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Archives: December 2008
Top Ten Myths about Iraq, 2008
1. Iraqis are safer because of Bush's War. In fact, conditions of insecurity have helped created both an internal and external refugee problem: ' At least 4.2 million Iraqis were displaced. These…Al-Maliki’s Party Calls for Boycott of Israel; Nasrallah Calls for Arab summit; Widespread Protests in Arab World
Israel pursued "all out war" on Hamas in Gaza on Tuesday, as the death toll rose to 360, with wounded at over 1000. Already in the morning on Tuesday, 10 Palestinians had…Sistani’s Fatwa on Gaza
Here is my translation of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani's fatwa or legal ruling issued on Sunday concerning the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Arabic text courtesy of Sawt al-Iraq. Sistani is the spiritual…Sistani Calls for Action on Behalf of Gaza; Third Day of Bombardment; Gaza Hospitals Overwhelmed
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani of Iraq has called upon Arab and Muslim nations to support the Palestinians in Gaza with more than lip service. Iran's PressTv translated the statement this way:' "Condemning…230 Killed, 388 Wounded in 100 Israeli Air strikes on Gaza; Challenge for US, Obama
Aljazeera English reports on the Israeli air strikes on Gaza, which have killed 230 persons, a third of them civilians and wounded 388. The Other 2/3s were largely Palestinian policeman, as targeted…28 Killed in Kadhimiya Bombing
A brazen car-bombing in the Kadhimiya district of Baghdad killed 28 and wounded 55 on Saturday. Al-Hayat reports in Arabic that an Iraqi security official expressed surprise and dismay that Kadhimiya could…Dramatic Jailbreak in Ramadi; Sunni Arab Bloc Splits
Sunni fundamentalist guerrillas in Iraqi government custody staged a jail break in Ramadi on Friday, when a ringleader grabbed a guard's gun and shot him, then released other prisoners. In the subsequent…Pakistan Moves 20,000 Troops to Indian Border; Gilani Pledges no First Strike
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani pledged no first strike against India on Friday, but said his country was ready to defend itself.Gilani's statement came after Pakistan was reported to be moving…Purohit: "Why Solving Pakistan is the Pivot for Obama’s South Asian Security Strategy"
Raj Purohit writes in a guest op-ed for IC:In the space of 10 days, two terrorist actions in South Asia highlighted why President-elect Obama’s desire to adopt a regional approach to the…Little Town of Bethlehem is Littler Now
Even Santa Claus is protesting the walling off of Bethlehem. Some 15 percent of the 10 million Palestinians is Christian, and they are after all the original Christians. Bethlehem has a special…Drug Smuggling and Narco-Terrorism in Iraq
Iraq's parliament accepted the resignation of speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani on Tuesday, and then promptly voted on a bill that provides a legal framework for 4000 British troops and a few other small…US Marine Killed; Zaidi Will not Apologize for Shoe-Throwing; Alleged Conspirators Freed
Reuters reports: '"The U.S. military said in a statement that a U.S. Marine died on Sunday after being wounded in fighting in Iraq's western Anbar province. MOSUL - Gunmen killed two people…Lebanese are Phoenicians After All; And so Are Many of the Rest of US
A team of biologists at Lebanese American University estimates that 1 in 17 persons around the Mediterranean carries genetic markers distinctive to the ancient Phoenician people who resided in what is now…Muntazar to be Tried this Week; To Sue Security for Torture
The trial of Iraqi journalist Muntazar al-Zaidi for assaulting W. with a shoe will begin later this week in Baghdad. Al-Zaidi, who became a hero in much of the Muslim world, is…Rick Warren: "I love Muslims . . . I happen to love Gays and Straights"
I was in Long Beach,Ca. on Saturday for the annual conference of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, where Pastor Rick Warren and I were both headliners. Also appearing on the stage Saturday…Ghoul’s Glossary: Shoewhack
