The situation in Mongolia certainly seems to be escalating. But what can be gleaned of the politics? The ruling Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) certainly seems throroughly market-oriented and globalist, its name as much an anachronism as that of China’s… Read moreMongolia: protesters launch hunger strike, self-immolate
Now we can forgive him for Let’s Roll and supporting Reagan. The crazy, mixed-up populist crooner, we knew his heart was still in the right place! From the New York Times, April 18: LOS ANGELES, April 17 — Neil Young,… Read moreNeil Young: impeach Bush
Another exercise in just how far off-base the supposed “left” has drifted. Greg Palast’s latest, on the retired generals calling for Rumsfeld’s resignation, is happly picked up by all the lefty blogs, like Smirking Chimp. None seem to have a… Read moreGreg Palast calls for military coup?
A new and dramatic attack by India’s Maoist Naxalite rebels. From the Times of India, April 16: RAIPUR: At least 10 policemen were killed on Sunday in a Maoist attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, an official said. “Maoist rebels… Read moreIndia: Naxalite insurgency spreads
Somebody please wake us when this madness is over. From the New York Times, April 15: Jazz Lover Fiddling With Bass Causes Bomb Scare on East Side The easy listening habits of Grantley Richards met with a large police response… Read moreFear of music, pt. II
We recently argued that the planned NATO intervention in Darfur has more to do with securing the oil resources of neighboring Chad for Exxon than with saving lives in Darfur. Yeah we know, us leftists and our conspiracy theories. But… Read moreDarfur: NATO prepares intervention —for Exxon?
As in recent similar cases in Bangkok and Nazareth, the attacks on religious targets in Alexandria are being dismissed as the work of a “mentally disturbed” loner. Could be (although note that in this case there were three near-simultaneous attacks)…. Read moreSectarian violence in Egypt
From Gulf News, United Arab Emirates, via TMCNet, April 15: New Delhi: Delhi was put under red alert after two low-intensity blasts rocked the historic Jama Masjid yesterday. At least 15 people were injured in the twin blasts that took place… Read moreImam calls for peace after Delhi mosque blast
A glimmer of hope. From AP, April 12: STAMFORD, Conn. — Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they will no longer seek to enforce a gag order on Connecticut librarians who received an FBI demand for records about library patrons under the… Read moreLibrarians previal in Patriot Act challenge
This wave of peasant protest is the first glimmer of real opposition in China since Tiananmen Square. Yet it is getting little media coverage, and the outside world is largely ignoring it. The protests have been sweeping the industrial heartland… Read moreChina: more anti-pollution protests
And this is the “stable” country and chief US ally in the region. Interesting how Pakistan’s internal conflicts have spun out of control since the US established it as a staging ground for destabilzing and then policing neighboring Afghanistan. From… Read morePakistan: army patrols strife-torn Karachi
The Taliban denies it. So who did do it? AP, April 12: ASADABAD, Afghanistan — A rocket exploded Tuesday in a schoolyard in eastern Afghanistan, killing seven students and wounding 34 other people in an attack possibly aimed at a… Read moreAfghanistan: rocket attack on schoolyard kills 7 kids
