afghanistan.Highlights:' Parliamentarian Shukria Barakzai says she has an innovative…Cole in Salon: "We’re Really Leaving Iraq"
My column is out in Salon.com, We're really leaving Iraq: Some Iraq war critics are fretting about Obama's speech on Friday, and his plan to stay a little longer. But here's why…