Shoewhack (v.) To assault someone with footwear in such a way as to humiliate that individual, especially at a moment of supposed triumph or obvious hypocrisy. A shoewhacking generally involves an element…Iraqi Parliament Defeats Bill on Foreign Troop Presence in 2009
The Iraqi parliament has rejected a draft bill submitted by the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki specifying the rules under which some 4,000 British troops and small contingents from Australia, El…Officials Charged with Spying* Released
The employees of the Interior and Defense ministries who were arrested earlier this week were released on Friday at the insistence of Interior Minister Jawad al-Bulani, who just returned from abroad. He…Bakshi: Polarization Breeds Terrorism
Gitanjali Bakshi writes in a guest op-ed for IC:"The Mumbai attacks and a potential resurrection of the ‘War on Terror’ threaten to polarize the India-Pakistan, Israel-Palestine nexus. If not dealt with carefully,…Top 10 Reasons Obama Should Resist Military Plans for American Bases in Iraq
I present below the top 10 reasons for which President-Elect Obama should stick to his guns and withdraw US troops from Iraq despite any resistance he may get from the US officer…Kurds Object to Iraqi Army in Diyala; Ninevah Seeks to Postpone Elections
The Ninevah Provincial Council has voted to delay provincial elections, scheduled for January 31. The council does not actually have the authority to delay the elections, which have been set by the…18 Dead, Dozens Wounded in Baghdad Bombings; Coup Plot Foiled; US Fires on Fallujah Shoe-Throwers
The news from Iraq on Wednesday shows that the Iraqi government's hold on power is fragile, and that it faces shadowy coup plotters from within and a continued guerrilla insurgency from without.…Al-Zaidi, Injured, Pleads Guilty; Mosul Still in Turmoil
Iraqi journalist Muntazar al-Zaidi suffered, according to his brother, "suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury" and had to go to hospital after he…Cole on Lehrer News Hour & Bush Legacy in Iraq
My debate with Michael Rubin about the Bush legacy in Iraq on the Lehrer News Hour for December 15 is now available at the PBS site, with a transcript and streaming video.Here…Najaf Crowd Pelts US Troops with Shoes; Al-Zaidi in Military Custody; Bush Wars Cost $900 Bn.
Thousands of Iraqis demonstrated on Monday, demanding the release of Muntazar al-Zaidi, the journalist who threw shoes at Bush.In the Shiite holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, crowds threw shoes at…OSC: Sadrists Applaud al-Zaidi’s Shoe-Throwing
The USG Open Source Center translates reports on Dubai al-Sharqiyah Television in Arabic on 15 December regarding the throwing of shoes at George W. Bush during a news conference on Sunday:'Iraqi Officials…Shoe-Thrower had been Traumatized by US Aerial Bombings
Iraqi journalist Muntazir al-Zaidi, who threw the shoes at Bush in Baghdad, shouted "Killer of Iraqis, killer of children." while security guards piled on him. McClatchy reports that he had covered the…Two BBC Stories 5 Years Apart: Leaders and Shoes
A journalist, Muntazir al-Zaidi of Baghdadiya Television, aimed two shoes at W. during a news conference in Baghdad during which Bush attempted to justify his invasion of Iraq. Baghdadiya, based in Cairo,…Odierno: Thousands of US Troops will Remain in Cities
Gen. Ray Odierno said Saturday in Baghdad that non-combat US troops would remain inside Iraqi cities after June 30, 2009, in a training and mentoring capacity. The security agreement concluded between Washington…Repubs waste $50 bn. in Iraq, but stiff Detroit
You know how the Republicans in the Senate refused to spend $30 billion to bring the US auto industry back from the brink?It turns out that they were prefectly happy to waste…Dabbagh: Some US Troops likely to be Needed for a Decade
Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh, who is visiting Washington, DC, said Friday that "We do understand that the Iraqi military is not going to get built out in the three years. We…Bombing in Kirkuk Kills 55; Did it Target Talabani?
