North America
Another day, another massacre…
Was the San Bernardino attack politically motivated terrorism or just someone's personal revenge? Either way, pundits right and left are going to be squirming…
Tag: GWOT
Iraq
Security Council adopts resolution to fight ISIS
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling on all member states to fight to eradicate ISIS, calling it "a global and unprecedented threat."
Iraq
Contradictions of post-Paris anti-ISIS convergence
Russia and France say they will cooperate against ISIS in Syria, but Turkey is undermining unity between Syrian and Iraqi Kurdish forces.
Iraq
US ground troops to Iraq, Syria: Pentagon
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in a statement to Congress that the US will begin ground operations against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria.
New York City
9-11 at fourteen: spectacle commodified
9-11 still provides an occasion for jingoism and war propaganda. But the day's commodification and transformation into an empty spectacle is now even more disturbing.
Central America
El Salvador rules street gangs are ‘terrorist groups’
El Salvador's Supreme Court ruled that the country's notoriously violent street gangs and those who support them financially will now be classified as "terrorist groups."
Iraq
US betrays Rojava Kurds (inevitably)
Washington has given Turkey a green light to crush the revolutionary Kurds—in Turkey, Syria and Iraq alike—as the price of Ankara's cooperation against ISIS.
Greater Middle East
Israel Lobby schmoozes Sisi —Assad next?
Egypt's dictatorial President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a delegation from the American Jewish Committee to discuss ways to "defeat terrorism" in the region.
Watching the Shadows
Global terror survey sees surging attacks —again
The US State Department finds that the number of "terrorist attacks" around the world rose by a third in 2014, largely due to the expansion of ISIS and Boko Haram.
Greater Middle East
White House criticizes Egypt, supports military aid
The Obama administration sent a report to Congress criticizing Egypt for human rights abuses and lack of progress toward democracy but still supporting $1.3 billion in mostly military aid.
Iraq
ISIS gains ground as diplomats dither
ISIS advanced on Aleppo and launched an offensive on the Syrian Kurdish city of Hassakeh as the US and coalition partners met in Paris. No Kurdish leaders were invited to the summit.
Watching the Shadows
Key provisions of Patriot Act expire
Key provisions of the USA Patriot Act allowing "Bulk Data Collection" and "Roving Wiretaps" expired after a late Senate vote failed to establish an extension.