The Andes
‘Fascism’ and the Venezuela protests
Are the Venezuelan protesters monolithically "fascists" and "golpistas"? And are left-dissident elements in danger of being exploited in a reactionary putsch?
Author: Bill Weinberg
Mexico
Blood avocados: Michoacán cartels co-opt ag-biz
Michoacán's blood-drenched Knights Templar cartel have amassed a land empire in the Mexican state, using the avocado industry to launder narco profits.
New York City
‘Anti-Semite’ de Blasio schmoozes AIPAC
Mayor de Blasio's closed-doors meeting with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) plays into the worst stereotypes about Jews. So no thanks, Bill.
Europe
Burgos and Gezi Square: contradiction?
Protesters in Burgos, Spain, defeated a redevelopment plan that included replacing traffic lanes with greenways—a contrast to the struggle to save Istanbul's Gezi Park.
Palestine
Israel: ‘population transfer’ gains currency?
With urban planners along the Green Line foreseeing the shift of Arab-majority suburbs into the West Bank, Israeli calls for "transfer" of the Palestinians are again mounting.
Palestine
Ariel Sharon buried under Iron Dome
As Ariel Sharon was buried under the protection of Israel's Iron Dome missile shield, joyful celebrations broke out at Lebanon's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
Africa
South Sudan: Yes, another war for oil
South Sudan may be developing into proxy war, pitting US client states Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia against Khartoum in a struggle for control of pipeline routes.
Planet Watch
Polar Vortex: Yes, it’s global warming!
Climate-change denialists are gloating at the "Polar Vortex"—failing to understand that it was unleashed by destabilization of the Jet Stream due to loss of arctic ice cover.
North Africa
Benghazi bad guys: Is You Is or Is You Ain’t al-Qaeda?
Republicans are scrambling after a New York Times story dismissed a Qaeda link in the 2012 Benghazi attack—but the question of what constitutes "al-Qaeda" is inherently political.
The Caucasus
Volgograd terror: revenge of ‘Caucasus Emirate’?
In the wake of the Volgograd terror blasts, Putin is preparing a new offensive against Chechen insurgents seeking to rebuild the 19th century "Caucasus Emirate."
Greater Middle East
Syria: massacres and hypocrisy
Assad's partisans tout a supposed massacre by jihadists near Damascus, while igonoring the much larger and thoroughly verified one being carried out by the regime in Aleppo.
Greater Middle East
Syria: imperialists keep flipping script
Ex-CIA director Michael Hayden says Bashar Assad is the best option for stability in Syria—while the White House now considers arming jihadist rebels.