A massive suicide bombing at a restaurant just north of Kirkuk killed 55 persons and wounded 120 on Thursday. The restaurant was the site of parleys between Arab tribal shaikhs and officials…Rumsfeld, Bush, Implicated in Torture by US Senate
It is official. According to a bipartisan Senate report, then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and President George W. Bush bear responsibility for the torture and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib,…Cole in Salon: The Challenge of Pakistan for Obama
My column is out at Salon.com: "Does Obama understand his biggest foreign-policy challenge? The president-elect wants to work with the Pakistani government to "stamp out" terror. It's not nearly that simple."excerpt: '…UNO: Lashkar Close to al-Qaeda, active in Europe, Iraq, Saudia
McClatchy has gained access to a confidential United Nations document on the Lashkar-e Tayiba, the Pakistan-based terrorist group suspected of being behind the attack on Mumbai. McClatchy writes:' A U.N. document obtained…Iran: Internet Dating Service Busted
The Iranian government has just closed down the popular Hamsarchat.net internet dating service, accusing it of "promoting prostitution." The site advertised itself as a way to find a spouse. Actually, the Iranian…Obama: Reboot Image in Middle East; Nobelist Calls on Obama to Plunge into Mideast Peace-Making
President-elect Barack Obama told the Chicago Tribune, "I think we've got a unique opportunity to reboot America's image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular." He pledged an…Pentagon IG Slams DoD for Not Providing Armored Vehicles; Roadside Bomb Toll Avoidable
The Pentagon's acting Inspector General says that despite the foreseeable need for armored vehicles in Iraq that could withstand roadside bombs, and despite the increasingly obvious need for such vehicles as the…Arrest of Lashkar Masterminds Confirmed
Pakistan confirmed the arrest in Pakistani Kashmir of Zaki ur Rahman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah, leaders of the Lashkar-i Tayiba accused by the Indian government of having masterminded the attack on Mumbai.…Humans did not Breed with Neanderthals
Homo sapiens sapiens did not have children with Neanderthals according to researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology who have been analyzing Neanderthal DNA.There has long been speculation on this…Ghoul’s Glossary
Blagojevich (v.) To sell public office for a profit. (n.). Corruption of a particularly blatant and stupid sort. synonym Venality. President John Adams warned of blagojeviching in his inaugural address:"The existence of…Pakistan Raids Lashkar Offices; Zakiur Rahman Detained
Pakistani security forces made a sweep in Pakistani Kashmir, arresting two dozen members of front groups for Lashkar-e Tayiba. The offices of the Jama'at al-Da'wa were targeted and among those arrested was…Taliban Spread in Afghanistan; Officials Call for More NATO/ US troops
The International Council on Security and Development has issued a new report alleging that the Taliban are now active in three quarters of Afghanistan, up from half the country a year ago.…
Taliban Hit NATO Warehouses, Destroy 150 Trucks
Unidentified militants attacked a NATO forward storage center at the ring road (beltway) of the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Sunday morning. They destroyed some 150 trucks loaded with materiel and…
Taliban Hit NATO Warehouses, Destroy 150 Trucks
Unidentified militants attacked a NATO forward storage center at the ring road (beltway) of the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Sunday morning. They destroyed some 150 trucks loaded with materiel and…
Worthington: Obama and Holder Must Return to a September 10th Mind-Set
Andy Worthington writes in a guest op-ed for IC:During the election campaign, one of the sticks with which John McCain’s team attempted to beat Barack Obama was a claim that he was…
Worthington: Obama and Holder Must Return to a September 10th Mind-Set
Andy Worthington writes in a guest op-ed for IC:During the election campaign, one of the sticks with which John McCain’s team attempted to beat Barack Obama was a claim that he was…Obama Taps Shinseki for Veterans Affairs; Ironies Abound
Barack Obama will put forward retired Gen. Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veterans Affairs in his cabinet..WaPo quoted me: 'Juan Cole, a University of Michigan history professor who writes about the Iraq…Obama Taps Shinseki for Veterans Affairs; Ironies Abound
Barack Obama will put forward retired Gen. Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veterans Affairs in his cabinet..WaPo quoted me: 'Juan Cole, a University of Michigan history professor who writes about the Iraq…Did a Dry Weather Cycle allow the Islamic Empire to Supplant the Byzantines?
