North America
Conspiranoids betray Reality Winner …of course
Some of the same voices that cheered on Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden are now dissing Reality Winner as an agent of the “Deep State.”
Author: Bill Weinberg
New York City
Oscar López Rivera, terrorism and semantics
The controversy over liberated political prisoner Oscar López Rivera’s participation in New York’s Puerto Rican Day Parade opens a window on the political uses of the term “terrorist.”
Greater Middle East
Qatar crisis places US regional policing in pickle
Qatar's diplomatic isolation by the other Gulf states, accused of supporting terrorism in the region, heightens contradictions for the Pentagon's use of the critical al-Udeid Air Base.
Europe
Manchester, xenophobia and the left’s complicity
The yellow press and much of the "left" react identically to the Manchester terror: by blaming "regime change" in Libya and demonizing refugees from the Arab world.
Southeast Asia
Trump-Duterte ‘bromance’ bodes ill for freedom
As Rodrigo Duterte openly defies rights groups and the UN in his murderous war on low-level drug dealers and users, Trump invites the Philippine strongman to the White House.
Europe
Ukrainian general calls for ‘destruction’ of Jews
A Ukrainian general closely linked to the intelligence services called for "destruction" of the country's Jews—providing fodder for the portrayal of Russian aggression as "anti-fascism."
Greater Middle East
Trump betrays Kurds in schmooze with Erdogan
In his White House meeting with Erdogan, Trump was sure to pledge support against the PKK "terrorists"—even as the US is backing PKK-aligned Kurds against ISIS in Syria.
Syria
Syria: ‘crematorium’ at regime death camp?
Rights groups have long charged the Assad regime with mass murder at its Saydnaya military prison. What are we to make of US claims that a crematorium has been installed there?
Afghanistan
US Marines back to Afghanistan’s opium heartland
Three years after withdrawing, US Marines are returning to Afghanistan's Helmand province to help beat back a new Taliban offensive funded by a bumper opium harvest.
Syria
Syria: Trump approves plan to arm Rojava Kurds
The Rojava Kurds, caught in a pincer between Turkey and ISIS, are being forced to accept superpower aid—but with costs for Syrian revolutionary unity against ISIS and Assad.
Southeast Asia
Philippines: legal challenge to deadly drug war
Manila's Center for International Law is going to bat for citizens targeted by President Rodrigo Duterte's lawless and murderous "war on drugs"—despite the threat of reprisals.
North America
Sessions pledges crackdown on Latin gangs
Attorney General Jeff Sessions pledged "zero tolerance for gang violence"—singling out MS-13, the Central American narco-network with roots on the streets of Los Angeles.