The anti-Zionist blogosphere has been abuzz with accusations that Israel is exploiting the Haiti disaster to cover for its crimes in Gaza. But why is Sri Lanka getting a free ride?
An Obama advisor suggests “cognitive infiltration” to combat conspiracy theory—thereby setting up rationalists to be baited as agents. Gee, thanks!
The Jerusalem Post cites claims that Iraq’s Antiquities and Heritage Authority is desecrating ancient Hebrew inscriptions at the Tomb of Ezekiel—but some caution skepticism.
The US-led Coalition's ongoing failure to admit to, let alone adequately investigate, the shocking scale of civilian deaths and destruction it caused in Raqqa is a "slap in the face" for survivors trying to rebuild their lives and their city, said Amnesty International a year after the offensive to oust ISIS. In October 2017, following a fierce four-month battle, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—the Coalition's Kurdish-led partners on the ground—announced victory over ISIS, which had used civilians as human shields and committed other war crimes in besieged Raqqa. Winning the battle came at a terrible price—almost 80% of the city was destroyed and many hundreds of civilians lay dead, the majority killed by Coalition bombardment. In a September 2018 letter to Amnesty, the Pentagon made clear it accepts no liability for civilian casualties. The Coalition does not plan to compensate survivors and relatives of those killed in Raqqa, and refuses to provide further information about the circumstances behind strikes that killed and maimed civilians. (Photo: SDF)
Taliban leaders confirmed that long-planned direct talks with the US took place in Doha, capital of Qatar. The Taliban said in a statement that their delegation met with US special adviser for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad. The statement said the two sides discussed the prospects for an end to the presence of the foreign forces in Afghanistan, and the return of "true peace" to the country. These overtures come as the US is stepping up operations against ISIS in Afghanistan. In an August air-strike in Nangarhar province, the US claimed to have killed Abu Sayed Orakzai, top ISIS commander in Afghanistan. Earlier in August, more than 200 ISIS fighters and their two top commanders surrendered to Afghan government forces in Jowzjan province to avoid capture by Taliban insurgents, after a two-day battle that was a decisive victory for the Taliban. (Photo: Khaama Press)
In a heart-warming display of holiday spirit, the New York Times runs a Christmas Eve op-ed making the case for illegal pre-emptive military strikes on Iran.
In Indian-occupied Kashmir, Cuba, Israel and several other places around the world, marches commemorating Human Rights Day were met with official harassment and repression.
The latest US drone strike in Pakistan is reported to have not killed a supposed al-Qaeda leader whose death, capture, suicide and escape have been repeatedly reported in a maze of media accounts.
The open letter to the Nobel Committee protesting Obama’s prize as he escalates in Afghanistan is signed by Sara Flounders of the International Action Center—a supporter of war criminals and genocide.
Swiss voters approved a ban on minarets at the urging of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party. Switzerland’s 400,000 Muslims include many Bosnian and Kosovar refugees from ex-Yugoslavia.
The Karzai government’s amnesty offer to the Taliban reveals again the hypocrisy of US claims to be defending democracy, secularism and women’s rights in Afghanistan.