Robert Roy Britt of Live Science reports on the research of a team led by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor John Valley that shows increased dryness in the Eastern Mediterranean between 100 and…Did a Dry Weather Cycle allow the Islamic Empire to Supplant the Byzantines?
Robert Roy Britt of Live Science reports on the research of a team led by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor John Valley that shows increased dryness in the Eastern Mediterranean between 100 and…Arguing with Bush One last Time
Informed Comment has had a few running features, including top ten lists, the Ghoul's Glossary, and 'Arguing with Bush.' With any luck this column will be the last in that dreary series.…Arguing with Bush One last Time
Informed Comment has had a few running features, including top ten lists, the Ghoul's Glossary, and 'Arguing with Bush.' With any luck this column will be the last in that dreary series.…
Mystifying the Map of Piri Reis
This site attempts to mystify the 1513 Piri Reis map of the world, including the New World, produced in Istanbul. It is alleged that it shows the coast of Antarctica as well…
Mystifying the Map of Piri Reis
This site attempts to mystify the 1513 Piri Reis map of the world, including the New World, produced in Istanbul. It is alleged that it shows the coast of Antarctica as well…The Pakistan Link to Mumbai; Rashid: It was a Diversionary Tactic
The Times of India worries that fundamentalist violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan are spilling over into India: 'In Pakistan, deaths in bomb blasts and other fidayeen attacks and actions of security forces…2 US Troops Killed in Mosul; Fallujah Bombers Kill 15, wound 150; Gates Prepared to Accelerate US Withdrawal
Two truck bombers in Fallujah, a former center of the Sunni Arab guerrilla movement, detonated two bombs on Thursday near a police station, killing 15 and wounding 150 persons. AP reports, 'Police…Spanish Arab and Jewish Genetic Heritage
Geneticists are now estimating that the Spanish Inquisition led to large amounts of intermarriage between nominally converted Muslims and Jews with Catholics in Spain after 1492. From that date, the Spanish state…Spanish Arab and Jewish Genetic Heritage
Geneticists are now estimating that the Spanish Inquisition led to large amounts of intermarriage between nominally converted Muslims and Jews with Catholics in Spain after 1492. From that date, the Spanish state…
Archeologists Discover Workers’ Town near Persepolis
Persepolis was the magnificent capital of ancient Iran, when that country ruled most of the civilized world, from Egypt to Central Asia and from Greece to Northern India. (Yes, some of the…
Archeologists Discover Workers’ Town near Persepolis
Persepolis was the magnificent capital of ancient Iran, when that country ruled most of the civilized world, from Egypt to Central Asia and from Greece to Northern India. (Yes, some of the…Al-Maliki Refuses to Disband Councils; Talabani Invokes Constitutional Court; Basra Province Protests Iraqi Army
The Kurdish president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, is more or less threatening to sue the Shiite prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki. Al-Maliki has been creating Arab tribal councils loyal to himself, including in…Al-Maliki Refuses to Disband Councils; Talabani Invokes Constitutional Court; Basra Province Protests Iraqi Army
The Kurdish president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, is more or less threatening to sue the Shiite prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki. Al-Maliki has been creating Arab tribal councils loyal to himself, including in…State Universities versus State Prisons; And Marijuana Legalization as a Solution
Why is tuition so high in state universities that the NYT is wondering if families will go on being able to afford it?As someone who has observed this rise in tuition over…State Universities versus State Prisons; And Marijuana Legalization as a Solution
Why is tuition so high in state universities that the NYT is wondering if families will go on being able to afford it?As someone who has observed this rise in tuition over…The Stupidity of Attacking Iran
