Greater Middle East
Kurds and Assad in race for Raqqa
Russian and US warplanes are each backing rival sides as the Assad regime and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces race to take the ISIS "capital" of Raqqa.
Tag: ISIS
Iraq
UN rights chief: civilians fleeing Fallujah face abuse
The UN Human Rights Commissioner cited "credible reports" that residents fleeing Fallujah have suffered abuses at the hands of pro-government militias besieging the city.
North America
Orlando massacre in propaganda wars
In the wake of the Orlando massacre, the left blames homophobia while the right blames Islam—both sides ignoring the obvious reality of homophobia rooted in political Islam.
North Africa
Libya: Misrata militia force battles ISIS at Sirte
An alliance of militias from the city of Misrata—nominally aligned with Libya's UN-backed government—are battling ISIS for control of Sirte port, the group's major stronghold.
Iraq
Syria: Kurdish feminist leads anti-ISIS offensive
Rojda Felat, a Kurdish revolutionary feminist, is leading the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces' offensive on Raqqa, capital of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate.
Greater Middle East
US rejects autonomy for Syrian Kurds
The US State Department rejected the Syrian Kurds' declaration of autonomy—ironically, just as the Pentagon is coordinating with Kurdish forces for a major offensive against ISIS.
Greater Middle East
Aleppo and Cizre: fearful symmetry
Supposed antagonists Assad and Erdogan are both in the process of reducing cities to rubble: Aleppo and Cizre, both with the connivance of the Great Powers.
Afghanistan
Mullah Mansour death: blow to Pakistan?
The killing of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansour in a US drone strike actually took place in Pakistan—without consent of Islamabad, signaling a break between the two allies.
North Africa
What ‘government’ is West really backing in Libya?
At a Vienna summit, world powers agreed to supply arms to Libya to fight ISIS—but the country has three rival governments, and the "recognized" one is by far the weakest.
Iraq
Iraq: spectacular terror, invisible starvation
The ongoing terror in Iraq only wins real media attention when the carnage approaches spectacular levels. Starvation in besieged cities like Falluja is virtually invisible.
Greater Middle East
Syria: world betrays Aleppo (of course)
As Assad regime and Russian air-strikes continue on the beseiged populace of Aleppo, media in the West increasingly echo regime propaganda of justified "counter-attacks."
Planet Watch
A ‘New Oil Order’?
Experts declare a "new oil order" in which hydrocarbons will lose market share to renewables. But is it market conditions or geopolitics that explain the current price slump?