With Arbaeen over, bombers turned much of their attention to Christian Iraqis celebrating the Christmas holiday in Baghdad. At least 75 people were killed and 141 more were wounded in those and other attacks.
The American media usually profit handsomely from "hyper-partisan" fighting – finding, and sometimes creating, politically conflict-laden stories that get more viewers, listeners, readers, and thus higher advertising revenues. After abetting this discordant political environment, the media then tell us any bi-partisan agreement to lessen such conflict is good, apparently no matter what’s in it. That’s …
Continue reading “Bipartisan Budget Agreement Doesn’t Make Partisan Bickering Look So Bad”
The Arbaeen holiday ended today. It marks the conclusion of a 40-day mourning period that commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, a grandchild of the Prophet Mohammed. His
See the phantoms filling the sky around you. They astound you, I can tell, these inhabitants of hell. Poor wretches whom the Hand of Heaven ignores. Beware, beware, beware, lest their dreadful fate be yours! ~ the ghost of Jacob Marley in Scrooge, 1970 For most of us our favorite passage in A Christmas Carol …
Continue reading “Wars Past, Present and Yet to Come”
At least 51 people were killed and 44 more were wounded in fresh violence. Arbaeen pilgrims and journalists were among today’s victims. over a dozen gunmen were also killed. A suicide bomber blew up his car outside television studio in Tikrit, allowing four of his colleagues to get inside. There, two of them detonated their …
Continue reading “51 Killed, 44 Wounded in Iraq Attacks against Pilgrims and Journalists”
It is the time of year we feel a sense of joy and optimism. We are preparing for the holidays and looking to spend time with our families and friends. This year as we look back we see several developments that leave us feeling optimistic. A US attack on Syria was averted to a large …
Continue reading “Progress Toward Peace in 2013, But Dark Clouds Remain”
It’s Christmas, no there’s no column today. But I’ll be back on Friday!As the world celebrates Christmas, one has to wonder what we have to be thankful for: after all, war rages around the world. The liberty our forefathers died for has dissipated like mist in the heat of our perpetual "war on terrorism." Our …
Continue reading “Look What’s Under My Christmas Tree!”
Following yesterday’s ill-fated military operation in Wadi Horan, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has warned demonstrators in Ramadi to leave their protest camp before security forces move in on the site. Meanwhile, at least 13 people were killed and 34 more were wounded in today’s attacks.
This week’s introduction by a bipartisan group of 26 senators of a new sanctions bill against Iran could result in the biggest test of the political clout of the Israel lobby here in decades. The White House, which says the bill could well derail ongoing negotiations between Iran and the U.S. and five other powers …
Continue reading “Iran Sanctions Bill a Big Test of Israel Lobby Power”
At least 52 people were killed and 66 more were wounded in fresh violence. The one reported attack against pilgrims did not produce the high casualty figures. Instead, it was a military operation in Anbar province that went awry.