The stupidity of attacking Iran (again)And don't forget about the Joint Experts' Statement on Iran, which we are pressing on Congress and the Obama administration.You can get it to your congressional representatives…The Stupidity of Attacking Iran
The stupidity of attacking Iran (again)And don't forget about the Joint Experts' Statement on Iran, which we are pressing on Congress and the Obama administration.You can get it to your congressional representatives…The Armada was Redundant
This article argues that the UK is just one big happy family. The British isles were populated by Iberians 8,000 or 9,000 years ago, and everyone throughout the isles-- Irish, Welsh, Scottish…The Armada was Redundant
This article argues that the UK is just one big happy family. The British isles were populated by Iberians 8,000 or 9,000 years ago, and everyone throughout the isles-- Irish, Welsh, Scottish…India: No Troop Movements; Zardari offers to Try Perps in Pakistan; Lashkar had fought in Iraq
Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that India is not contemplating a military attack on Pakistan, but has sent Pakistan a list of 20 alleged terrorists wanted by India and now…Mumbai Muslims Castigate Attackers as Criminals; Footage of Capture of Ajmal
Aljazeera English has more on the Indian Muslim Council Trust's request that the attackers of Mumbai not be buried in the city's Muslim cemetery.The CBC adds: 'Reshma Advani, dressed in a head-to-toe…Obama Sticks to 16 Month Timetable; Gives Gates ‘New Mission’; 38 Killed, 100 Wounded in Spate of Bombings;
President-elect Barack Obama reaffirmed on Monday that he wants to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months of his inauguration. That would be well before the December, 2011 deadline enshrined in…Obama Sticks to 16 Month Timetable; Gives Gates ‘New Mission’; 38 Killed, 100 Wounded in Spate of Bombings;
President-elect Barack Obama reaffirmed on Monday that he wants to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months of his inauguration. That would be well before the December, 2011 deadline enshrined in…Jones at NSC; Even knows French (Eat your Heart out Tom DeLay)
The last eight years of yahoo anti-intellectualism (i.e. worship of stupidity) is coming to an end. I note that incoming National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones "spent part of his youth in…Jones at NSC; Even knows French (Eat your Heart out Tom DeLay)
The last eight years of yahoo anti-intellectualism (i.e. worship of stupidity) is coming to an end. I note that incoming National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones "spent part of his youth in…Rivera: How Obama’s Presidency will Affect People of Color Forever
Jeff Rivera writes in a guest op-ed for ICThis week Obama appointed members for his national security team which included his former nemesis, Hillary Clinton. To see this man of color in…Rivera: How Obama’s Presidency will Affect People of Color Forever
Jeff Rivera writes in a guest op-ed for ICThis week Obama appointed members for his national security team which included his former nemesis, Hillary Clinton. To see this man of color in…Indian Muslims Refuse to Bury Militants
The Muslim community in Mumbai says it doesn't want the gunmen who attacked Mumbai to be buried in the Muslim cemetery, on the grounds that they are not Muslims.A spokesman for the…Indian Muslims Refuse to Bury Militants
The Muslim community in Mumbai says it doesn't want the gunmen who attacked Mumbai to be buried in the Muslim cemetery, on the grounds that they are not Muslims.A spokesman for the…Pakistani Reaganism Must End: The New Government must take on the Lashkar
Leaks to the Indian press by security officials in charge of interrogating the captured terrorist, Ajmal Amir Kamal (or Qasab?) are fleshing out the background of the attack on Mumbai and clarifying…Pakistani Reaganism Must End: The New Government must take on the Lashkar
Leaks to the Indian press by security officials in charge of interrogating the captured terrorist, Ajmal Amir Kamal (or Qasab?) are fleshing out the background of the attack on Mumbai and clarifying…
Loewenstein: The Blogging Revolution and Voices of Crisis
Antony Loewenstein writes in a guest op-ed for IC:During last week’s terror attacks in Mumbai , new technology reacted to the news faster than traditional media services. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs…