Like the similar claims being made about Iran arming its Sunni-extremist deadly enemies in Iraq, this strikes us as utterly improbable. Recall that before 9-11, Iran was on the brink of war with Afghanistan, over the Taliban’s ethnic cleansing of… Read moreIran arming Taliban?
From the front page of the New York Times, Sept. 22: At State Deptartment, Blog Team Joins Muslim Debate WASHINGTON — Walid Jawad was tired of all the chatter on Middle Eastern blogs and Internet forums in praise of gory… Read moreState Department goes bloggo
Female genital mutilation—or “circumcision,” as its apologists call it—has been banned even in Eritrea, as it faces US accusations of harboring Islamist terrorists. We recently noted the irony that the US has launched criminal prosecutions over the practice, even as… Read moreEgypt: controversy over genital mutilation
No comment. From Reuters, Sept. 17: DUVANNY YAR, Russia — Sergei Zimov bends down, picks up a handful of treacly mud and holds it up to his nose. It smells like a cow pat, but he knows better. “It smells… Read moreMammoth dung may speed global warming
We have predicted again and again that Washington will goad Israel into throwing the first punch at Iran—thereby allowing US elites to shill the blame for the adventure off on the Jews as they jump in with massive air power… Read moreWurmser spills the beans: Israel to bomb Iran first
James Freedman writes for the Fayetteville Free Weekly, via Jewish Journal, Sept. 14: A shul grows in Dixie—Insha’Allah With Wal-Mart attracting a huge number of minority religious groups to Arkansas, it is not surprising that Fayetteville is becoming increasingly diverse…. Read moreJewish-Muslim co-existence —in Arkansas
Milagros Salazar writes for IPS, via Upside Down World, Sept. 20: For the second time in Peru, a mining project was rejected by local communities in a popular referendum. More than 90 percent of those who came out to vote… Read morePeru: communities say “no” to mining
From Rights Action via Upside Down World, Sept. 20: Communities affected by Canadian-US transnational mining corporation Goldcorp’s (formerly Glamis Gold) San Martin open pit gold mine in the Siria Valley [of Honduras] are denouncing the company’s plans to release water… Read moreHonduras: Canadian mining company threatens campesino lands
From the Iraq Freedom Congress (IFC), Sept. 20: The Iraqi minister of oil (Shehristani) has requested the Iraqi Prime Minister Almaliki to arrest the leaders of the Anti-oil Law Front (Subhi Albadri; chairperson. Hassan Juma; president of GUOE and Front… Read moreIraq: oil union leaders threatened with arrest
Donald Trump signed an executive order to continue operations at the Guantánamo detention center—not only allowing those currently detained to remain detained, but also permitting the US to bring new persons to the facility. The order comes the same day Trump pledged "to keep open the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay" in his State of the Union address—to applause from Republican lawmakers. It also comes nearly nine years to the day after Obama's executive order to begin the process of closing the facility. (Photo: Wikimedia)
Blackwater security guards who protect US diplomats in Iraq have been involved in at least seven serious incidents—including some which resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians—Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Sept. 19. The revelation came as al-Maliki announced… Read moreDoes Iraq have authority to expel Blackwater?
From South Africa’s Mail & Guardian, Sept. 17: Israel has enforced a news blackout on what may be its air force’s most audacious raid since its jets destroyed Saddam Hussein’s nuclear reactor in 1981. The Israeli government has made no… Read moreNorth Korean nuke link behind Israel’s Syria raid?
