Russia: Permanent Bases planned in Syria to fight Terrorism
By Juan Cole | (informed Comment) | - - The US military says that the number…
By Juan Cole | (informed Comment) | - - The US military says that the number…
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - Saudi Arabia under the hyper-active crown prince…
Foreign Policy
Russia: Permanent Bases planned in Syria to fight Terrorism
By Juan Cole | (informed Comment) | - - The US military says that the number of ISIL fighters in eastern Syria has fallen from 3000 a month ago to only 1000…Egyptian parliament moves to make atheism a crime
Brian Whitaker | ( al-Bab.com The Egyptian parliament's committee on religion has announced plans to make disbelief in God a crime. Under the current law against "contempt of religions" atheists can be prosecuted…Is Trump’s threat to sacred Bears Ears like Taliban blowing up Buddhas?
George Nicholas | (The Conversation) | - - For many archaeologists, one of the darkest moments in memory was the destruction of the fourth and fifth-century Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban in…Chess is Universal; Saudi Arabia isn’t: Women’s Boycott, Israeli Lawsuit
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - Saudi Arabia under the hyper-active crown prince Muhammad Bin Salman is undertaking rapid changes in society and international diplomacy. But the kingdom's conviction…Heating with Coal Takes 3 Years off Your Life: China Study
Feng Hao | (ChinaDialogue) | - - Lives in northern China are shorter than in the south because of air pollution from heating, reports Feng Hao In Beijing, the switch from coal to gas heating…Ignoring Rohingya Ethnic Cleansing is Creating another Palestine
Middle East Monitor | - - The international community must act swiftly on the Rohingya crisis or the world will create another Palestine. That was the stark warning issued by a delegation…Why the Israeli Right is wrong to put Hopes in Trump’s Jerusalem Decision
Shlomo Ben-Ami | (Project Syndicate) | - - Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital may have been bombastic, but it will not change much. It does not preclude the…Riyadh releases more royals in corruption probe, Demands $6 bn from Alwaleed
Middle East Monitor | - - Saudi Arabia’s authorities have released a number of detained royals allegedly involved in corruption in public office. The move came after a settlement was agreed with…Dogs! Israeli Minister Harasses Palestinian mothers visiting Jailed Sons
Ma'an News Agency | - - "The group has estimated that some 40 percent of Palestinian men will be detained by Israel at some point in their lives." BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- An…What does the Muslim Scripture say about the Birth of Jesus?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | The Qur'an, the scripture Muslims believe was brought from God by the Prophet Muhammad (d. 632), has a number of passages that mention Mary and…At Christmas, Palestinian Christians slam US call on Jerusalem as Israeli
Middle East Monitor | - - Palestinian Christian religious leaders have decried US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as an “insult” to Muslims and Christians around the world. “We, Palestinians, Christians…2017: How Erdoğan pushed Turkey toward Authoritarianism
By Mustafa Coban | (The Conversation) | - - After winning an April referendum to greatly enhance the powers of his office, Turkey’s president, Recip Tayyip Erdoğan, spent 2017 pursuing his ultimate…2,017 years later, Trump manages to cancel Christmas in Bethlehem (Video)
AFP | (Video news Clip) | - - US Vice President Mike Pence may have postponed his visit, but Palestinian Christians still say Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is spoiling…How Trump could avoid another $7 trillion bill in Mideast: Back off war with Iran
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - Donald Trump, having backed the losing (and objectionable) candidate in Alabama's senate race, suddenly wants to cooperate with Democrats on infrastructure spending. At…Ahed Tamimi: Girl who symbolizes new defiant Palestinian generation
By Hossam Shaker | (Middle East Monitor) | - - A girl has defied the occupation with unrivalled courage. Over the past years, the media has broadcasted videos of her daringly confronting…Palestine’s Abbas washes hands of US, as ‘Dishonest Mediator’
TeleSur | - - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the U.S. government "dishonest" and said he will "no longer accept any (peace) plan" from them. One day after the United Nations voted…Nations of World at UN Humiliate Trump w/ Massive vote for Palestinians
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - The Arab and Muslim worlds exulted Thursday over their massive victory at the United Nations General Assembly, which passed a resolution condemning the…Trump’s Pentagon Admits to ‘Multiple Ground Missions’ in Yemen
TeleSur | - - The U.S. Defense Department claimed the ISIS presence has doubled in Yemen. For the first time, U.S. Pentagon has admitted to carrying out "multiple ground missions" in Yemen.…The Most Dangerous Man in the World
By Tom Engelhardt | ( Tomdispatch.com ) | - - Let’s start with the universe and work our way in. Who cares? Not them because as far as we know they aren’t…Top 5 Reasons why Trump’s Threats to UNGA over Jerusalem are Empty
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - The thuggish Trump and his gun moll Nikki Haley have threatened member countries of the UN General Assembly with a cut-off of US…