New violence left 11 Iraqis dead and 10 more wounded. Separately, a mass grave yielded 27 decomposed bodies. Meanwhile, Turkey renewed its air strikes against rebels in northern Iraq, and Iran declared victory in its own operations on a related group of Kurdish rebels.
read moreStudy: US Night Raids Aimed at Afghan Civilians
U.S. Special Operations Forces have been increasingly aiming their nighttime raids, which have been the primary cause of Afghan anger at the U.S. military presence, at civilian noncombatants in order to exploit their possible intelligence value, according to a new...
Unconditional Support for Israel Encourages Bad Behavior
Surprisingly, as the U.S. threatens to veto in the U.N. Security Council a resolution for Palestinian statehood, President Barack Obama faces plunging poll numbers with Jewish Americans. Obama’s sinking poll numbers in the Jewish community (dropping from 80 percent in...
Perry’s Faith-Based Foreign Policy Directive
If Rick Perry makes it to the White House, what will American foreign policy in the Middle East look like? We got a clear indication of that, recently, when he stated: “As a Christian I have a clear directive to support Israel, from my perspective its pretty...
Triple Suicide Bombing At Gov’t Complex in Anbar Province
New violence left at least 12 Iraqis dead and 28 more wounded. The worst attack occurred in Anbar province where, coincidentally, four Nukheib massacre suspects were finally released. Also, U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen said that the number of U.S. troops in Iraq should fall to 30,000 this month, a drop of about 15,000 troops.
read moreCommunity Policing, Afghan-Style
Lal Mohammed says his 9-year-old son was stabbed and shot and left to die in a raid on his home. Another Afghan villager reported that a 17-year-old boy had been detained, beaten, and had nails driven into his feet. His injuries were so bad that his family packed up...
More ‘Sectarian’ Raids For Iraq
At least two Iraqis were killed and nine more were wounded in new violence. One incident involved members of the Yazidi sect, who are threatening to demonstrate over it tomorrow. Meanwhile, Iran claims its bid to defeat P.J.A.K. rebels is almost complete.
read moreA Palestinian State?
The decision by the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to claim a seat in the United Nations is a last ditch effort by one side of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to resolve the region’s eternal crisis peacefully. The statement largely drafted by...
Sad and Happy About Palestinian Statehood Bid
“Will this be the happiest day of your life?” a local interviewer asked me, referring to the approaching recognition of the State of Palestine by the U.N. I was taken by surprise. “Why would that be?” I asked. “Well, for 62 years you have advocated the establishment...
Europe Divided Over Palestinian State
BERLIN — Divisions that have surfaced within the European Union over recognition of the Palestinian Authority as an independent and sovereign state are unlikely to be resolved ahead of a crucial vote in the United Nations next week. A two-state settlement is part of...
