East Asia
Russo-Japanese arms race over Kuril Islands
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's trip last year to the disputed Kuril Islands has sparked both a regional military build-up and a diplomatic war of words with Japan.
Author: Bill Weinberg
Mexico
Don Samuel Ruíz, bishop who brokered Zapatista peace talks, dead at 86
Samuel Ruíz García, the bishop who arguably saved Mexico from civil war by brokering peace talks with the Zapatista rebels in the 1990s, died in Mexico City at the age of 86.
Watching the Shadows
More “non-existent” anti-Semitism in the news
Which is more maddening: that an Australian court imprisoned a “Palestine solidarity activist” for spewing Jew-hatred at a rally, or that his spewing was tolerated by the “activists”?
Greater Middle East
WikiLeaks Egypt: paranoids see neocon conspiracy
Do WikiLeaks revelations on Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak vindicate fears that neocon conspiracies are behind the current wave of unrest? No, but that hasn’t kept William Engdahl from mouthing off.
Africa
Obama exploits South Sudanese independence struggle for propaganda
Obama’s State of the Union address praised the vote for secession in South Sudan—but an inter-imperial struggle for oil and pipeline routes lies behind US support for the referendum.
Greater Middle East
Obama pays lip service to Tunisians —betrays Egyptians, Algerians, Yemenis
Obama’s State of the Union address praised the Tunisian protesters—now that the dictator has fled. Meanwhile, his administration connives with other Arab dictators facing protest movements.
Inner Asia
Afghan pipeline intrigues behind Sino-Indian military tensions?
Accusations of Chinese military incursions in northern India come just as New Delhi warned against Beijing’s involvement in the planned trans-Afghan gas pipeline. Coincidence?
North Africa
Soros, WikiLeaks and Tunisia’s “color revolution”
Is Tunisia’s “Jasmine Revolution” a creation of George Soros, the National Endowment for Democracy and Julian Assange? No, but that hasn’t stopped Moammar Qaddafi from mouthing off.
Planet Watch
The Genocide Convention at 60: a record of failure —and double standards
Jan. 12 marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Genocide Convention—which has demonstrably failed to stop numerous genocides, including some directly backed by the United States.
Africa
Ivory Coast tipping into civil war?
With forces loyal to ex-president Laurent Gbagbo fighting with rivals and UN troops in Abidjan, Ivory Coast is divided into hostile camps and Nigeria is threatening military intervention.
North America
“Conservatives” deny “personal responsibility” in Tucson massacre
The right-wing chattering and blogging classes are squealing with unanimous denial that Jared Loughner was influenced by their recent effluence of militaristic thunder.
North America
Arizona gunman linked to organized radical right?
A Homeland Security memo states that Jared Loughner—primary suspect in the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords—is “possibly linked” to the white supremacist American Renaissance.