Antiwar.com

Pat Robertson and 20 million American fundamentalists are not alone. The new president of Iran also believes that the end of the world is nigh and "believers" can help speed it up. His government has now allocated millions of dollars for the Jamkaran mosque to help believers prepare for the event. It is staffed by … Continue reading “Their Armageddonites,
and Ours”

With Isam Rashid BAGHDAD – More than 400 foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq since the occupation began in March 2003. Many more Iraqis have been kidnapped, but it is the abduction of foreigners that makes news, and makes them particular targets. Last week, another American was kidnapped in Baghdad. Jill Carroll, a reporter for … Continue reading “Iraq Kidnappings Worse ‘Than Ever Before’”

Merry Christmas, EUFOR-Style In the Serbian Orthodox Church, which observes the Julian calendar, Christmas falls on Jan. 7. In occupied Kosovo, the Serb community of Mitrovica marked the holiday with a service in the ruins of a church sacked and destroyed by Albanians while under KFOR "protection." In Pristina, the remaining two dozen Serbs who … Continue reading “Our Friends, the Peacekeepers”

The snakepit of corruption that is Washington, D.C., is writhing and roiling these days with the news that super-lobbyist and Republican fundraiser Jack Abramoff has pleaded guilty to bribery, fraud, and other charges that could embroil Capitol Hill in the biggest corruption scandal in recent memory. As many as 60 members of Congress may be … Continue reading “Abramoff and the Israeli Connection”

One of the true scandals of media coverage of the war in Iraq has been the simple fact that you – relatively small numbers of you anyway – had to visit TomDispatch.com, or Juan Cole’s invaluable Informed Comment blog, or Antiwar.com, or other Internet sites to find out anything about the fierce (if limited) ongoing … Continue reading “A Formula for Slaughter”

With Arkan Hamed BAGHDAD – Many Iraqis see dismal days ahead in the face of rising violence and the decision by the U.S. government not to seek any further funds for reconstruction. "It is obvious that the situation is much worse than it used to be," retired army general Ahmed Abdul Aziz told IPS. "Can … Continue reading “‘Democracy’ Brings Bleak Days to Iraq”

Washington’s Middle East project received another blow last week after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a severe stroke. It is unlikely that the former Israeli general will be able to return to active political life. This means that U.S. President George W. Bush and his aides will find it even more difficult to juggle … Continue reading “Sharon’s Stroke a Blow to Bush’s Mideast Spin”

Nuking Iran With the UN’s Blessing Dear Mr. Jorge Hirsch, I agree with every single word you wrote in your above article. But I was waiting to read your suggestions as well, meaning what the world, including the U.S.A., should do concerning the irresponsible Iranian mullahs getting nuclear arms. It is not needed to remind … Continue reading “Backtalk January 11, 2006”

Nearly a week after a massive stroke effectively removed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from Israeli politics, the outlook in Washington is mostly worried and pessimistic. The administration of President George W. Bush, who personally clearly admired the former general and offered strong backing for both his harsh crackdown against the second Palestinian Intifada and his … Continue reading “Sharon’s Demise Gives Analysts the Jitters”

In escalating their conflict with the United States over its efforts to weaken the Iraqi insurgency by co-opting Sunni political figures, Shi’ite party leaders may have delivered a fatal blow to that strategy. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad has been trying to convince the Sunni population that a share of political power will protect their interests. … Continue reading “Shi’ites Escalate Conflict with US Over Sunni Strategy”